Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Food Preparation Workers actually take home in Iowa?
3.9% flat rate — 17.0% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Food Preparation Workers earning $30,360 in Iowa (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $30,360 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,659 | 5.5% |
| Iowa State Income Tax | -$1,184 | 3.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,882 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$440 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$5,165 | 17.0% |
| Take-Home Pay | $25,194 | 83.0% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Food Preparation Workers in Iowa.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $23,760 | -$3,660 | $20,099 | 15.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $28,260 | -$4,671 | $23,588 | 16.5% |
| Median (P50) | $30,360 | -$5,165 | $25,194 | 17.0% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $36,200 | -$6,541 | $29,658 | 18.1% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $40,250 | -$7,494 | $32,755 | 18.6% |
After federal income tax ($1,659), state tax ($1,184), and FICA ($2,322), a Food Preparation Workers in Iowa takes home $25,194 per year — or $2,099 per month. The effective tax rate of 17.0% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Food Preparation Workers in Iowa faces an effective total tax rate of only 17.0%, keeping 83.0% of every gross dollar. That leaves $25,194 net out of $30,360 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 Food Preparation Workers salary that contributes $1,184 to the 3.9% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Food Preparation Workers salary is $1,659 (32%), but combined state ($1,184, 23%) + FICA ($2,323, 45%) make up the other 68% of the bill.
A Food Preparation Workers earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $26,378 — only $1,184 (4.7%) more than in Iowa.
Iowa sits near the bottom (#40 of 51) for Food Preparation Workers after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $25,194 net/year works out to $2,100/month or $969/bi-weekly for this Food Preparation Workers in Iowa — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Food Preparation Workers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Iowa ranks #40 out of 51 states for Food Preparation Workers after-tax take-home pay.
A Food Preparation Workers in Iowa earning a median salary of $30,360 will take home approximately $25,194 per year after federal income tax ($1,659), state income tax ($1,184), and FICA ($2,322). That is $2,099 per month or $969 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Food Preparation Workers in Iowa is 17.0%, broken down as: federal income tax 5.5%, Iowa state tax 3.9%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Iowa has a 3.9% flat rate. On a Food Preparation Workers's median salary of $30,360, the state income tax amounts to $1,184 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.9%.
After all taxes, a Food Preparation Workers in Iowa takes home approximately $2,099 per month, or about $12.11 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 $30,360 for Food Preparation 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 — $25,194/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