Chef Jobs in Iowa

Chef jobs in Iowa are active across Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, where hotel groups, casino resorts, and university dining operations drive consistent demand at every level from line cook to executive chef. Employers like Adventureland Resort, the Iowa Speedway hospitality teams, and Principal Financial Group's corporate dining programs maintain steady culinary rosters year-round. The most in-demand specialties are banquet and catering production, farm-to-table scratch cooking, and institutional foodservice management. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

Find Chef Jobs in Iowa

Overview

Open roles22
Top employerSodexo
Top cityDes Moines, IA
Cities hiring15
Work type100% On-site
Top industryFood

Showing 5 of 22+ Chef jobs

Hy-Vee, Inc.
Sushi Chef
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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Added 3d ago
Sushi Chef
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Johnston, Iowa
Business Operations
Customer Service
Project & Program Management
Project Management
Food Safety Certification
10,000+

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StoryPoint
Executive Chef
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StoryPoint
Added 1w ago
Executive Chef
StoryPoint
Ankeny, Iowa
Business Operations
Customer Service
Customer Support
Sales
1,001-5,000

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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Sushi Chef
We won't show you this job again
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Added 1w ago
Sushi Chef
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Business Strategy
Growth Marketing
Product Management
Food Safety Certification
10,000+

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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Sushi Chef
We won't show you this job again
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Added 1w ago
Sushi Chef
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Mason City, Iowa
Business Strategy
Growth Marketing
Product Management
Food Safety Certification
10,000+

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Hilton
Executive Chef - Hilton Des Moines Downtown
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Hilton
Added 2w ago
Executive Chef - Hilton Des Moines Downtown
Hilton
Des Moines, Iowa
Compliance & Risk
Project Management
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
10,000+

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See All 22 Chef Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Chef Jobs in Iowa

Chef Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Des Moines
4 jobs
Cedar Rapids
4 jobs
Altoona
2 jobs
Ames
1 job
Ankeny
1 job
Johnston
1 job
Waterloo
1 job
Iowa City
1 job
Northwood
1 job

Chef Job Market in Iowa

A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Sodexo
Sodexo3 open roles
Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee3 open roles
First Hospitality
First Hospitality2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Food & Beverage

What Iowa Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in chef jobs across Iowa.

  • ServSafe Food Handler or Food Manager certification recognized by Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals
  • Proven experience in a professional kitchen environment at a comparable volume
  • Ability to prepare and execute menus across multiple cuisines or service styles
  • Formal culinary training from an accredited program or equivalent on-the-job experience
  • Familiarity with food cost control, inventory management, and kitchen ordering systems
  • Physical ability to stand for extended shifts and work in high-temperature kitchen conditions

Chef Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a chef in Iowa?

Iowa does not require a state-issued chef license, but most employers expect a ServSafe Food Manager certification, which is administered through programs approved by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. Culinary graduates from schools like Des Moines Area Community College or Iowa State University's hospitality program have an edge in the hiring market. Building experience through line cook or prep cook roles at hotels, casinos, or institutional kitchens is the most common path to a full chef position.

Which companies hire chefs in Iowa?

Companies currently hiring chefs in Iowa include Sodexo, Hy-Vee, and First Hospitality, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Iowa's casino resorts, hotel groups, and university foodservice contracts tend to post the most consistent openings across the state.

Which Iowa cities have the most chef jobs?

Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Altoona are the Iowa cities with the most chef openings, driven by the concentration of hotels, convention centers, casino properties, and large university campuses that operate full-scale food and beverage programs requiring professional culinary staff year-round.

Are there remote chef jobs in Iowa?

Yes, but they're rare. Chef work is almost entirely hands-on and location-dependent, so fully remote roles are uncommon in this field. About 0% of chef openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and those positions typically involve culinary consulting, menu development, or corporate recipe testing rather than day-to-day kitchen operations.

How can I get hired as a chef in Iowa with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is starting in a prep cook or line cook role at a high-volume Iowa employer, such as a casino resort, university dining hall, or hotel food and beverage department, where on-the-job training is standard. Des Moines Area Community College and Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids both offer culinary arts programs with externship placements at Iowa employers. Earning a ServSafe Food Handler certification before applying gives candidates a concrete credential that most Iowa kitchens look for from day one.

Where can I find and apply to chef jobs in Iowa?

You can find and apply to chef jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings updated regularly. Search for roles that match your experience level and kitchen specialty, then apply directly to the ones that fit. No detours to another platform are needed.

See All 22 Chef Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Chef Jobs in Iowa