EN

Language

Search
CostAnswer

Explore

Language

MethodologyAbout

Dubuque, IA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

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

In the Dubuque, IA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $32,520 a year ($15.63 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 150 of these jobs there. That is 33% below the $48,750 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $26,530 and $40,250; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Iowa tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $27,726 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Dubuque, IA at a glance

Median salary

$32,520$15.63 per hour · $2,710 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$26,530$12.75/hr
25th percentile$30,280$14.56/hr
75th percentile$36,790$17.69/hr
90th percentile$40,250$19.35/hr
Jobs in this metro150Location quotient 0.46 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here33% belowAll-jobs median $48,750
Against Iowa7% aboveStatewide median $30,360
Against the U.S.8% belowNational median $35,320

Run the numbers on your own pay

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

Take-home payWhat $33,000 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$16 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $33,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $33,000 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 Dubuque, IA after taxes

$32,520
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$32,520
Net 85%
Fed 5%
IA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$27,726After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,310Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,066Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,722 / yr
Iowa state income tax$584 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,488 / yr
Customize deductions in full Iowa calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Dubuque, IA, hourly and yearly

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

What food preparation workers earned in the Dubuque, IA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (IA)
10th percentile$12.75/hr$2,211$26,530$23,101
25th percentile$14.56/hr$2,523$30,280$26,011
MedianMedian$15.63/hr$2,710$32,520$27,726
75th percentile$17.69/hr$3,066$36,790$30,995
90th percentile$19.35/hr$3,354$40,250$33,643

Is $32,520 a good salary in Dubuque, 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$77,630Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)87.312.7% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household41.9%of area median income

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

Compare markets

Food preparation workers pay in other Iowa metros

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

Food preparation worker pay in Dubuque, IA: common questions

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

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Dubuque, IA metro area was $32,520 in May 2025, about $2,710 a month or $15.63 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $30,360, so the metro pays 7% above the state.

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

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Dubuque, IA was $15.63 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.75 an hour and one in ten earned more than $19.35.

How many food preparation workers work in Dubuque, IA?

BLS estimated 150 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 2.6 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.46 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

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

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Dubuque, IA run from $26,530 at the 10th percentile to $30,280 at the 25th, $36,790 at the 75th, and $40,250 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $32,520, an estimated $27,726 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,066 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,794 (an effective rate of 14.7%).

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

On the median annual salary of $32,520, gross monthly income is $2,710. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,310 per month (or $1,066 every two weeks).

Is $32,520 a good salary in Dubuque, IA?

At $32,520, the median salary for food preparation workers is 41.9% of the Dubuque, IA median household income ($77,630). It is 33% below the $48,750 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 87.3, so prices here run 12.7% below the U.S. average.