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Cedar Rapids, IA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Cedar Rapids, IA?

In the Cedar Rapids, IA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $30,940 a year ($14.87 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 340 of these jobs there. That is 37% below the $49,360 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $24,580 and $39,120; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Iowa tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $26,516 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Cedar Rapids, IA at a glance

Median salary

$30,940$14.87 per hour · $2,578 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$24,580$11.82/hr
25th percentile$27,860$13.39/hr
75th percentile$34,660$16.66/hr
90th percentile$39,120$18.81/hr
Jobs in this metro340Location quotient 0.42 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here37% belowAll-jobs median $49,360
Against Iowa2% aboveStatewide median $30,360
Against the U.S.12% belowNational median $35,320

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Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $31,000 a year leaves after tax in IowaFederal tax, FICA and Iowa withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$15 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $31,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $31,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Iowa publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Iowa.

Food preparation worker salary in Cedar Rapids, IA after taxes

$30,940
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$30,940
Net 86%
Fed 5%
IA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$26,516After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,210Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,020Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,533 / yr
Iowa state income tax$524 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,367 / yr
Customize deductions in full Iowa calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Cedar Rapids, IA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Cedar Rapids, IA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (IA)
10th percentile$11.82/hr$2,048$24,580$21,569
25th percentile$13.39/hr$2,322$27,860$24,146
MedianMedian$14.87/hr$2,578$30,940$26,516
75th percentile$16.66/hr$2,888$34,660$29,364
90th percentile$18.81/hr$3,260$39,120$32,778

Is $30,940 a good salary in Cedar Rapids, IA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$78,080Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)89.011% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household39.6%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other Iowa metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Cedar Rapids, IA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Cedar Rapids, IA: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Cedar Rapids, IA?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area was $30,940 in May 2025, about $2,578 a month or $14.87 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $30,360, so the metro pays 2% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Cedar Rapids, IA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Cedar Rapids, IA was $14.87 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.82 an hour and one in ten earned more than $18.81.

How many food preparation workers work in Cedar Rapids, IA?

BLS estimated 340 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 2.4 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.42 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Cedar Rapids, IA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Cedar Rapids, IA run from $24,580 at the 10th percentile to $27,860 at the 25th, $34,660 at the 75th, and $39,120 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Cedar Rapids, IA?

On a median gross salary of $30,940, an estimated $26,516 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,020 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,424 (an effective rate of 14.3%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Cedar Rapids, IA?

On the median annual salary of $30,940, gross monthly income is $2,578. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,210 per month (or $1,020 every two weeks).

Is $30,940 a good salary in Cedar Rapids, IA?

At $30,940, the median salary for food preparation workers is 39.6% of the Cedar Rapids, IA median household income ($78,080). It is 37% below the $49,360 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 89.0, so prices here run 11% below the U.S. average.