2018 Iowa Minimum Wage
The 2018 Iowa Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2018-01-01Source: Wage Claims FAQ (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2017
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2017.
| Item | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Employers covered by the Iowa Minimum Wage Law.
What changed this year, and why
Iowa's state minimum wage remained $7.25 per hour in 2018.
Common questions
- What was the minimum wage in Iowa in 2018?
- The minimum wage in Iowa was $7.25 per hour in 2018.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Iowa does not have state-specific subminimum wage rates for minors, students, or trainees. However, Iowa employers may pay an "initial employment wage" of $6.35 per hour to new employees during their first 90 days of employment. This Iowa provision is separate from the federal "training wage" that allows certain employees to be paid less than minimum wage under federal law. For information about the federal training wage, workers in Iowa can contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour office at 515-284-4625. If you are a minor, student, or trainee working in Iowa, you are generally entitled to the full state minimum wage of $7.25 per hour unless you are in your first 90 calendar days with an employer who is using the initial employment wage provision.
Yes. An Iowa employer is allowed to pay an “initial employment wage” of $6.35 per hour for the first 90 days. Iowa’s “initial employment wage” is not the same thing as the federal “training wage” that allows certain employees to be paid less than minimum wage. Information about the federal “training wage” can be obtained by contacting the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour office at 515-284-4625.
Wage Claims FAQ (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
In Iowa, the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) handles wage claims. If you believe you are owed wages not exceeding $6,500.00, you can file a wage claim with DIAL by printing a Wage Claim form online in English or Spanish, or requesting a form be mailed to you by calling 515-725-5619. You also have the right to pursue your claim on your own behalf in court. If your claim involves federal minimum wage or overtime requirements, you may contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 515-284-4625. This federal office also handles questions about the federal training wage and other federal wage and hour matters.
If you believe you are owed wages not exceeding $6,500.00, you can file a wage claim with the DIAL. Print a Wage Claim in English or Spanish or request a form be mailed to you by calling 515-725-5619. You also have the right to pursue your claim on your own behalf in court. If your claim has to do with federal minimum wage or overtime you may contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division at 515-284-4625.
Wage Claims FAQ (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Under Iowa law, if you earn $30 per month or more in tips, your employer may pay you as little as $4.35 per hour. However, if your wages and tips combined do not average at least $7.25 per hour in any work week, your employer must pay the difference. Iowa's Wage Claims FAQ does not address whether the value of meals or lodging provided by an employer can be credited toward the state minimum wage. For information about whether meals and lodging can count toward the federal minimum wage, contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.
If you make $30 per month or more in tips, the employer may pay as little as $4.35 per hour. If in any work week the wage the employer pays you and the tips you receive do not average at least $7.25 per hour, the employer is required to pay the difference.
Wage Claims FAQ (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)
What an employer may deduct from your pay
Under Iowa law, employers may deduct taxes, garnishments, and deductions for lawful purposes that benefit the employee if the employee has given written authorization for the deduction, such as for insurance, pensions, bonds, and savings programs. Items that cannot be deducted include cash shortages in a common money till, losses due to breakage or damage, acceptance of bad checks, and default of customer credit except in certain limited cases. Lost or stolen property may not be deducted unless certain conditions are met. Personal protective equipment may not be deducted in most cases. The full list of exceptions is found in Iowa Code Chapter 91A.5. An employer may require direct deposit of wages if certain conditions are met, including that the costs of the account do not drop the employee's pay below the $7.25 per hour minimum wage.
Items on the following list can be deducted from wages. Taxes Garnishments Deductions for any lawful purpose accruing to the benefit of the employee if the employee has given written authorization for the deduction (for example, insurance, 401K, pensions, bonds and savings programs). Items on the following list cannot be deducted: Cash shortages in common money till. Losses due to breakage, damage, acceptance of bad checks, and default of customer credit except in certain limited cases. Lost or stolen property unless certain conditions are met. Personal protective equipment in most cases. For exceptions see Iowa Code Chapter 91A.5.
Wage Claims FAQ (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Wage Claims FAQ (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)
- Hourly
What is the current minimum wage? $7.25 per hour.
Other years
Every Iowa Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state