Food Preparation Workers pay range in Iowa City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,990 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Iowa City earn between $30,190 and $37,810.
- $26K10th
- $30K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,960 | $2,913 | $16.81 |
| Median | $35,120 | $2,927 | $16.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,190 | $2,516 | $14.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,810 | $3,151 | $18.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Iowa City vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Iowa City earn 9% more than the Iowa average ($32,080) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $34,960 | $35,120 | $26,370 | $44,990 | 270 |
| Iowa | $32,080 | $30,360 | $23,760 | $40,250 | 4,170 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Iowa City
On the average salary of $34,960, a single filer in Iowa City takes home about $29,554 a year, or $2,463 a month and $1,137 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Iowa City a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Iowa City area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $34,960 buys what about $38,204 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Iowa City ($50,060). A typical home costs $302,063, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Iowa cities
Iowa City ranks 1st of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Iowa City$34,960
- Des Moines$34,780
- Dubuque$34,020
- Davenport$32,640
- Ames$32,560
- Sioux City$32,510
- Waterloo$32,330
- Cedar Rapids$31,920
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Iowa City: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Iowa City?
$16.81 an hour on average, and $16.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Iowa City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Iowa City?
About $29,554 a year ($2,463 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,960. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Iowa City than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Iowa City, IA (26980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
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