Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › Iowa
Waiter / Waitress Salary in Iowa (2026)
$10.10 per hour · take-home ≈ $18,106/year ($1,509/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in Iowa
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $15,080 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $21,000 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $35,370 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $47,980 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 22,410 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Iowa (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in Iowa
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $21,000 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 $18,106 — an effective tax rate of 13.8%.
| Gross (median) | $21,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$490 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$1,607 |
| Iowa state income tax | −$798 |
| Take-home (annual) | $18,106 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $1,509 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Iowa paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in Iowa?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in Iowa is $21,000 per year ($10.10 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $15,080 and $35,370.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in Iowa?
- On the median salary of $21,000, a single filer in Iowa takes home about $18,106 per year ($1,509 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 13.8%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in Iowa?
- BLS counts 22,410 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Iowa in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
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.