Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Iowa City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,620 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Iowa City earn between $15,180 and $36,780.
- $15K10th
- $15K25th
- $22KMedian
- $37K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,750 | $2,312 | $13.34 |
| Median | $22,030 | $1,836 | $10.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $15,180 | $1,265 | $7.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,780 | $3,065 | $17.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Iowa City vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Iowa City earn 3% more than the Iowa average ($26,940) and 31% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $27,750 | $22,030 | $15,080 | $48,620 | 1,890 |
| Iowa | $26,940 | $21,000 | $15,080 | $47,980 | 22,410 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Iowa City
On the average salary of $27,750, a single filer in Iowa City takes home about $24,019 a year, or $2,002 a month and $924 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% 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 waiters and waitresses? 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 $27,750 buys what about $30,325 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Iowa City ($50,060). A typical home costs $302,063, or 10.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Iowa cities
Iowa City ranks 4th of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Davenport pays the most ($29,950).
- Davenport$29,950
- Sioux City$29,280
- Ames$29,250
- Iowa City$27,750
- Cedar Rapids$27,490
- Des Moines$27,240
- Dubuque$26,530
- Waterloo$26,300
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Iowa City: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Iowa City?
$13.34 an hour on average, and $10.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Iowa City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $15,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Iowa City?
About $24,019 a year ($2,002 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,750. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Iowa City than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
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 35-3031; area Iowa City, IA (26980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 1.38, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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