2022 Iowa Minimum Wage
The 2022 Iowa Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2022-01-01Source: Wage Claims FAQ (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2021
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2021.
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Employers and employees in Iowa subject to the Iowa Minimum Wage Law.
What changed this year, and why
Iowa's minimum wage rate for 2022.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Iowa for 2022?
- The minimum wage in Iowa is $7.25 per hour for 2022.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
The Iowa minimum wage page does not describe subminimum rates for minors or students. The only lower rate Iowa allows is the initial employment wage of $6.35 per hour for the first 90 days of a new hire, which is not a student or minor subminimum wage. For federal subminimum-wage rules—such as those for student learners, apprentices, or workers with disabilities—Iowa workers should contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 515-284-4625, as the state defers to federal guidance on those categories.
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
Wage questions and complaints in Iowa are handled by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL), the state agency that enforces the Iowa Minimum Wage Law. An employee who believes they have been paid below $7.25 per hour, or who has not received the correct tipped wage, can file a wage claim through DIAL. Workers who need information on federal rules, such as the federal training wage or FLSA subminimum rates, should contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 515-284-4625.
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)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Iowa allows employers to pay tipped employees as little as $4.35 per hour if they receive $30 or more per month in tips. However, if the employee's hourly wage plus tips do not average at least $7.25 per hour in any work week, the employer must pay the difference. The Iowa page does not specifically address meal or lodging credits; for questions about whether the reasonable cost of board, lodging, or other facilities can be counted toward the minimum wage, workers should contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, as Iowa defers to federal guidance on those credits.
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
Iowa law specifies what can and cannot be deducted from wages. Deductions allowed include taxes, garnishments, and deductions for the employee's benefit with written authorization (such as insurance, 401K, pensions, bonds, and savings programs). Deductions that cannot be made include cash shortages in common money tills, losses due to breakage or damage, acceptance of bad checks, default of customer credit (except in limited cases), lost or stolen property (unless certain conditions are met), and personal protective equipment in most cases. An employer cannot make any deduction that would bring an employee's pay below the minimum wage. For exceptions, see Iowa Code Chapter 91A.5.
What can be deducted from my wages? 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