Waiter and Waitress salary in Iowa
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in Iowa earns a median of $21,000 a year ($10.10/hour equivalent), 40.4% below the national median of $35,230. Iowa ranks #47 of 51 states. About 22,410 people do this job in Iowa.
Take-home pay in Iowa
At the Iowa median, a single filer keeps about $18,757 a year after federal, FICA and Iowa taxes — $721 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Iowa paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $807.69
- Federal income tax
- −$18.85
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$50.08
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$11.71
- Iowa income tax
- −$5.62
- Take-home pay
- $721.43
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $21,000
- Federal
- $490
- FICA
- $1,607
- State + local
- $146
- Net
- $18,757
- 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 | Hawaii | $62,390 |
| #2 | Vermont | $59,140 |
| #3 | Washington | $56,130 |
| #4 | Oregon | $48,410 |
| #5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| #47 | Iowa | $21,000 |
| #49 | South Carolina | $18,370 |
| #50 | Oklahoma | $17,910 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $15,080 |
See the national waiter and waitress salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Iowa?
The median salary is $21,000 a year and the average is $26,940 (BLS May 2025).
Is Iowa a good state for waiters and waitresses?
Iowa ranks #47 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 40% below the national median of $35,230.
What is $21,000 after taxes in Iowa?
About $18,757 a year ($721 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.