Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Cargo and Freight Agents actually take home in Iowa?
3.9% flat rate — 19.4% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Cargo and Freight Agents earning $48,370 in Iowa (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $48,370 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,820 | 7.9% |
| Iowa State Income Tax | -$1,886 | 3.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,998 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$701 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$9,407 | 19.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $38,962 | 80.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $38,610 | -$7,108 | $31,501 | 18.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $44,240 | -$8,434 | $35,805 | 19.1% |
| Median (P50) | $48,370 | -$9,407 | $38,962 | 19.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $61,380 | -$12,470 | $48,909 | 20.3% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $75,300 | -$17,104 | $58,195 | 22.7% |
After federal income tax ($3,820), state tax ($1,886), and FICA ($3,700), a Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa takes home $38,962 per year — or $3,246 per month. The effective tax rate of 19.4% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa faces an effective total tax rate of only 19.4%, keeping 80.6% of every gross dollar. That leaves $38,963 net out of $48,370 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Iowa applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Cargo and Freight Agents salary that contributes $1,886 to the 3.9% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Cargo and Freight Agents salary is $3,820 (41%), but combined state ($1,886, 20%) + FICA ($3,700, 39%) make up the other 59% of the bill.
A Cargo and Freight Agents earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $40,849 — only $1,886 (4.8%) more than in Iowa.
Iowa sits near the bottom (#39 of 48) for Cargo and Freight Agents after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $38,963 net/year works out to $3,247/month or $1,499/bi-weekly for this Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Cargo and Freight Agents keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Iowa ranks #39 out of 48 states for Cargo and Freight Agents after-tax take-home pay.
A Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa earning a median salary of $48,370 will take home approximately $38,962 per year after federal income tax ($3,820), state income tax ($1,886), and FICA ($3,700). That is $3,246 per month or $1,498 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa is 19.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.9%, Iowa state tax 3.9%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Iowa has a 3.9% flat rate. On a Cargo and Freight Agents's median salary of $48,370, the state income tax amounts to $1,886 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.9%.
After all taxes, a Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa takes home approximately $3,246 per month, or about $18.73 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $48,370 for Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Iowa state income tax (3.9% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $38,962/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR