Working full time at $22 an hour ($45,760 a year) in Iowa, a single filer takes home about $37,861 a year, $3,155 a month or $18.20 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,087 Iowa income tax.
#17 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $45,760 | $3,813 |
| Federal income tax | $3,311 | $276 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,837 | $236 |
| Medicare | $664 | $55 |
| Iowa income tax | $1,087 | $91 |
| Take-home | $37,861 | $3,155 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Iowa marginal rate | 3.80% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Colorado. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $29,660 (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 $20,740 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 7.2%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 17.3% 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 | $17,260 | $2,071 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 23.4% |
| Effective (average) | 7.2% | 17.3% |
Compared with the Iowa median
$45,760 is 61% 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) | $1,144/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $149,000 |
| 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) ($2,746/yr) | $2,746 | $2,312 | $434 |
| 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 $45,760
$45,760 is above the median pay of 38 of the 100 common occupations we track in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Iowa median between $44,720 and $46,800:
| Occupation | Iowa median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | $44,860 | −$900 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $45,150 | −$610 |
| Medical Assistants | $45,480 | −$280 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | −$100 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,090 | +$330 |
| School Bus Drivers | $46,320 | +$560 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $46,610 | +$850 |
Where $45,760 lands inside other Iowa jobs
For 4 of these occupations, $45,760 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 6, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Iowa pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 25th | $45,460 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 90th | $45,490 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 10th | $45,510 |
| Construction Laborers | 25th | $45,560 |
| Security Guards | 75th | $45,590 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 10th | $45,590 |
| Nursing Assistants | 75th | $45,650 |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 25th | $45,770 |
| Retail Salespersons | 90th | $45,900 |
| Dental Assistants | 25th | $45,990 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $20 an hour in Iowa$2,890/mo
- $21 an hour in Iowa$3,022/mo
- $23 an hour in Iowa$3,288/mo
- $24 an hour in Iowa$3,420/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 $22 an hour after taxes in Iowa?
Working full time at $22 an hour ($45,760 a year) in Iowa, a single filer takes home about $37,861 a year, $3,155 a month or $18.20 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,087 Iowa income tax.
How much is $22 an hour per month after taxes in Iowa?
About $3,155 a month, or $1,456 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $22 an hour in Iowa?
About $1,087 a year (marginal rate 3.80%).