Iowa Paycheck Calculator

Updated for 2026 tax year · figures checked on November 3, 2026

Iowa taxes income at a flat 3.8%, and employers withhold it after a deduction that depends on your IA W-4 marital status. This Iowa paycheck calculator, also a salary and take-home pay calculator, shows Iowa withholding next to federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.

On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, a single filer claiming the basic $40 allowance has a $2,307.69 paycheck and takes home about $1,870.92, or $48,644 a year.

Take-home pay per bi-weekly paycheck

$1,870.92

$48,643.92 a year from $59,999.94 gross pay (26 paychecks)

Take-home 81.1%
Federal income tax 8.4%
Social Security 6.2%
Medicare 1.4%
State income tax 2.9%

Paycheck breakdown per paycheck and per year in Iowa
Item	Per paycheck	Per year
Gross pay	$2,307.69	$59,999.94
Federal income tax	−$193.08	−$5,020.08
Social Security	−$143.08	−$3,720.08
Medicare	−$33.46	−$869.96
State income tax	−$67.15	−$1,745.90
Take-home pay	$1,870.92	$48,643.92

How we calculated this

Estimates for informational purposes only, based on 2026 withholding rules. Your actual paycheck may differ. This is not tax advice. Report an issue

Iowa salary calculator: what your result means

Your result is take-home pay after federal and Iowa withholding. In the $60,000 example, federal income tax is about 8.4% of gross pay, Social Security and Medicare 7.7%, and Iowa income tax 2.9%.

Iowa allowances are dollar amounts, not counts: the total on line 7 of your IA W-4 comes straight off the tax, spread across your paychecks. Enter that total under More options, and say whether your spouse has earned income if you're married.

At $100,000, take-home pay is about $2,919.77 every two weeks, or $75,914 a year. A $40,000 salary paid weekly comes to about $641.05 per check.

How Iowa taxes your paycheck

Iowa withholding at a glance
State income tax on wages	Flat 3.8%
State payroll programs withheld from pay	None

Source: Iowa Code § 422.5 (2026), Tax imposed

Withholding deduction of $13,000 a year for most filers, $19,500 for heads of household and $26,000 for married couples whose spouse has no earned income.
Allowances on the IA W-4 are dollar amounts that come straight off the tax, such as $40 for yourself and per dependent.

Iowa has taxed all income at one rate since 2025, 3.8% for 2026. For withholding, employers first subtract a deduction of $13,000 a year for most employees, $19,500 for heads of household and $26,000 for married couples whose spouse has no earned income, then apply the rate and subtract your allowance dollars.

Employer payments into retirement plans and for health insurance aren't Iowa taxable wages, and Iowa withholding generally applies to the same wages as federal withholding, so 401(k), Section 125 health insurance, HSA and FSA deductions lower your Iowa tax too.

Iowa school district surtax

Many Iowa school districts add a surtax that you pay on your state return, not through payroll. The IA W-4 suggests that if you live in a surtax district, you claim fewer allowances or ask for extra withholding so you don't owe at tax time.

Things to know about Iowa paychecks

Allowances are dollars, not counts. On the IA W-4 you claim allowances in dollars, such as $40 for yourself and $40 per dependent, and the total comes off your yearly tax. (Source: Iowa Department of Revenue, 2026 IA W-4 Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate (44-019, 11/13/2025))
A lower starting minimum wage. Employers may pay new employees $6.35 an hour for their first 90 calendar days before the $7.25 minimum applies. (Source: Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Minimum Wage poster (rev. 3.13.25))
The unemployment wage base fell sharply. Iowa's taxable wage base for unemployment insurance dropped from $39,500 in 2025 to $20,400 in 2026. (Source: Iowa Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance Employer Handbook 2026)

Federal taxes on every paycheck

Every US paycheck has the same three federal deductions, whichever state you work in. Together, Social Security and Medicare are called FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes.

Federal income tax withholding. Withholding is tax your employer takes out of each paycheck and sends to the IRS on your behalf. The amount depends on your pay and your Form W-4, using the IRS method in Publication 15-T. It is an estimate of your yearly tax; you settle the difference when you file your return.
Social Security. 6.2% of your wages, up to the wage base of $184,500 for the year. The wage base is the most pay that Social Security tax applies to.
Medicare. 1.45% of all your wages, with no limit. Once your pay from one employer passes $200,000 in a year, your employer also withholds an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on the amount above it.

Source: IRS Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide.

Ways to change your paycheck

To change Iowa withholding, file a new IA W-4. Raising your allowance dollars lowers withholding; adding an extra amount on line 8 raises it, which can cover the school district surtax.

Because retirement and health payments aren't Iowa taxable wages, a 401(k) contribution lowers both federal and Iowa withholding.

Update your Form W-4. Claiming dependents, checking the Step 2 box or asking for extra withholding changes how much federal tax comes out of each paycheck. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help you fill it in.
Pre-tax deductions. Money you put into a traditional 401(k), an HSA or employer health insurance comes out before federal income tax, so your take-home pay drops by less than the amount you save.
Bonuses. Employers often withhold federal tax on a bonus paid separately at a flat rate. Add a bonus under More options to see it.

Iowa payroll rules

Minimum wage: $7.25 an hour. Employers may pay $6.35 for the first 90 calendar days of employment, and the employer's share for tipped employees must be at least $4.35 an hour. Small retail and service businesses grossing under $300,000 a year aren't covered. (Source: Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Minimum Wage poster (rev. 3.13.25))
Overtime: Overtime in Iowa is covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act: time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek. (Source: Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Minimum Wage poster (rev. 3.13.25))
How often you must be paid: Employers must pay wages at least monthly, semi-monthly or bi-weekly, on regular paydays set in advance. (Source: Iowa Code chapter 91A (2026), Wage Payment Collection)
Final paycheck: When your job ends, you must be paid all wages earned by the next regular payday. Any commission true-up is due within 30 days. (Source: Iowa Code chapter 91A (2026), Wage Payment Collection)

For employers in Iowa

State unemployment tax: Employers pay unemployment insurance tax on the first $20,400 of each employee's wages in 2026, down from $39,500 in 2025. New non-construction employers pay 1.000% and new construction employers 5.400%. Employees don't pay it. (Source: Iowa Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance Employer Handbook 2026)
New hire reporting: Employers must report new hires within 15 days of hire. (Source: Iowa Department of Revenue, 2026 IA W-4 Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate (44-019, 11/13/2025))
State income tax withholding: Employers that transact business in Iowa withhold Iowa income tax whenever federal tax is withheld, after registering through the Iowa Business Tax Registration. (Source: Iowa Department of Revenue, Iowa Withholding Tax Information)

Iowa's 2026 unemployment tax rates come from rate table D.

Compare Iowa with neighboring states

Take-home pay on a $60,000 salary, single filer, paid bi-weekly, no pre-tax deductions
			Per paycheck
South Dakota	$0	$50,390	$1,938.07
Iowa	$1,746	$48,644	$1,870.92
Missouri	$1,872	$48,518	$1,866.07
Nebraska	$2,124	$48,266	$1,856.37
Wisconsin	$2,765	$47,625	$1,831.74
Illinois	$2,825	$47,565	$1,829.41
Minnesota	$3,181	$47,209	$1,815.73

Paycheck calculators for neighboring states: Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin.

Most-searched state paycheck calculators

Iowa paycheck FAQ

What is the Iowa income tax rate in 2026?

A flat 3.8% on all taxable income.

What do IA W-4 allowances mean?

They're dollar amounts that reduce your yearly Iowa tax, such as $40 for yourself and for each dependent. Your employer divides the total by the number of paychecks.

Is the school district surtax withheld from my paycheck?

No. It's paid on your Iowa return. You can claim fewer allowances or ask for extra withholding to cover it.

When do I get my final paycheck in Iowa?

By the next regular payday after your job ends, with any commission true-up within 30 days.

What is the minimum wage in Iowa?

$7.25 an hour, or $6.35 during the first 90 days of a new job.

Is overtime taxed more in Iowa?

No. Overtime is withheld at the same 3.8% Iowa rate as other wages; a larger paycheck can mean more federal withholding that period.

Sources and methodology

Every rate and limit on this page comes from the official sources below, checked on 2026-11-03. Read how our paycheck calculator works for the calculation order and its limits.