Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Fast Food and Counter Workers actually take home in Iowa?
3.9% flat rate — 16.6% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Fast Food and Counter Workers earning $28,390 in Iowa (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $28,390 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,422 | 5.0% |
| Iowa State Income Tax | -$1,107 | 3.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,760 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$411 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$4,701 | 16.6% |
| Take-Home Pay | $23,688 | 83.4% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $21,620 | -$3,199 | $18,420 | 14.8% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $26,150 | -$4,175 | $21,974 | 16.0% |
| Median (P50) | $28,390 | -$4,701 | $23,688 | 16.6% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $33,440 | -$5,891 | $27,548 | 17.6% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $35,990 | -$6,491 | $29,498 | 18.0% |
After federal income tax ($1,422), state tax ($1,107), and FICA ($2,171), a Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa takes home $23,688 per year — or $1,974 per month. The effective tax rate of 16.6% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa faces an effective total tax rate of only 16.6%, keeping 83.4% of every gross dollar. That leaves $23,688 net out of $28,390 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 Fast Food and Counter Workers salary that contributes $1,107 to the 3.9% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Fast Food and Counter Workers salary is $1,423 (30%), but combined state ($1,107, 24%) + FICA ($2,172, 46%) make up the other 70% of the bill.
A Fast Food and Counter Workers earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $24,795 — only $1,107 (4.7%) more than in Iowa.
Iowa ranks #38 of 51 states for Fast Food and Counter Workers 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, $23,688 net/year works out to $1,974/month or $911/bi-weekly for this Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Fast Food and Counter Workers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Iowa ranks #38 out of 51 states for Fast Food and Counter Workers after-tax take-home pay.
A Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa earning a median salary of $28,390 will take home approximately $23,688 per year after federal income tax ($1,422), state income tax ($1,107), and FICA ($2,171). That is $1,974 per month or $911 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa is 16.6%, broken down as: federal income tax 5.0%, 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 Fast Food and Counter Workers's median salary of $28,390, the state income tax amounts to $1,107 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.9%.
After all taxes, a Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa takes home approximately $1,974 per month, or about $11.39 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 $28,390 for Fast Food and Counter Workers 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 — $23,688/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