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Mid Level Line Cook in Des Moines, IA

Average salary $27,477  ·  from 1 active job market data points · Updated Mar 10, 2026

Search Intents This Page Answers

This dataset is structured for long-tail job-market questions, not just generic salary browsing.

Career Data Contract

Primary Source
Adzuna active job postings
Sample Size
1 active job market data points
Refresh Cadence
Nightly target; generated markets rotate through refreshes
Last Updated
Mar 10, 2026
Coverage
Exploration layer over captured postings, not the full market
Deduplication
Directional signal; duplicate postings can still affect totals
Schema Version
2026-04-21
Machine-readable

For Data Teams

The JSON feed for this coordinate is deterministic-only and designed for machine consumption. Human-facing narrative on this page is a presentation layer on top of the same source-derived metrics.

$20k–$40k
Mid Level
Typical salary range  ·  3–7 years experience
Purchasing Power
49
51% less purchasing power than the US average
Market Demand
-67%
67% fewer open roles than the national average
Career Growth
+100%
100% salary range from median to senior level
Talent Scarcity
0.8/10
0.8/10 scarcity leverage — low talent-to-demand ratio

The market for mid-level line cooks in Des Moines, IA presents a unique opportunity for culinary professionals looking to establish themselves in a competitive environment. Despite a lower than average salary and purchasing power, the demand for skilled cooks remains steady, and there is potential for career growth.

Key Insights

Skills That Drive Each Salary Tier — Line Cook in Des Moines

Entry
$20k–$30k
knife skills food safety certification basic cooking techniques
Mid
$30k–$40k
grill operation menu planning inventory management
Senior
$40k–$40k
staff management cost control culinary innovation
All Levels
teamwork

It's hard to get frontline workers to share improvement ideas.

I keep seeing posts like 'why can’t I get a job??' and honestly… yeah. Same. This market is cooked.

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Turn this market signal into a live job search. These links prefill the job search with the role, location, and experience intent from this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purchasing power for line cooks in Des Moines?
Purchasing Power: 51% less purchasing power than the US average.
How does the demand for line cooks in Des Moines compare to the national average?
Market Demand: 67% fewer open roles than the national average.
What is the average salary for mid-level line cooks in Des Moines?
Average salary: $27,477 — Based on 1 active market data points.
What is the career momentum for line cooks in Des Moines?
Career Momentum: 100% salary range from median to senior level.
Is there a skill scarcity for line cooks in Des Moines?
Skill Scarcity: 0.8/10 scarcity leverage — low talent-to-demand ratio.
What is the typical salary range for mid-level line cooks?
Level focus: Mid Level — typical range $20k–$40k (3–7 years experience).

Career intelligence for Mid Level Line Cook in Des Moines, IA. Data sourced from captured job postings and Bureau of Labor Statistics regional data. Updated on a nightly target schedule. Treat this as labor-market exploration, not a complete live job-board inventory. Methodology →