Salaries › Food Prep Worker › Iowa
Food Prep Worker Salary in Iowa (2026)
$14.60 per hour · take-home ≈ $25,421/year ($2,118/month) for a single filer
Food Prep Worker pay range in Iowa
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $23,760 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $28,260 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $30,360 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $36,200 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $40,250 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 4,170 Food Prep Worker jobs in Iowa (occupation code 35-2021, “Food Preparation Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Iowa
A median Food Prep Worker salary of $30,360 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 $25,421 — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
| Gross (median) | $30,360 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,463 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,323 |
| Iowa state income tax | −$1,154 |
| Take-home (annual) | $25,421 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,118 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Iowa paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Prep Worker make in Iowa?
- The median Food Prep Worker salary in Iowa is $30,360 per year ($14.60 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $28,260 and $36,200.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Prep Worker in Iowa?
- On the median salary of $30,360, a single filer in Iowa takes home about $25,421 per year ($2,118 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.3%.
- How many Food Prep Worker jobs are there in Iowa?
- BLS counts 4,170 Food Prep Worker jobs in Iowa in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Prep Workers
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.