Cook salary in Iowa
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook in Iowa earns a median of $28,510 a year ($13.71/hour equivalent), 7.7% below the national median of $30,890. Iowa ranks #37 of 51 states. About 8,290 people do this job in Iowa.
Take-home pay in Iowa
At the Iowa median, a single filer keeps about $24,656 a year after federal, FICA and Iowa taxes — $948 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Iowa paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,096.54
- Federal income tax
- −$47.74
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$67.99
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$15.90
- Iowa income tax
- −$16.60
- Take-home pay
- $948.32
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $28,510
- Federal
- $1,241
- FICA
- $2,181
- State + local
- $432
- Net
- $24,656
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.8%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Iowa compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $48,120 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| #3 | California | $42,050 |
| #4 | Washington | $39,120 |
| #5 | New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| #37 | Iowa | $28,510 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $23,500 |
| #50 | West Virginia | $23,120 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $22,670 |
See the national cook salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 35-2011), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make in Iowa?
The median salary is $28,510 a year and the average is $27,600 (BLS May 2025).
Is Iowa a good state for cooks?
Iowa ranks #37 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 8% below the national median of $30,890.
What is $28,510 after taxes in Iowa?
About $24,656 a year ($948 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
Your business here? Sponsor this calculator from $19/week. See placements
Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.