Food preparation worker pay in Des Moines, IA at a glance
Median salary
$33,120$15.92 per hour · $2,760 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
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Food preparation worker salary in Des Moines, IA after taxes
Food preparation workers pay range in Des Moines, IA, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (IA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $13.29/hr | $2,303 | $27,640 | $23,973 |
| 25th percentile | $14.19/hr | $2,460 | $29,520 | $25,429 |
| MedianMedian | $15.92/hr | $2,760 | $33,120 | $28,185 |
| 75th percentile | $18.34/hr | $3,178 | $38,140 | $32,028 |
| 90th percentile | $22.23/hr | $3,853 | $46,230 | $38,221 |
Is $33,120 a good salary in Des Moines, IA?
It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.
Food preparation workers pay in Iowa and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Food preparation worker pay in Des Moines, IA: common questions
What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area was $33,120 in May 2025, about $2,760 a month or $15.92 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $30,360, so the metro pays 9% above the state.
What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA was $15.92 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.29 an hour and one in ten earned more than $22.23.
How many food preparation workers work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
BLS estimated 770 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 1.9 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.33 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA run from $27,640 at the 10th percentile to $29,520 at the 25th, $38,140 at the 75th, and $46,230 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
On a median gross salary of $33,120, an estimated $28,185 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,084 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,935 (an effective rate of 14.9%).
How much do food preparation workers make per month in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
On the median annual salary of $33,120, gross monthly income is $2,760. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,349 per month (or $1,084 every two weeks).
Is $33,120 a good salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
At $33,120, the median salary for food preparation workers is 38.6% of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median household income ($85,890). It is 36% below the $51,820 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 91.7, so prices here run 8.3% below the U.S. average.