Iowa paycheck: key takeaways
- Take-home: $59,394 a year ($2,284.40 biweekly) on a $75,000 salary — you keep 79.2% of your gross pay.
- Where it goes: $15,606 in taxes and payroll programs: $7,670 federal income tax, $5,738 Social Security and Medicare, $2,198 Iowa income tax.
- Next dollar: taxed at about 33.5% — a $5,000 raise adds $3,328 to take-home.
- Ranking: #16 of 51 for take-home pay at $75,000, and #6 once cost of living is included.
- Wage rules: minimum wage $7.25/hour; weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly; Form IA W-4.
Take-home 79.2% · Federal tax 10.2% · Social Security 6.2% · Medicare 1.5% · Iowa tax 2.9%
Iowa paycheck at a glance
- 3.8% flatIowa state income tax on wages
- $59,394Take-home on $75,000 (single)
- 33.5%Combined tax on your next dollar
- #6 of 51After adjusting for cost of living
- $7.25/hrIowa minimum wage (July 2026)
- 6.94%Combined sales tax (state + average local)
- $75,501Median household income (2024)
- Form IA W-4State withholding form
Iowa take-home pay by salary (2026)
The table below shows what a single filer takes home in Iowa at common salaries, paid every two weeks with no pre-tax deductions. Click a salary for its dedicated Iowa breakdown, or change any input in the calculator above to match your own situation.
| Salary | Take-home / year | Per month | Biweekly | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $25,797 | $2,150 | $992.18 | 14.0% |
| $40,000 | $33,452 | $2,788 | $1,286.61 | 16.4% |
| $50,000 | $41,107 | $3,426 | $1,581.03 | 17.8% |
| $60,000 | $48,762 | $4,063 | $1,875.45 | 18.7% |
| $75,000 | $59,394 | $4,950 | $2,284.40 | 20.8% |
| $100,000 | $76,032 | $6,336 | $2,924.30 | 24.0% |
| $150,000 | $108,743 | $9,062 | $4,182.42 | 27.5% |
The bars show the share of gross pay you keep. As income rises, federal brackets and Iowa's flat rate applied to more income pull that share down gradually — from 86.0% at $30,000 to 72.5% at $150,000.
Iowa salary ladder: $20,000 to $250,000
Filing status changes the result a lot. This ladder shows annual take-home pay in Iowa for a single filer, a married couple filing jointly on one income, and a head of household — from part-time earnings to high-income salaries.
| Gross salary | Single | Married (joint) | Head of household | Single: biweekly | Single: tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $17,972 | $18,470 | $18,362 | $691.22 | 10.1% |
| $25,000 | $21,899 | $23,088 | $22,704 | $842.28 | 12.4% |
| $30,000 | $25,797 | $27,705 | $26,632 | $992.18 | 14.0% |
| $35,000 | $29,624 | $32,016 | $30,559 | $1,139.40 | 15.4% |
| $40,000 | $33,452 | $35,944 | $34,487 | $1,286.61 | 16.4% |
| $45,000 | $37,279 | $39,871 | $38,351 | $1,433.82 | 17.2% |
| $50,000 | $41,107 | $43,799 | $42,179 | $1,581.03 | 17.8% |
| $55,000 | $44,934 | $47,726 | $46,006 | $1,728.24 | 18.3% |
| $60,000 | $48,762 | $51,594 | $49,834 | $1,875.45 | 18.7% |
| $65,000 | $52,589 | $55,421 | $53,661 | $2,022.67 | 19.1% |
| $70,000 | $56,067 | $59,249 | $57,489 | $2,156.42 | 19.9% |
| $75,000 | $59,394 | $63,076 | $61,316 | $2,284.40 | 20.8% |
| $80,000 | $62,722 | $66,904 | $65,144 | $2,412.38 | 21.6% |
| $90,000 | $69,377 | $74,559 | $72,799 | $2,668.34 | 22.9% |
| $100,000 | $76,032 | $82,214 | $79,614 | $2,924.30 | 24.0% |
| $110,000 | $82,687 | $89,869 | $86,269 | $3,180.26 | 24.8% |
| $125,000 | $92,605 | $101,351 | $96,251 | $3,561.74 | 25.9% |
| $150,000 | $108,743 | $118,789 | $112,486 | $4,182.42 | 27.5% |
| $175,000 | $124,880 | $135,426 | $128,623 | $4,803.09 | 28.6% |
| $200,000 | $141,979 | $153,025 | $145,722 | $5,460.72 | 29.0% |
| $250,000 | $174,334 | $188,822 | $178,719 | $6,705.15 | 30.3% |
Effective and marginal rates diverge as pay rises. Effective rate is total tax divided by gross pay; marginal rate is the tax on your next dollar:
| Salary | Effective rate | Marginal rate (next $1) |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | 14.0% | 23.5% |
| $50,000 | 17.8% | 23.5% |
| $75,000 | 20.8% | 33.5% |
| $100,000 | 24.0% | 33.5% |
| $150,000 | 27.5% | 35.5% |
| $250,000 | 30.3% | 38.1% |
How the tax is calculated: a $75,000 worked example
Here is the full arithmetic for a single filer earning $75,000 in Iowa, so you can follow every dollar. Federal income tax is progressive: the standard deduction of $16,100 is subtracted first, leaving $58,900 of taxable income, and each slice is taxed at its own rate.
| Federal bracket | Income in bracket | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 – $12,400 | $12,400 | 10% | $1,240 |
| $12,400 – $50,400 | $38,000 | 12% | $4,560 |
| $50,400 – $105,700 | $8,500 | 22% | $1,870 |
| Federal income tax | $7,670 |
IRS Publication 15-T withholding gives the same annual figure ($7,670) for a standard W-4. Next come the payroll taxes: Social Security at 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 ($4,650) and Medicare at 1.45% ($1,088).
Then Iowa: subtract the $16,100 standard deduction, which leaves $58,900 of Iowa taxable income.
| Iowa bracket | Income in bracket | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0+ | $58,900 | 3.8% | $2,238 |
| Less personal credit | −$40 | ||
| Iowa income tax | $2,198 |
Adding it all up: $7,670 federal + $5,738 FICA + $2,198 Iowa = $15,606 in total, so $59,394 is left — the same result as the calculator.
Iowa income tax rates and brackets for 2026
Iowa taxes wages at a flat 3.8%. The standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly. A personal tax credit of $40 ($80 for couples) applies. At $75,000, your next dollar of Iowa income is taxed at 3.8%.
Single filers
| Taxable income over | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 | 3.8% |
Federal brackets, the standard deduction and FICA are covered in our 2026 federal tax bracket guide.
Reading your Iowa pay stub
Every deduction on a Iowa pay stub maps to a line in the calculator. Abbreviations vary by payroll provider, so here are the labels you are likely to see and what each one is:
| Deduction | Common stub labels |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | FIT · FITW · FED W/H |
| Social Security | OASDI · SOC SEC · FICA-SS |
| Medicare | MED · MEDICARE · FICA-MED |
| Iowa income tax | IA SIT · IA W/H · IA-PIT |
Pre-tax deductions such as a traditional 401(k), HSA or health premium appear above the tax lines and lower your taxable wages. Our pre-tax deductions guide explains which taxes each one reduces.
Iowa hourly wage to take-home pay
Working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, a single filer in Iowa takes home these amounts in 2026. The last column is your real hourly wage after tax.
| Hourly wage | Gross / year | Take-home / year | Weekly take-home | After-tax hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $31,200 | $26,715 | $513.76 | $12.84 |
| $20.00 | $41,600 | $34,677 | $666.86 | $16.67 |
| $25.00 | $52,000 | $42,638 | $819.96 | $20.50 |
| $30.00 | $62,400 | $50,599 | $973.06 | $24.33 |
| $40.00 | $83,200 | $64,851 | $1,247.14 | $31.18 |
| $50.00 | $104,000 | $78,694 | $1,513.34 | $37.83 |
Overtime in Iowa: a $20/hour example
Overtime is paid at 1.5× for hours over 40 a week under federal law. Extra pay is taxed at your marginal rate, so overtime is worth less after tax than it looks:
| Overtime hours / week | Gross / year | Take-home / year | Weekly take-home | Kept from overtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 hours | $41,600 | $34,677 | $666.86 | — |
| 5 hours | $49,400 | $40,648 | $781.68 | 76.6% |
| 10 hours | $57,200 | $46,618 | $896.51 | 76.6% |
| 15 hours | $65,000 | $52,589 | $1,011.33 | 76.6% |
Federal law also allows a deduction for qualified overtime pay through 2028, claimed when you file your return rather than reflected in paycheck withholding — see our overtime tax guide.
Iowa paycheck by pay frequency
Annual take-home is the same however often you are paid, but each check is different. For a $75,000 salary in Iowa (weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly is what state law requires or permits):
| Pay frequency | Checks / year | Gross per check | Take-home per check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | $1,442.31 | $1,142.20 |
| Every 2 weeks | 26 | $2,884.62 | $2,284.40 |
| Twice a month | 24 | $3,125.00 | $2,474.76 |
| Monthly | 12 | $6,250.00 | $4,949.53 |
Ways to keep more of your Iowa paycheck
Traditional 401(k) contributions
A traditional 401(k) lowers your federal and state taxable wages, so each dollar you save costs less than a dollar of take-home. On a $75,000 salary in Iowa:
| Contribution | Amount / year | Take-home drops by | Tax saved | Take-home / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | $0 | $0 | $0 | $59,394 |
| 3% | $2,250 | $1,670 | $581 | $57,725 |
| 6% | $4,500 | $3,339 | $1,161 | $56,055 |
| 10% | $7,500 | $5,565 | $1,935 | $53,829 |
| 15% | $11,250 | $8,623 | $2,628 | $50,772 |
Children and dependents
Each qualifying child under 17 lowers federal withholding by the $2,200 child tax credit if you enter it on your W-4, and Iowa also gives a $40 dependent credit. Effect on a $75,000 single-filer paycheck:
| Children | Take-home / year | Biweekly |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $59,394 | $2,284.40 |
| 1 | $61,634 | $2,370.55 |
| 2 | $63,874 | $2,456.70 |
| 3 | $66,114 | $2,542.86 |
Raises: how much you actually keep
| Current salary | Raise | Gross raise | Added take-home | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | 3% | $1,200 | $919 | 76.5% |
| $40,000 | 5% | $2,000 | $1,531 | 76.5% |
| $40,000 | 10% | $4,000 | $3,062 | 76.5% |
| $60,000 | 3% | $1,800 | $1,378 | 76.5% |
| $60,000 | 5% | $3,000 | $2,297 | 76.5% |
| $60,000 | 10% | $6,000 | $4,593 | 76.5% |
| $75,000 | 3% | $2,250 | $1,497 | 66.6% |
| $75,000 | 5% | $3,750 | $2,496 | 66.6% |
| $75,000 | 10% | $7,500 | $4,991 | 66.5% |
| $100,000 | 3% | $3,000 | $1,997 | 66.5% |
| $100,000 | 5% | $5,000 | $3,328 | 66.5% |
| $100,000 | 10% | $10,000 | $6,655 | 66.5% |
Compared with a no-income-tax state: the same $75,000 salary would take home about $2,198 more per year in Texas than in Iowa, before considering sales tax, property tax and cost of living.
Check your W-4. Entering dependents lowers withholding; ticking the multiple-jobs box or adding extra withholding raises it. Read our W-4 guide, then test changes in the calculator's advanced options.
Iowa minimum wage in 2026
The Iowa minimum wage is $7.25 per hour as of July 1, 2026. Someone working full time (2,080 hours) at that rate earns about $15,080 a year and takes home roughly $13,926, or $535.63 every two weeks, after federal, FICA and state taxes.
That is $1,161 a month. For comparison, the median Iowa household earned $75,501 in 2024, so a single full-time minimum-wage paycheck covers about 20.0% of the state median household income before tax.
Iowa pay rules, withholding forms and reciprocity
Pay frequency: Weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly. Wages must be paid at least monthly, no later than 12 days after the end of the pay period.
Withholding form: Form IA W-4 — give it to your employer along with the federal W-4 when you start a job or your situation changes. Official guidance comes from the Iowa Department of Revenue.
Iowa income, sales tax and cost of living
The median household in Iowa earned $75,501 in 2024 (Census ACS), so a $75,000 salary is 1% below the state median. Prices matter as much as pay: Iowa's overall price level is 87.8 against a national 100 — about 12% cheaper than average (BEA regional price parity, 2024).
Adjusting for that, the $59,394 you take home on $75,000 buys what $67,677 would buy at the national average price level — #6 of 51 for cost-of-living-adjusted take-home, compared with #16 before adjusting for prices.
Iowa's state sales tax is 6.00%, and local governments add an average of 0.94%, for a combined 6.94% (Tax Foundation, July 1, 2026). Combine the 3.8% state income tax rate on your next dollar with this sales tax rate to see how Iowa taxes what you earn and what you spend.
Iowa vs neighboring states
Living or working near a border? Here is take-home pay on a $75,000 salary (single filer) in the states that touch Iowa, compared with Iowa's $59,394.
| # | Neighbor | State income tax | Take-home / year | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | None | $61,593 | +$2,198 |
| 2 | Nebraska | 2.46%–4.55% | $59,060 | −$335 |
| 3 | Missouri | 2%–4.7% | $59,005 | −$389 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 3.5%–7.65% | $58,649 | −$745 |
| 5 | Illinois | 4.95% flat | $58,025 | −$1,370 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5.35%–9.85% | $57,686 | −$1,708 |
Because Iowa has reciprocity agreements with Illinois, commuters from those states usually pay income tax only to the state where they live.
How Iowa compares with other states
At $75,000, a single filer in Iowa keeps $59,394 a year — #16 of 51 and $389 more than the median state. States with similar take-home pay:
Iowa salary after tax
- $30,000 after tax in Iowa
- $35,000 after tax in Iowa
- $40,000 after tax in Iowa
- $45,000 after tax in Iowa
- $50,000 after tax in Iowa
- $55,000 after tax in Iowa
- $60,000 after tax in Iowa
- $65,000 after tax in Iowa
- $70,000 after tax in Iowa
- $75,000 after tax in Iowa
- $80,000 after tax in Iowa
- $85,000 after tax in Iowa
- $90,000 after tax in Iowa
- $100,000 after tax in Iowa
- $120,000 after tax in Iowa
- $150,000 after tax in Iowa
Iowa paycheck FAQ
Does Iowa have a state income tax?
Yes. Iowa uses a flat 3.8% rate in 2026.
How much is take-home pay on $60,000 a year in Iowa?
A single filer earning $60,000 takes home about $48,762 per year, or $1,875.45 biweekly, in 2026 (effective tax rate 18.7%).
How much is take-home pay on $100,000 a year in Iowa?
A single filer earning $100,000 takes home about $76,032 a year, or $2,924.30 biweekly, in 2026.
What is the Iowa minimum wage in 2026?
Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (rates as of July 1, 2026). A full-time worker at that rate earns about $15,080 a year and takes home roughly $13,926.
Where does Iowa rank for take-home pay?
At a $75,000 salary (single filer), Iowa ranks #16 of 51 jurisdictions for take-home pay — $389 above the median state. After adjusting for cost of living it ranks #6.
What is the marginal tax rate in Iowa at $75,000?
Counting federal income tax, FICA and state income tax, the next dollar you earn at $75,000 is taxed at about 33.5%. Of that, 22% is your federal bracket and 3.8% is Iowa income tax.
How often do employers in Iowa have to pay you?
Weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly. Wages must be paid at least monthly, no later than 12 days after the end of the pay period.
Which state withholding form do I fill out in Iowa?
Form IA W-4. Your employer uses it, together with the federal W-4, to set your state withholding.
What is the sales tax in Iowa?
Iowa's state sales tax is 6.00% and the average local rate adds 0.94%, for a combined average of 6.94% as of July 1, 2026.
How does a 401(k) change my Iowa paycheck?
Contributing $6,000 to a traditional 401(k) on a $75,000 salary lowers annual take-home by $4,452 and reduces your tax bill by about $1,548.
How much does a raise add to take-home pay in Iowa?
A $5,000 raise at $75,000 adds about $3,328 to annual take-home — you keep 66.55% of it after tax.
Can I live in one state and work in Iowa?
Iowa has income tax reciprocity with Illinois. Residents of those states can usually ask their employer to skip Iowa withholding and pay tax only to their home state.
Sources & methodology
Federal withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T (2026); see our methodology and editorial policy. Figures reviewed September 29, 2026. Results are estimates, not tax advice — see the disclaimer.
- Iowa DOR — 2026 individual income tax rates
- Tax Foundation — 2026 State Income Tax Rates and Brackets (as of Jan 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor — State minimum wage laws (rates effective July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor — State payday requirements
- TEAM Companies — State tax withholding forms (accurate as of Jan 20, 2026)
- Tax Foundation — State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (as of July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2024 (ACS 1-year, ACSBR-025)
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by State and Metro Area
- FRED (St. Louis Fed) — BEA 2024 Regional Price Parities by state, data table
- State tax reciprocity agreements (2026)