Working full time at $21 an hour ($43,680 a year) in Iowa, a single filer takes home about $36,269 a year, $3,022 a month or $17.44 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,008 Iowa income tax.
#18 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $43,680 | $3,640 |
| Federal income tax | $3,062 | $255 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,708 | $226 |
| Medicare | $633 | $53 |
| Iowa income tax | $1,008 | $84 |
| Take-home | $36,269 | $3,022 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Iowa marginal rate | 3.80% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Idaho. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $27,580 (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 $22,820 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 7.0%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 17.0% 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 | $15,180 | $1,822 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 23.4% |
| Effective (average) | 7.0% | 17.0% |
Compared with the Iowa median
$43,680 is 58% 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) | $1,092/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $142,000 |
| 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) ($2,621/yr) | $2,621 | $2,207 | $414 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,368 | $1,032 |
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 jobs that typically pay about $43,680
$43,680 is above the median pay of 33 of the 100 common occupations we track in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Iowa median between $42,640 and $44,720:
| Occupation | Iowa median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Light Truck Drivers | $42,750 | −$930 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,490 | −$190 |
| General Office Clerks | $44,310 | +$630 |
Where $43,680 lands inside other Iowa jobs
For 3 of these occupations, $43,680 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 7, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Iowa pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Hand Packers and Packagers | 75th | $43,010 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 10th | $43,040 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | 25th | $43,210 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 25th | $43,460 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 10th | $43,680 |
| Sales Representatives of Services | 25th | $43,720 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 75th | $44,060 |
| General Maintenance and Repair Workers | 25th | $44,110 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 90th | $44,150 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | 10th | $44,450 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $19 an hour in Iowa$2,757/mo
- $20 an hour in Iowa$2,890/mo
- $22 an hour in Iowa$3,155/mo
- $23 an hour in Iowa$3,288/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 $21 an hour after taxes in Iowa?
Working full time at $21 an hour ($43,680 a year) in Iowa, a single filer takes home about $36,269 a year, $3,022 a month or $17.44 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,008 Iowa income tax.
How much is $21 an hour per month after taxes in Iowa?
About $3,022 a month, or $1,395 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $21 an hour in Iowa?
About $1,008 a year (marginal rate 3.80%).