Paycheck Atlas

Waiters and Waitresses salary in Iowa

The median waiters and waitresses in Iowa earns $21,000 a year, 40% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $1,509 a month.

10th percentile
$15,080
25th percentile
$15,080
Median percentile
$21,000
75th percentile
$35,370
90th percentile
$47,980

Based on 22,410 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$18,106 take-home a year
Gross pay$21,000
Federal income tax−$490
Social Security + Medicare−$1,607
Iowa income tax (approx.)−$798
Monthly take-home$1,509
Every two weeks$696

Does it go far here?

$23,928Median pay in Iowa is worth this at average US prices (local price level 87.8 vs 100).
64%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($972 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Iowa

JobMedian pay
Physicians, All Other$295,190
Family Medicine Physicians$265,200
Chief Executives$211,190
Dentists, General$181,520
Architectural and Engineering Managers$147,320
Computer and Information Systems Managers$143,780
Pharmacists$138,860
Physician Assistants$134,770

All waiters and waitresses salaries · Take-home pay in Iowa