2026 Tax Year · Single Filer · Iowa

$15 an Hour in Iowa — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)

At $15/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $31,200. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Iowa state income tax, your take-home pay is $12.69/hr. In Iowa's low cost-of-living environment, this is below what's needed for comfortable living in Iowa.

Gross Annual

$31,200

Net Annual
$26,389

Net Monthly

$2,199

Net Hourly

$12.69

Pay Period Breakdown

Hourly $15.00 $2.31 $12.69

Daily (8 hrs) $120.00 $18.51 $101.49

Weekly (40 hrs) $600.00 $92.53 $507.47

Biweekly $1,200.00 $185.06 $1,014.94

Monthly $2,600.00 $400.96 $2,199.04

Annual $31,200 $4,812 $26,389

Full Tax Breakdown — Iowa, Single Filer

Gross Annual Income $15/hr × 2,080 hrs $31,200

Federal Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Federal Taxable Income $15,100

Federal Income Tax 5.0% −$1,564.00

Social Security (6.2%) up to $184,500 −$1,934.40

Medicare (1.45%) −$452.40

Iowa Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Iowa State Income Tax 2.8% −$860.70

Total Tax 15.4% effective −$4,811.50

Net Take-Home $26,389

How Does Iowa Compare?

See how $15/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:

California $422.38 $2,236/mo $26,827 Florida None $2,271/mo $27,249 New York $958.25 $2,191/mo $26,291 Texas None $2,271/mo $27,249 Washington None $2,271/mo $27,249

Open Full Calculator for Iowa — $15/hr →

Equivalent Annual Salary Pages

$15/hr = $31,200/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:

Adjacent Rates in Iowa

Same Rate, Other States

Cost of Living in Iowa

✗ Difficult — $15/hr falls short in Iowa

Avg 1BR rent in Des Moines: $900/mo — over the 30% rule (35% of gross monthly)
Minimum comfortable income in Iowa: $32,000/yr
Your net annual: $26,389 ($5,612 below comfortable threshold)
Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$19.7/hr

Working at $15/hr in Iowa

Iowa's low cost of living — Des Moines 1BR averages $900/month — and declining income tax rate make this wage workable. The flat 3.8% rate is among the lowest in states with an income tax. Rural Iowa offers even lower living costs.

At $15/hr, you work roughly 71 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Des Moines ($900/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 2.1x Iowa's federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at $15/hr in Iowa is 15.4% -- federal income tax accounts for 5.0%, FICA 7.7%, and Iowa state tax 2.8%.

Iowa's economy is dominated by agriculture, food processing (Tyson, John Deere), insurance (Principal Financial, Transamerica in Des Moines), and manufacturing. Des Moines has emerged as an insurance and financial services hub with a growing tech presence.

Iowa has simplified to a flat 3.8% income tax rate (2026) and continues phasing down. The state also offers significant deductions and credits for lower-income earners. Iowa's tax burden has dropped substantially over the past five years.

Iowa follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr.

Monthly Budget on $15/hr in Iowa

Based on $2,199/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Iowa's cost of living.

Rent / Housing $900 $10,800 40.9%

Food (groceries + dining) $264 $3,168 12.0%

Transportation $220 $2,640 10.0%

Utilities $132 $1,584 6.0%

Healthcare $110 $1,320 5.0%

Entertainment $110 $1,320 5.0%

Savings (10% target) $220 $2,640 10.0%

Remaining / Surplus $243 $2,916 11.1%

Overtime Pay — $15/hr in Iowa

At time-and-a-half ($22.50/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Iowa. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~19.1%.

5 hrs/week $113 $91 $4,550

10 hrs/week $225 $182 $9,100

20 hrs/week $450 $364 $18,200

Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $15/hr

How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $12.69 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.

Tank of gas (12 gal) $50 3.4 hrs 4 hrs

Week of groceries $120 8 hrs 9.5 hrs

iPhone 16 (base) $799 53.3 hrs 63 hrs

1 month rent (Des Moines) $900 60 hrs 71 hrs

Used car ($10k) $10,000 666.7 hrs 788.3 hrs

Median new car ($48k) $48,000 3200 hrs 3783.5 hrs

What Jobs Pay $15/hr in Iowa?

At $15/hour, you earn 21% below the estimated median hourly wage in Iowa. Jobs that commonly pay around this rate include:

barista, home health aide, security guard, warehouse associate, hotel front desk agent, call center representative

These figures reflect statewide averages for Iowa. The Des Moines metro area typically pays 8% more than rural parts of the state for the same role. Specialized certifications, union membership, or government employment at this wage tier often add meaningful benefits that raise total compensation above the base hourly figure.

At 15/hr in Iowa, your net income of $26,389 falls $5,612 short of the estimated $32,000 comfortable living threshold. Roommates, a side income, or a wage increase would significantly improve financial stability.

Geographic Wage Variation Within Iowa

The $15/hr figure reflects a statewide average. Wages for the same job title can differ significantly by location within Iowa. The Des Moines metro area generally commands a 8% premium over the state average, while rural areas typically pay 4% less.

Des Moines metro$16.2/hr+8%Higher pay, higher COL

Iowa average$15/hrBaselineThis page's figures

Rural Iowa$14.4/hr-4%Lower pay, lower COL

When choosing between metro and rural Iowa at this wage tier, compare net monthly surplus rather than gross hourly rates. Rural areas have lower rent, shorter commutes, and lower day-to-day costs -- the purchasing power difference is often smaller than the raw wage gap suggests.

Savings Goals at $15/hr in Iowa

Saving $220/month (10% of net), here is how long it takes to reach common financial milestones from a starting balance of zero:

Weekend getaway$3,00014 monthsFlights + hotel, domestic

3-month emergency fund$4,87823 monthsCore expenses only

6-month emergency fund$9,75645 monthsFull financial cushion

Used car (no loan)$8,00037 monthsReliable used vehicle

New car down payment$25,000114 months~50% down to minimize payments

Home down payment$4,80022 months10% on a starter home in Iowa

Your monthly budget surplus of $243 means you can accelerate these timelines by directing extra cash beyond the 10% baseline. Automating transfers on payday is the most reliable way to stay consistent.

Debt Payoff on $15/hr in Iowa

Allocating 15% of net monthly income ($330/month) toward debt repayment is sustainable while still allowing for savings and essentials.

Credit card$5,000$33016 months

Student loan$30,000$33091 months

These timelines exclude interest, which meaningfully extends payoff for high-APR credit cards. Prioritize high-interest debt first. Even an extra $50/month toward a credit card balance can cut months off your payoff timeline and save hundreds in interest.

401(k) and Retirement at $15/hr

Contributing 6% ($1,872/year) to a pre-tax 401(k) saves you $331 in taxes at your 17.7% marginal rate -- your actual out-of-pocket cost is only $1,541/year. If your employer matches up to 6%, that match is $1,872 in additional annual compensation -- never leave it uncaptured.

Saving $2,640/year and investing at a 7% average annual return builds significant wealth over time:

5 years$13,200$13,992$792 interest

10 years$26,400$28,063$1,663 interest

20 years$52,800$56,602$3,802 interest

What Would a Raise Mean at $15/hr in Iowa?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,682 to your annual net take-home in Iowa after taxes. Your marginal rate on additional income is approximately 19.1%, so you keep 80.8% of every extra dollar earned.

$1/hr raise$16/hr$1,682$140

5% raise$15.8/hr$1,345$112

10% raise$16.5/hr$2,523$210

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 15 an hour a good wage in Iowa?

15/hr in Iowa gives you $26,389/year after taxes -- below what's needed for comfortable living in Iowa. Avg 1BR rent in Des Moines: $900/month (exceeds the 30% rule). It places you 21% below the estimated state median wage.

What is 15 an hour after taxes in Iowa?

15/hr in Iowa = $26,389/year or $2,199/month net. Effective tax rate: 15.4%, made up of 5.0% federal, 7.7% FICA, and 2.8% Iowa state tax.

What jobs pay 15 an hour in Iowa?

Common roles at 15/hr in Iowa include cashier, food service worker, retail associate. Metro areas like Des Moines typically pay 8% more for the same role.

How does 15/hr go further -- Iowa or Texas?

15/hr in Iowa has similar purchasing power to ~19.7/hr in Texas. Iowa state income tax reduces take-home vs Texas.

How long to build an emergency fund at 15/hr in Iowa?

Saving $220/month (10% of net), you reach a 3-month emergency fund of $4,878 in 23 months. A 6-month fund takes 45 months.

What does a 401(k) cost at 15/hr in Iowa?

A 6% contribution ($1,872/year) saves $331 in taxes at your 17.7% marginal rate. Your net out-of-pocket cost is only $1,541/year -- and if your employer matches, it is essentially free money.

What does a $1/hr raise mean at 15/hr in Iowa?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,682/year to your net take-home in Iowa after the 19.1% marginal tax rate. You keep 80.8% of every additional dollar earned.

What is the effective tax rate at 15/hr in Iowa?

At 15/hr in Iowa, your total effective tax rate is 15.4%: federal income tax 5.0%, Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.5%, and Iowa state tax 2.8%. You keep 84.6% of every gross dollar.

Can you afford rent in Des Moines on 15/hr?

The average 1BR in Des Moines is $900/month. At 15/hr, rent consumes 35% of your gross monthly pay -- above the 30% affordability guideline. Your net hourly rate of $12.69 means you work 71 hours per month to cover rent.

What does 15/hr look like as an annual salary?

15/hr times 2,080 hours equals $31,200/year gross. After all taxes in Iowa, your net annual income is $26,389 -- an effective take-home rate of 84.6%.