Cook salary in Iowa
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook in Iowa earns a median of $35,670 a year ($17.15/hour equivalent), 4.6% below the national median of $37,390. Iowa ranks #38 of 51 states. About 12,270 people do this job in Iowa.
Take-home pay in Iowa
At the Iowa median, a single filer keeps about $30,137 a year after federal, FICA and Iowa taxes — $1,159 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Iowa paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,371.92
- Federal income tax
- −$80.78
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$85.06
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.89
- Iowa income tax
- −$27.06
- Take-home pay
- $1,159.12
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $35,670
- Federal
- $2,100
- FICA
- $2,729
- State + local
- $704
- Net
- $30,137
- 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 | Washington | $46,800 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| #3 | Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| #4 | Hawaii | $45,420 |
| #5 | Vermont | $45,390 |
| #38 | Iowa | $35,670 |
| #49 | West Virginia | $29,590 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $29,560 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $29,050 |
See the national cook salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make in Iowa?
The median salary is $35,670 a year and the average is $35,700 (BLS May 2025).
Is Iowa a good state for cooks?
Iowa ranks #38 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 5% below the national median of $37,390.
What is $35,670 after taxes in Iowa?
About $30,137 a year ($1,159 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.