Outpaid

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary
in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median base pay · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
$33,790
≈ $16.25/hr · BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1,060 jobs
Middle 50%
$29,440–$36,210
vs U.S. median
-4%
Metro rank
#132 of 269

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro earn a median of $33,790 a year, based on BLS estimates for 1,060 jobs (May 2025). That is 4% below the U.S. median of $35,360 and 12% above the IA statewide median of $30,110. It ranks #132 of 269 metros with published figures for this job.

FOOD SERVERS, NONRESTAURANT · DES MOINES-WEST DES MOINES, IA · BLS

Full percentile breakdown

BLS OEWS MAY 2025 · DES MOINES-WEST DES MOINES, IA · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$28,750P25$29,440MEDIAN$33,790P75$36,210P90$37,870
BLS · UNITED STATES
P10$28,030P25$31,190MEDIAN$35,360P75$38,500P90$46,120
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Questions

What is the average Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Des Moines?

The BLS median is $33,790 a year (May 2025). Half of the 1,060 jobs pay between $29,440 and $36,210. The 10th percentile is $28,750 and the 90th is $37,870.

Is Des Moines a high-paying metro for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant?

That is 4% below the U.S. median of $35,360 and 12% above the IA statewide median of $30,110. It ranks #132 of 269 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.

How much do Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make an hour in Des Moines?

About $16.25 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $33,790 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $14.15–$17.41 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.

Does this include experience levels?

BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).

Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.