Working full time at $14 an hour ($29,120 a year) in Iowa, a single filer takes home about $25,123 a year, $2,094 a month or $12.08 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $455 Iowa income tax.
#20 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $29,120 | $2,427 |
| Federal income tax | $1,314 | $110 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $1,805 | $150 |
| Medicare | $422 | $35 |
| Iowa income tax | $455 | $38 |
| Take-home | $25,123 | $2,094 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Iowa marginal rate | 3.80% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Vermont. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $13,020 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 12% bracket ($12,400 to $50,400). You have about $37,380 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 4.5%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 13.7% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $766 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on $12,400–$50,400 | $620 | $74 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 23.4% |
| Effective (average) | 4.5% | 13.7% |
Compared with the Iowa median
$29,120 is 39% of the Iowa median household income of $75,059 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $728/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $95,000 |
| Iowa median home value | $208,000 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the Iowa median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($1,747/yr) | $1,747 | $1,494 | $253 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,444 | $956 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal and Iowa income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS). Some states tax HSA contributions; this estimate assumes they follow federal rules.
What applies at this income
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
- Iowa's deductions and lower brackets keep your state tax under 2% of pay, even though your top state rate is 3.80%.
Iowa jobs that typically pay about $29,120
$29,120 is above the median pay of 9 of the 100 common occupations we track in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Iowa median between $28,080 and $30,160:
| Occupation | Iowa median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,210 | −$910 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,210 | −$910 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,390 | −$730 |
| Childcare Workers | $28,420 | −$700 |
| Fast Food Cooks | $28,510 | −$610 |
| Cashiers | $28,970 | −$150 |
| Dishwashers | $29,300 | +$180 |
Where $29,120 lands inside other Iowa jobs
For 1 of these occupations, $29,120 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 9, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Iowa pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 10th | $28,480 |
| Janitors and Cleaners | 10th | $28,490 |
| Retail Salespersons | 25th | $28,580 |
| Restaurant Cooks | 10th | $28,690 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 10th | $29,010 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 75th | $29,090 |
| Preschool Teachers | 25th | $29,240 |
| Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 25th | $29,500 |
| Light Truck Drivers | 10th | $29,600 |
| General Office Clerks | 10th | $29,660 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $13 an hour in Iowa$1,958/mo
- $15 an hour in Iowa$2,226/mo
- $16 an hour in Iowa$2,359/mo
- Iowa income tax brackets2026
- Minimum wage in Iowa2026
- Iowa property taxby county
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $14 an hour after taxes in Iowa?
Working full time at $14 an hour ($29,120 a year) in Iowa, a single filer takes home about $25,123 a year, $2,094 a month or $12.08 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $455 Iowa income tax.
How much is $14 an hour per month after taxes in Iowa?
About $2,094 a month, or $966 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $14 an hour in Iowa?
About $455 a year (marginal rate 3.80%).