Job Salary Guide · 2026
Chef Salary After Tax in Waterloo
Based on BLS OEWS data · IA · Single filer
Chef Salary Range
25th Percentile
$40,000
Take-home:
$32,658
$2,722/mo
Entry to mid-level
Median
$58,000
Take-home:
$46,437
$3,870/mo
Typical salary
75th Percentile
$80,000
Take-home:
$61,626
$5,136/mo
Senior / specialist
Tax Breakdown
At median salary of $58,000
Cost of Living in Waterloo
1BR Monthly Rent
$880/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
$1,100/mo
COL Index
0.82
Comfortable Rent Max
$967/mo
50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner
Based on your monthly take-home of $3,870 ($46,440/yr)
$1,935
per month
- ›Rent / mortgage
- ›Groceries
- ›Utilities
- ›Insurance
- ›Minimum debt payments
- ›Transportation
$1,161
per month
- ›Dining out
- ›Streaming services
- ›Gym
- ›Hobbies
- ›Travel
- ›Shopping
$774
per month
- ›Emergency fund
- ›401(k) / IRA
- ›Investments
- ›Down payment fund
- ›Debt payoff (extra)
Needs / year
$23,220
Wants / year
$13,932
Savings / year
$9,288
Chef Salary in Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Chef salary in Waterloo?
The median Chef salary in Waterloo (IA) is $58,000 per year based on BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $40,000 and the 75th percentile is $80,000.
What is the take-home pay for a Chef in Waterloo?
At the median salary of $58,000, a Chef in IA takes home approximately $46,437 per year ($3,870/month) after federal and state taxes. The effective tax rate is 19.94%.
Can a Chef afford rent in Waterloo?
The average 1-bedroom rent in Waterloo is $880/month. On the median Chef salary, your rent-to-income ratio is 22.7%, which is "Comfortable". Financial experts recommend keeping rent below 25–30% of take-home pay ($967/month at this salary).
How does cost of living affect Chef salaries in Waterloo?
Waterloo has a cost-of-living index of 0.82 (1.00 = national average). Waterloo is 18% cheaper than the US average, so the Chef salary goes further here than in high-cost metros.