A single filer earning $30,000 in Iowa takes home about $25,797 a year ($2,150 a month, $992 biweekly) in 2026, after $1,420 federal tax, $2,295 Social Security and Medicare, and $488 Iowa income tax.
#20 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $30,000 | $2,500 |
| Federal income tax | $1,420 | $118 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $1,860 | $155 |
| Medicare | $435 | $36 |
| Iowa income tax | $488 | $41 |
| Take-home | $25,797 | $2,150 |
| 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 $13,900 (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 $36,500 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 4.7%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 14.0% 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 | $1,500 | $180 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 23.4% |
| Effective (average) | 4.7% | 14.0% |
Compared with the Iowa median
$30,000 is 40% 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) | $750/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $98,000 |
| 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) ($1,800/yr) | $1,800 | $1,522 | $278 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,426 | $974 |
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 $30,000
$30,000 is above the median pay of 10 of the 100 common occupations we track in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Iowa median between $27,500 and $32,500:
| Occupation | Iowa median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,210 | −$1,790 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,210 | −$1,790 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,390 | −$1,610 |
| Childcare Workers | $28,420 | −$1,580 |
| Fast Food Cooks | $28,510 | −$1,490 |
| Cashiers | $28,970 | −$1,030 |
| Dishwashers | $29,300 | −$700 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $30,360 | +$360 |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,510 | +$510 |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,360 | +$1,360 |
Where $30,000 lands inside other Iowa jobs
for 10, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Iowa pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 25th | $29,240 |
| Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 25th | $29,500 |
| Light Truck Drivers | 10th | $29,600 |
| General Office Clerks | 10th | $29,660 |
| Hand Packers and Packagers | 10th | $29,870 |
| Janitors and Cleaners | 25th | $30,280 |
| Security Guards | 10th | $30,350 |
| Restaurant Cooks | 25th | $30,360 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 10th | $30,420 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 25th | $30,750 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
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.
Major Cities & Counties in Iowa
Largest by population (Census ACS 2020–2024). Property tax for each:
- Des Moines pop. 212,421
- Cedar Rapids pop. 137,264
- Davenport pop. 100,913
- Sioux City pop. 86,101
- Iowa City pop. 75,752
- Ankeny pop. 72,615
- West Des Moines pop. 71,083
- Ames pop. 67,669
- Waterloo pop. 67,008
- Council Bluffs pop. 62,586
- Polk County pop. 503,175
- Linn County pop. 230,004
- Scott County pop. 174,608
- Johnson County pop. 156,639
- Black Hawk County pop. 131,049
- Dallas County pop. 107,968
- Woodbury County pop. 106,247
- Story County pop. 100,466
- Dubuque County pop. 99,030
- Pottawattamie County pop. 93,424
Frequently asked questions
How much is $30,000 after taxes in Iowa?
A single filer earning $30,000 in Iowa takes home about $25,797 a year ($2,150 a month, $992 biweekly) in 2026, after $1,420 federal tax, $2,295 Social Security and Medicare, and $488 Iowa income tax.
How much is a $30,000 salary per month after taxes in Iowa?
About $2,150 a month, or $992 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $30,000 in Iowa?
About $488 a year (marginal rate 3.80%).