Iowa Paycheck Calculator

Enter your salary to estimate your Iowa take-home pay after federal income tax, Iowa state income tax, and FICA, broken down per paycheck for any pay schedule.

Take-home per paycheck

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Gross annual pay—

Federal income tax—

Iowa state income tax—

FICA (Social Security + Medicare)—

Net annual take-home—

Where your Iowa paycheck goes

Annual take-home versus federal, state, and FICA taxes.

Same salary, different states

Estimated net take-home on an $80,000 single salary. Iowa is highlighted.

Iowa paycheck, explained

A Iowa paycheck calculator shows what you actually keep from your salary after every mandatory withholding. Iowa charges a flat 3.8% state income tax on top of federal tax and FICA, so every dollar of taxable income above the standard deduction is taxed at the same rate regardless of how much you earn. This tool estimates federal income tax, Iowa state income tax, and FICA payroll tax, then divides your net pay across your chosen pay schedule.

Iowa's flat-rate system means your marginal and effective state tax rate are nearly identical, unlike progressive states where they diverge as income rises. Enter your gross salary above to see your Iowa take-home pay per paycheck.

Iowa income tax

Iowa uses a flat 3.8% income tax rate on taxable income. The state standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for joint filers, which reduces the income subject to state tax.

Some Iowa school districts levy a small surtax on state income tax owed, typically under 20% of the state liability; not included here. Iowa does not tax Social Security retirement benefits.

The paycheck formula

A paycheck calculator works backward from your gross salary, removing every mandatory withholding to reveal your true take-home pay:

taxable income = gross salary − pre-tax deductions − standard deduction
federal tax = progressive federal brackets
Iowa tax = 3.8% flat rate on taxable income above the standard deduction
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to cap) + 1.45% Medicare
net pay = gross − federal − state − FICA − pre-tax deductions
per paycheck = net pay ÷ number of pay periods

Worked example

Federal income tax is roughly $8,770, FICA is $6,120, and Iowa state income tax is about $2,428 at the flat 3.8% rate after the standard deduction. Net take-home is around $62,682 a year, close to $2,411 every two weeks on a bi-weekly schedule. Contributing to a 401(k) or HSA would lower both federal and state tax and raise the after-tax value of saving.

How Iowa compares

On the same $80,000 single salary, Iowa take-home is about $62,682 — $2,428 less than Texas's $65,110 (Texas has no state income tax), $1,166 more than California's $61,516, and $1,367 more than New York's $61,315. The chart above shows how Iowa stacks up against those three benchmark states on identical pay.

Frequently asked questions

How much is taken out of a paycheck in Iowa?

On an $80,000 single salary, roughly $17,318 a year goes to federal income tax, Iowa state income tax, and FICA combined, leaving about $62,682 in take-home.

What is the Iowa state income tax rate?

Iowa has a flat state income tax rate of 3.8% on taxable income. The state standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for joint filers, which reduces the income subject to state tax.

Does Iowa tax Social Security benefits?

Iowa does not tax Social Security retirement benefits.

Are there local taxes on top of Iowa state tax?

Some Iowa school districts levy a small surtax on state income tax owed, typically under 20% of the state liability; not included here.

How can I increase my Iowa take-home pay?

Contributing to pre-tax accounts like a 401(k), HSA, or FSA lowers your federal and Iowa taxable income, reducing withholding and raising the value of each dollar you save.

Is Iowa take-home pay higher or lower than Texas?

Lower. Texas has no state income tax, so on the same $80,000 salary a Texas resident keeps about $2,428 more than an Iowa resident.