$20,000 a Year After Tax in Iowa
If you make $20,000 a year living in Iowa, you will take home $17,972 per year — $1,498 a month — after 2026 federal and state taxes (single filer). Adjust filing status, 401(k), and children below.
- Federal income tax$390
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,240
- Medicare (1.45%)$290
- Iowa income tax$108
- Take-home pay$17,972
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.80% state
$20,000 after tax breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | Biweekly | % of pay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $20,000 | $1,667 | $769 | 100.0% |
| Federal income tax | $390 | $33 | $15 | 1.9% |
| Social Security | $1,240 | $103 | $48 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | $290 | $24 | $11 | 1.5% |
| Iowa income tax | $108 | $9 | $4 | 0.5% |
| Total tax | $2,028 | $169 | $78 | 10.1% |
| Take-home pay | $17,972 | $1,498 | $691 | 89.9% |
By filing status
Is $20,000 enough? A 50/30/20 budget
Applying the popular 50/30/20 rule to your $1,498 monthly take-home pay:
A common affordability rule is to keep rent under 30% of gross pay — about $500 a month on $20,000.
What $20,000 buys in Iowa cities
The median wage across all jobs in Iowa is $48,540 (BLS, May 2025), so $20,000 is 59% below the typical Iowa paycheck and below what three-quarters of workers here earn. Prices vary a lot within the state: Sioux City, IA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Omaha, NE is the costliest.
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 91.9 | $1,144 | 76% | $354 | $19,553 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91.7 | $1,092 | 73% | $406 | $19,598 |
| Davenport, IA | 89.1 | $928 | 62% | $570 | $20,175 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 89.0 | $800 | 53% | $698 | $20,201 |
| Iowa City, IA | 91.5 | $932 | 62% | $566 | $19,639 |
| Waterloo, IA | 87.1 | $793 | 53% | $705 | $20,644 |
| Sioux City, IA | 86.5 | $925 | 62% | $573 | $20,788 |
| Dubuque, IA | 87.3 | $841 | 56% | $657 | $20,580 |
| Ames, IA | 88.8 | $975 | 65% | $523 | $20,232 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on $20,000, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
$20,000 after tax: best and worst states
Iowa ranks #18 of 51 for take-home pay on $20,000. You would keep the most in Alaska ($18,080) and the least in Oregon ($17,160) — a gap of $920 a year.
| # | State | State tax | Take-home | Monthly | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 1 | Florida | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 1 | Idaho | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 1 | Nevada | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 1 | New Hampshire | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 1 | North Dakota | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 1 | Ohio | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 1 | South Dakota | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 1 | Tennessee | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 1 | Texas | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$108 |
| 18 | Iowa | $108 | $17,972 | $1,498 | — |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $614 | $17,466 | $1,456 | −$506 |
| 48 | Alabama | $735 | $17,345 | $1,445 | −$627 |
| 49 | Massachusetts | $780 | $17,300 | $1,442 | −$672 |
| 50 | Illinois | $845 | $17,235 | $1,436 | −$737 |
| 51 | Oregon | $920 | $17,160 | $1,430 | −$812 |
About Iowa taxes
Iowa has a flat income tax of 3.80%. The state allows a $16,100 standard deduction for single filers ($32,200 for married couples), plus a $40 personal exemption credit.
A raise to $25,000 would add $3,928 to your yearly take-home pay in Iowa — you keep 79% of the extra $5,000.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $20,000 a year after taxes in Iowa?
A single filer earning $20,000 in Iowa takes home about $17,972 a year in 2026 after $2,028 in federal, state, Social Security and Medicare taxes — an effective tax rate of 10.1%.
How much is $20,000 a year per month after taxes in Iowa?
About $1,498 per month, $749 twice a month, or $691 per biweekly paycheck for a single filer.
What hourly wage is $20,000 a year?
$20,000 a year is $9.62 an hour before tax at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours). After tax in Iowa it works out to about $8.64 an hour.
Is $20,000 a good salary in Iowa?
It depends heavily on where in Iowa you live and your household size. Compare it with typical pay and living costs for your city on our cost-of-living pages. As a rule of thumb, the 50/30/20 budget on this take-home pay leaves about $749 a month for needs, $449 for wants and $300 for savings.