State comparison · 2025
Chefs and Head Cooks salary: District of Columbia vs Iowa
Chefs and Head Cooks in District of Columbia earn a median of $76,420. In Iowa, $47,990. After cost-of-living, the gap is 27.2% — not 59.2%.
Nominal pay gap
+59.2%
District of Columbia vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+27.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
District of Columbia
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $76,420
- p25
- $63,550
- p75
- $81,360
- p10
- $56,570
- p90
- $104,660
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
Iowa
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $47,990
- p25
- $42,620
- p75
- $59,380
- p10
- $36,770
- p90
- $74,730
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.