Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters actually take home in Iowa?
3.9% flat rate — 18.3% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earning $37,870 in Iowa (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $37,870 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,560 | 6.8% |
| Iowa State Income Tax | -$1,476 | 3.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,347 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$549 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$6,934 | 18.3% |
| Take-Home Pay | $30,935 | 81.7% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Iowa.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $31,680 | -$5,476 | $26,203 | 17.3% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $33,960 | -$6,013 | $27,946 | 17.7% |
| Median (P50) | $37,870 | -$6,934 | $30,935 | 18.3% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $47,710 | -$9,251 | $38,458 | 19.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $57,100 | -$11,463 | $45,636 | 20.1% |
After federal income tax ($2,560), state tax ($1,476), and FICA ($2,897), a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Iowa takes home $30,935 per year — or $2,577 per month. The effective tax rate of 18.3% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Iowa faces an effective total tax rate of only 18.3%, keeping 81.7% of every gross dollar. That leaves $30,936 net out of $37,870 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 Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary that contributes $1,477 to the 3.9% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary is $2,560 (37%), but combined state ($1,477, 21%) + FICA ($2,897, 42%) make up the other 63% of the bill.
A Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $32,413 — only $1,477 (4.8%) more than in Iowa.
Iowa sits near the bottom (#37 of 48) for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $30,936 net/year works out to $2,578/month or $1,190/bi-weekly for this Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Iowa — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Iowa ranks #37 out of 48 states for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters after-tax take-home pay.
A Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Iowa earning a median salary of $37,870 will take home approximately $30,935 per year after federal income tax ($2,560), state income tax ($1,476), and FICA ($2,897). That is $2,577 per month or $1,189 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Iowa is 18.3%, broken down as: federal income tax 6.8%, 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 Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters's median salary of $37,870, the state income tax amounts to $1,476 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.9%.
After all taxes, a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Iowa takes home approximately $2,577 per month, or about $14.87 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 $37,870 for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 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 — $30,935/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