SOC 35-3041 · Cedar Rapids, IA metro

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA

The average salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is $31,360 a year ($15.08 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $29,940: half of the 470 people in this job in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 14% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($36,625).

$31,360average per year

$15.08 / hourMedian $29,940Take-home ≈ $26,798

  • $28K10th
  • $28K25th
  • $30KMedian
  • $35K75th
  • $37K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

470people in this job
-14%vs U.S. metro average
#6 of 8Iowa metros
89cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Cedar Rapids

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,600 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Cedar Rapids earn between $28,430 and $35,180.

  • $28K10th
  • $28K25th
  • $30KMedian
  • $35K75th
  • $37K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$31,360$2,613$15.08
Median$29,940$2,495$14.39
Entry level (25th percentile)$28,430$2,369$13.67
Experienced (75th percentile)$35,180$2,932$16.91

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Cedar Rapids

On the average salary of $31,360, a single filer in Cedar Rapids takes home about $26,798 a year, or $2,233 a month and $1,031 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

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Is Cedar Rapids a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Cedar Rapids area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.0), so the average $31,360 buys what about $35,251 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Cedar Rapids ($49,360). A typical home costs $244,344, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $31,360 is worth in another city

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Iowa cities

Cedar Rapids ranks 6th of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Des Moines pays the most ($32,910).

All Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries in Iowa

Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant

Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by city

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Cedar Rapids: questions

How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Cedar Rapids?

$15.08 an hour on average, and $14.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Cedar Rapids?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,430, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Cedar Rapids?

About $26,798 a year ($2,233 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,360. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Cedar Rapids than elsewhere?

The average here is 14% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($36,625).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3041; area Cedar Rapids, IA (16300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.79, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.