Iowa Paycheck Calculator

In Iowa, your paycheck is reduced by federal income tax (10-37%), Iowa state income tax (3.8%), Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%). Total effective tax rate is typically 25-35% for most workers.

Iowa has relatively low state income taxes compared to many states. However, consider cost of living (86.1 vs national avg of 100) and sales tax (6%) when comparing.

Pay-period breakdown for $65,000 salary in Iowa. With prefilled $5,000.00 401(k) contribution and $3,600.00 annual health deduction, single-filer take-home using the standard deduction is annual $45,610.24, monthly $3,800.85 [IA]; semi-monthly $1,900.43, biweekly $1,754.24 [IA]; weekly $877.12, daily $175.42, hourly $21.93 [IA]. Gross pay is annual $65,000.00, monthly $5,416.67 [IA]; semi-monthly $2,708.33, biweekly $2,500.00 [IA]; weekly $1,250.00, daily $250.00, hourly $31.25 [IA]. Take-home is 70.2% of gross after those deductions, estimated federal/state income taxes, and FICA; 3.8% flat state income tax applies. Context, not deducted: gross/median-household ratio 0.86; state sales tax 6%, cost index 86.1 (100 = US average). Uses divisors 12/24/26/52/260/2,080. 260 means 52 five-day weeks; 27 biweekly pay dates can occur. Federal-civilian 2,087-hour rule in 5 U.S.C. §5504(b) is not used.

Social Security is withheld at 6.2% of gross pay on the first $184,500 earned in 2026 — income above that wage base isn't taxed for Social Security. Medicare is withheld at 1.45% on all earnings, with an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 for single filers. These FICA rates are set federally and are the same in every state. At Iowa's median household income of $75,501, that works out to roughly $4,681 in Social Security tax and $1,095 in Medicare tax per year, before any Iowa state income tax is applied.

Iowa withholds a flat 3.8% state tax alongside federal tax. The IRS recommends every Iowa paycheck's withholding be checked each January and after major life changes. (Source: irs.gov Tax Withholding Estimator, reviewed 27-Jun-2026.)

Iowa taxes a bonus at its regular flat 3.8% rate — but federally, a Iowa employer may withhold bonuses at a flat 22% (37% above $1M/year); that's withholding, not your real rate, and any excess on a Iowa paycheck comes back at filing. (Source: irs.gov Publication 15 §7, reviewed 30-Apr-2026.)