Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Social Science Research Assistants actually take home in Iowa?
3.9% flat rate — 18.7% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Social Science Research Assistants earning $40,940 in Iowa (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $40,940 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,928 | 7.2% |
| Iowa State Income Tax | -$1,596 | 3.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,538 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$593 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$7,657 | 18.7% |
| Take-Home Pay | $33,282 | 81.3% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Social Science Research Assistants in Iowa.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $22,260 | -$3,337 | $18,922 | 15.0% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $33,000 | -$5,787 | $27,212 | 17.5% |
| Median (P50) | $40,940 | -$7,657 | $33,282 | 18.7% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $44,520 | -$8,500 | $36,019 | 19.1% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $58,470 | -$11,785 | $46,684 | 20.2% |
After federal income tax ($2,928), state tax ($1,596), and FICA ($3,131), a Social Science Research Assistants in Iowa takes home $33,282 per year — or $2,773 per month. The effective tax rate of 18.7% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Social Science Research Assistants in Iowa faces an effective total tax rate of only 18.7%, keeping 81.3% of every gross dollar. That leaves $33,283 net out of $40,940 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 Social Science Research Assistants salary that contributes $1,597 to the 3.9% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Social Science Research Assistants salary is $2,929 (38%), but combined state ($1,597, 21%) + FICA ($3,132, 41%) make up the other 62% of the bill.
A Social Science Research Assistants earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $34,879 — only $1,597 (4.8%) more than in Iowa.
Iowa sits near the bottom (#44 of 45) for Social Science Research Assistants after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $33,283 net/year works out to $2,774/month or $1,280/bi-weekly for this Social Science Research Assistants in Iowa — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Social Science Research Assistants keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Iowa ranks #44 out of 45 states for Social Science Research Assistants after-tax take-home pay.
A Social Science Research Assistants in Iowa earning a median salary of $40,940 will take home approximately $33,282 per year after federal income tax ($2,928), state income tax ($1,596), and FICA ($3,131). That is $2,773 per month or $1,280 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Social Science Research Assistants in Iowa is 18.7%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.2%, 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 Social Science Research Assistants's median salary of $40,940, the state income tax amounts to $1,596 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.9%.
After all taxes, a Social Science Research Assistants in Iowa takes home approximately $2,773 per month, or about $16.00 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 $40,940 for Social Science Research Assistants 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 — $33,282/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