A single filer earning $85,000 in Iowa takes home about $66,049 a year ($5,504 a month, $2,540 biweekly) in 2026, after $9,870 federal tax, $6,502 Social Security and Medicare, and $2,578 Iowa income tax.
#16 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $85,000 | $7,083 |
| Federal income tax | $9,870 | $822 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $5,270 | $439 |
| Medicare | $1,232 | $103 |
| Iowa income tax | $2,578 | $215 |
| Take-home | $66,049 | $5,504 |
| Federal marginal rate | 22% | |
| Iowa marginal rate | 3.80% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Connecticut. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $68,900 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 22% bracket ($50,400 to $105,700). You have about $36,800 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 24%. Only that top slice is taxed at 22%: your average federal rate is 11.6%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 22.3% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $666 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 | $38,000 | $4,560 |
| 22% on $50,400–$105,700 | $18,500 | $4,070 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 22% | 33.5% |
| Effective (average) | 11.6% | 22.3% |
Compared with the Iowa median
$85,000 is 113% 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) | $2,125/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $277,000 |
| 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) ($5,100/yr) | $5,100 | $3,784 | $1,316 |
| Max 401(k) ($24,500) | $24,500 | $18,779 | $5,721 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $2,928 | $1,472 |
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.
Iowa jobs that typically pay about $85,000
$85,000 is above the median pay of 88 of the 100 common occupations we track in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Iowa median between $82,500 and $87,500:
| Occupation | Iowa median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Management Analysts | $85,530 | +$530 |
Where $85,000 lands inside other Iowa jobs
For 9 of these occupations, $85,000 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 1, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Iowa pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 25th | $84,180 |
| Training and Development Specialists | 75th | $84,240 |
| Sales Representatives of Services | 75th | $84,990 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 75th | $85,320 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 75th | $85,680 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | 90th | $85,680 |
| Human Resources Specialists | 75th | $85,770 |
| Registered Nurses | 75th | $85,940 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 75th | $86,160 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 90th | $86,280 |
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 $85,000 after taxes in Iowa?
A single filer earning $85,000 in Iowa takes home about $66,049 a year ($5,504 a month, $2,540 biweekly) in 2026, after $9,870 federal tax, $6,502 Social Security and Medicare, and $2,578 Iowa income tax.
How much is a $85,000 salary per month after taxes in Iowa?
About $5,504 a month, or $2,540 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $85,000 in Iowa?
About $2,578 a year (marginal rate 3.80%).