Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Cooks, Restaurant actually take home in Iowa?
3.9% flat rate — 18.0% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Cooks, Restaurant earning $35,670 in Iowa (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $35,670 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,296 | 6.4% |
| Iowa State Income Tax | -$1,391 | 3.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,211 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$517 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$6,416 | 18.0% |
| Take-Home Pay | $29,253 | 82.0% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $28,690 | -$4,772 | $23,917 | 16.6% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $30,360 | -$5,165 | $25,194 | 17.0% |
| Median (P50) | $35,670 | -$6,416 | $29,253 | 18.0% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $38,180 | -$7,007 | $31,172 | 18.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $44,460 | -$8,486 | $35,973 | 19.1% |
After federal income tax ($2,296), state tax ($1,391), and FICA ($2,728), a Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa takes home $29,253 per year — or $2,437 per month. The effective tax rate of 18.0% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa faces an effective total tax rate of only 18.0%, keeping 82.0% of every gross dollar. That leaves $29,254 net out of $35,670 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 Cooks, Restaurant salary that contributes $1,391 to the 3.9% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Cooks, Restaurant salary is $2,296 (36%), but combined state ($1,391, 22%) + FICA ($2,729, 43%) make up the other 64% of the bill.
A Cooks, Restaurant earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $30,645 — only $1,391 (4.8%) more than in Iowa.
Iowa ranks #37 of 51 states for Cooks, Restaurant after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $29,254 net/year works out to $2,438/month or $1,125/bi-weekly for this Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Cooks, Restaurant keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Iowa ranks #37 out of 51 states for Cooks, Restaurant after-tax take-home pay.
A Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa earning a median salary of $35,670 will take home approximately $29,253 per year after federal income tax ($2,296), state income tax ($1,391), and FICA ($2,728). That is $2,437 per month or $1,125 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa is 18.0%, broken down as: federal income tax 6.4%, 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 Cooks, Restaurant's median salary of $35,670, the state income tax amounts to $1,391 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.9%.
After all taxes, a Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa takes home approximately $2,437 per month, or about $14.06 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 $35,670 for Cooks, Restaurant 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 — $29,253/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
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