Salaries › Fast Food Cook › Iowa
Fast Food Cook Salary in Iowa (2026)
$13.71 per hour · take-home ≈ $24,004/year ($2,000/month) for a single filer
Iowa ranks 37th of 51 states for Fast Food Cook pay, with a median about 10% below the national average. Of the 8,290 Fast Food Cook jobs BLS counts in Iowa, the typical worker earns $28,510 a year — though pay ranges from $15,080 for newcomers to $40,810 at the top.
Fast Food Cook pay range in Iowa
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $15,080 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $16,140 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $28,510 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $33,710 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $40,810 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 8,290 Fast Food Cook jobs in Iowa (occupation code 35-2011, “Cooks, Fast Food”).
Gross vs. take-home in Iowa
A median Fast Food Cook salary of $28,510 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Iowa state income tax, a single filer keeps about $24,004 — an effective tax rate of 15.8%.
| Gross (median) | $28,510 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,241 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,181 |
| Iowa state income tax | −$1,083 |
| Take-home (annual) | $24,004 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,000 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Iowa paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fast Food Cook make in Iowa?
- The median Fast Food Cook salary in Iowa is $28,510 per year ($13.71 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $16,140 and $33,710.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Cook in Iowa?
- On the median salary of $28,510, a single filer in Iowa takes home about $24,004 per year ($2,000 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.8%.
- How many Fast Food Cook jobs are there in Iowa?
- BLS counts 8,290 Fast Food Cook jobs in Iowa in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food Cooks
Other salaries in Iowa
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Iowa state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Iowa.