Use this free Iowa paycheck calculator to see your 2026 take-home pay from a salary or an hourly wage. It shows every deduction: federal income tax, the flat 3.8% Iowa income tax, your school district surtax, Social Security and Medicare, per paycheck and per year, for Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and everywhere else in the state.
How Iowa Paycheck Taxes Work: 2026 Guide
Updated for 2026. Iowa taxes income at a flat 3.8%, down from a top rate of 6% in 2023. It starts from your federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction and the federal tips, overtime and senior deductions also lower your Iowa tax. Most school districts add a small surtax on top of your Iowa tax. The minimum wage is the federal $7.25. Every figure on this page comes from the Iowa Department of Revenue, the IRS or SSA.
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How your Iowa paycheck is calculated
Your employer starts with your gross pay, removes pre-tax benefits, withholds federal and Iowa income tax, Social Security and Medicare, takes after-tax deductions and pays you the rest. The school district surtax is usually settled when you file.
- Gross paySalary, or hours × rate, plus overtime, bonuses and tips
- Pre-tax deductions401(k), health premiums, HSA, FSA, commuter benefits
- TaxesFederal income tax, 3.8% Iowa tax, school surtax, Social Security and Medicare
- After-tax deductionsRoth 401(k), union dues, garnishments
- Net payThe take-home amount paid to you
What is taken out of an Iowa paycheck in 2026
| Deduction | 2026 rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% by bracket | Taxable wages after the federal standard deduction |
| Iowa income tax | 3.8% flat | Federal taxable income, less $40 credits |
| School district surtax | 0% to 20% of Iowa tax | Your Iowa income tax, by school district |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Wages up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 | All wages |
| State disability or family leave | None | Iowa has no employee payroll contribution |
Iowa flat income tax rate for 2026
Iowa moved to a single 3.8% rate in 2025, finishing a tax reform that cut the top rate from 8.53% in 2022 to 6% in 2023 and 5.7% in 2024. The rate is still 3.8% in 2026. Since 2023 Iowa starts from federal taxable income, the figure after the federal standard or itemized deduction. So the federal standard deduction of $16,100 for single filers ($32,200 joint) also shields that income from Iowa tax, and anyone who owes no federal income tax usually owes no Iowa tax either.
After applying 3.8%, Iowa subtracts a $40 credit for you, your spouse and each dependent, $40 more for a head of household and $20 more for anyone 65 or older (Iowa Department of Revenue statistical report). A single filer earning $100,000 has $83,900 of taxable income. The tax is 3.8% of that, $3,188.20, less the $40 credit, or $3,148.20, about 3.1% of gross pay.
Traditional 401(k) contributions, health premiums, HSA and FSA contributions lower your Iowa tax because they lower federal taxable income.
Iowa school district surtax
Iowa school districts can add an income surtax of up to 20% of your Iowa income tax, with voter approval. It is based on the district where you live on December 31. In 2024, 283 districts charged one (Iowa Department of Revenue). Because it is a percentage of your Iowa tax rather than your income, it is small: a 5% surtax on the $2,198 Iowa tax of a $75,000 salary is about $110 a year. Enter your district's rate under Personal Details; the list of rates is on the Iowa Department of Revenue's individual income tax forms page. Appanoose County also adds a 1% emergency medical services surtax.
Tips and overtime in Iowa
Because Iowa starts from federal taxable income, the federal deductions for qualified tips (up to $25,000) and the overtime premium (up to $12,500, or $25,000 for joint filers) flow through to Iowa for 2025 to 2028. The federal $6,000 senior deduction does too. A server earning $40,000 plus $15,000 in tips pays Iowa tax on $23,900 instead of $38,900.
Federal taxes on every Iowa paycheck
Federal income tax depends on your income, filing status and the choices on your W-4. For 2026 the brackets run from 10% to 37%, and the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for joint filers and $24,150 for heads of household (IRS).
- Social Security: 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026, a maximum of $11,439 (SSA).
- Medicare: 1.45% of all wages. Employers also withhold an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a year.
Take-home pay examples in Iowa for 2026
These results come from the calculator above for a single filer paid monthly, with no pre-tax deductions and no school surtax:
| Salary | Federal tax | IA tax | Social Security + Medicare | Take-home per year | Per month | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $1,248 | $3,825 | $41,107 | $3,426 | 17.8% |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $1,628 | $4,590 | $48,762 | $4,063 | 18.7% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $2,198 | $5,738 | $59,394 | $4,950 | 20.8% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $3,148 | $7,650 | $76,032 | $6,336 | 24.0% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $5,048 | $11,475 | $108,743 | $9,062 | 27.5% |
| $200,000 | $36,734 | $6,948 | $14,339 | $141,979 | $11,832 | 29.0% |
A married couple filing jointly on $150,000 of combined pay takes home about $118,789 a year (20.8% in total taxes). With two children under 17, a couple earning $100,000 takes home about $86,694. An hourly worker on $25 an hour, 40 hours a week, earns $52,000 and takes home about $42,638 a year, or $3,553 a month.
Where a $75,000 Iowa salary goes in 2026
Single filer, no pre-tax deductions, yearly amounts
Source: Digicalcy calculation using 2026 IRS, SSA and Iowa Department of Revenue rates.
Iowa take-home pay compared with nearby states
On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $76,032 in Iowa, $74,375 in Illinois and $74,260 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Iowa's 3.8% rate on federal taxable income is now one of the lowest in the Midwest. Compare with our Illinois and Indiana paycheck calculators.
Live in Illinois and work in Iowa, or the reverse? Iowa and Illinois have a reciprocal agreement, so you pay income tax only to the state where you live. File the other state's exemption form with your employer.
Paychecks in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport
Iowa cities and counties do not tax wages, so the same salary gives almost the same take-home pay in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Iowa City, Sioux City and Ames. The only difference is your school district surtax, which usually adds less than $200 a year.
How bonuses, overtime and tips are taxed in Iowa
- Bonuses: Employers usually withhold a flat 22% federal tax and 3.8% Iowa tax on bonuses, plus Social Security and Medicare. Your real tax is settled when you file. On a $100,000 salary you keep about $6,655 of a $10,000 bonus. See the bonus tax calculator.
- Overtime: Iowa follows the federal rule: 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. The federal overtime deduction carries over to Iowa. See the overtime calculator.
- Tips: Employers can pay tipped workers $4.35 an hour in cash wages if tips bring them to $7.25. Qualified tips of up to $25,000 are deductible from both federal and Iowa tax.
How pre-tax deductions lower your Iowa taxes
| Deduction | Federal income tax | Iowa income tax | Social Security and Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional 401(k), 403(b), 457 | Lowers | Lowers | No change |
| Health, dental and vision premiums | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
| HSA through payroll | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
| Health and dependent care FSA | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
A $10,000 401(k) contribution on a $100,000 Iowa salary
Single filer, 2026, yearly amounts
The contribution saves $2,580 in income tax, so take-home pay falls by only $7,420.
Salary or hourly pay in Iowa
For hourly pay, multiply your rate by your weekly hours and by 52. A full-time year is 2,080 hours. Iowa's minimum wage matches the federal $7.25 an hour, or $15,080 a year full time (U.S. Department of Labor). A full-time worker on $7.25 an hour owes no federal or Iowa income tax and takes home about $13,926 a year after Social Security and Medicare.
When you leave a job, Iowa employers must pay your final wages by the next regular payday.
Why your actual paycheck may differ from this estimate
- This calculator estimates your tax for the full year. Employers withhold using the IRS and Iowa withholding formulas and your W-4 and IA W-4, so each check can be a little higher or lower.
- The school district surtax is usually not withheld from paychecks; it is added when you file your Iowa return.
- Iowa credits such as the earned income credit and the child and dependent care credit are claimed when you file.
- Social Security stops once your wages pass $184,500, so late-year paychecks of high earners are larger.
How to increase your take-home pay in Iowa
- Check your federal withholding with the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator and update your W-4 and IA W-4 after a raise, a new job or a change in your family.
- Use pre-tax benefits such as a 401(k), HSA, FSA and commuter benefits. Each dollar saves federal tax and 3.8% Iowa tax.
- Iowa lets you deduct contributions to an Iowa 529 college savings plan, up to a yearly limit per beneficiary. Enter them under Iowa Subtractions.
How this calculator works
The calculator estimates your full-year tax and divides it by your pay periods. It uses the 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (Rev. Proc. 2025-32, including the 2025 tax law changes), the 3.8% Iowa rate on federal taxable income, the Iowa personal and dependent credits, the school district surtax rate you enter and the 2026 Social Security wage base. For joint filers, enter combined household wages. Results are estimates, not tax advice.
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.
Iowa Paycheck Calculator FAQs
How much is $100,000 after taxes in Iowa?
A single filer earning $100,000 in Iowa takes home about $76,032 a year in 2026, or $6,336 a month. That is after $13,170 federal income tax, $3,148 Iowa income tax and $7,650 Social Security and Medicare, with no school surtax or pre-tax deductions.
What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes in Iowa?
For a single filer in 2026, total taxes take about 17.8% of a $50,000 salary, 20.8% of $75,000, 24% of $100,000 and 27.5% of $150,000. That includes federal and Iowa income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
What is the Iowa state income tax rate?
Iowa has a flat 3.8% income tax for 2025 and 2026. It applies to your federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction also lowers your Iowa tax, and you get a $40 credit for each person and dependent.
How much is $60,000 after taxes in Iowa?
A single filer earning $60,000 in Iowa takes home about $48,762 a year in 2026, or $4,063 a month, after $5,020 federal tax, $1,628 Iowa tax and $4,590 Social Security and Medicare.
What is the Iowa school district surtax?
Most Iowa school districts add a surtax of up to 20% of your Iowa income tax, based on the district where you live on December 31. Because it is a share of your Iowa tax, it is small: 5% on a $75,000 salary is about $110 a year.
Does Iowa tax tips and overtime?
Iowa starts from federal taxable income, so the federal deductions for qualified tips (up to $25,000) and the overtime premium (up to $12,500, or $25,000 joint) also lower your Iowa tax for 2025 to 2028.
Is an Iowa salary calculator the same as a paycheck calculator?
For Iowa take-home pay, yes. Both estimate how much of your pay you keep after taxes and deductions. This calculator works for salaried and hourly workers and shows results per paycheck and per year.
What is the minimum wage in Iowa in 2026?
Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum, or $15,080 a year for full-time work. Tipped employees can be paid $4.35 an hour in cash wages if tips make up the rest.
How is overtime paid in Iowa?
Iowa follows federal law: most hourly workers get 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. The federal overtime deduction carries over to your Iowa return.
More paycheck and tax calculators
- Illinois Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with a flat state income tax
- Indiana Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with state and county income tax
- Colorado Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with a flat 4.4% state income tax
- Texas Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with no state income tax
- Overtime Calculator: time and a half pay
- Bonus Tax Calculator: how much of a bonus you keep
- Federal Tax Withholding Calculator: check your W-4