Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Economists actually take home in Iowa?
3.9% flat rate — 25.1% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Economists earning $96,310 in Iowa (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $96,310 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$13,029 | 13.5% |
| Iowa State Income Tax | -$3,756 | 3.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$5,971 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,396 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$24,153 | 25.1% |
| Take-Home Pay | $72,156 | 74.9% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Economists in Iowa.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $59,980 | -$12,141 | $47,838 | 20.2% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $64,210 | -$13,383 | $50,826 | 20.8% |
| Median (P50) | $96,310 | -$24,153 | $72,156 | 25.1% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $133,970 | -$37,164 | $96,805 | 27.7% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $144,750 | -$40,997 | $103,752 | 28.3% |
After federal income tax ($13,029), state tax ($3,756), and FICA ($7,367), a Economists in Iowa takes home $72,156 per year — or $6,013 per month. The effective tax rate of 25.1% is moderate compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 25.1%, a Economists in Iowa keeps $72,157 of $96,310 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
Iowa applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Economists salary that contributes $3,756 to the 3.9% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Economists salary is $13,029 (54%), but combined state ($3,756, 16%) + FICA ($7,368, 31%) make up the other 46% of the bill.
Moving this same Economists salary to a zero-state-tax state would yield around $75,913 net — a gain of $3,756 (5.2%) per year versus Iowa.
Iowa ranks #28 of 40 states for Economists 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, $72,157 net/year works out to $6,013/month or $2,775/bi-weekly for this Economists in Iowa — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Economists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Iowa ranks #28 out of 40 states for Economists after-tax take-home pay.
A Economists in Iowa earning a median salary of $96,310 will take home approximately $72,156 per year after federal income tax ($13,029), state income tax ($3,756), and FICA ($7,367). That is $6,013 per month or $2,775 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Economists in Iowa is 25.1%, broken down as: federal income tax 13.5%, 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 Economists's median salary of $96,310, the state income tax amounts to $3,756 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.9%.
After all taxes, a Economists in Iowa takes home approximately $6,013 per month, or about $34.69 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 $96,310 for Economists 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 — $72,156/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