Fast Food and Counter Worker salary in Iowa
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A fast food and counter worker in Iowa earns a median of $28,390 a year ($13.65/hour equivalent), 9.0% below the national median of $31,200. Iowa ranks #38 of 51 states. About 40,290 people do this job in Iowa.
Take-home pay in Iowa
At the Iowa median, a single filer keeps about $24,562 a year after federal, FICA and Iowa taxes — $945 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Iowa paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,091.92
- Federal income tax
- −$47.27
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$67.70
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$15.83
- Iowa income tax
- −$16.42
- Take-home pay
- $944.70
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $28,390
- Federal
- $1,229
- FICA
- $2,172
- State + local
- $427
- Net
- $24,562
- Marginal federal rate
- 10.0%
- 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 | California | $42,280 |
| #2 | Washington | $37,710 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| #4 | Colorado | $36,270 |
| #5 | Vermont | $36,030 |
| #38 | Iowa | $28,390 |
| #49 | Oklahoma | $23,430 |
| #50 | Louisiana | $22,800 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $22,610 |
See the national fast food and counter worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Fast Food and Counter Workers (SOC 35-3023), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Iowa?
The median salary is $28,390 a year and the average is $28,940 (BLS May 2025).
Is Iowa a good state for fast food and counter workers?
Iowa ranks #38 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 9% below the national median of $31,200.
What is $28,390 after taxes in Iowa?
About $24,562 a year ($945 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.