Iowa · 2026 and 2027
Iowa employer payroll taxes and employee cost: 1% SUTA on $20,400
In Iowa, a $50,000 employee costs a new employer about $61,271 a year in 2026: 22.5% on top of pay for payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, workers' comp and health coverage. Change any input to see your own number.
Calculate the cost of an employee in Iowa
Estimates for planning, not tax or legal advice. Rates change and some depend on your business; confirm yours with your state agencies, insurer or payroll provider.
What a Iowa employer pays on top of pay
Every line of the calculator, explained, with the official source of each number.
- Social Security and Medicare
7.65% of pay
The employer matches the employee: 6.2% Social Security on pay up to $184,500 in 2026 ($192,300 in 2027) and 1.45% Medicare on all pay.
per Social Security Administration, as of Jan 1, 2026
- Federal unemployment tax (FUTA)
$42 per employee
6% of the first $7,000 of each employee's pay, less the 5.4% credit for paying Iowa unemployment tax on time.
per Internal Revenue Service, as of Jan 1, 2026
- Iowa unemployment insurance (SUTA)
1% of $20,400
New employers pay 1% on the first $20,400 of each employee's pay in 2026; construction 5.4%. After two to three years the rate follows your own claims history. Rank 4 of Table D (0.3%), raised to the 1.000% minimum for new employers.
per U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, as of Jan 1, 2026; per Iowa Workforce Development, as of Jan 1, 2026
- State paid leave and disability premiums
None
Iowa has no employer-paid family leave or disability insurance premium among the state programs we track.
- Paid sick leave
No state requirement
Iowa has no statewide paid sick leave requirement among the laws we track; city rules may apply.
- Workers' compensation
$1.21 per $100 of payroll
Index rate for a standard mix of job classes: rank 19 of 51 (1 = highest) and 110% of the national median in the 2024 study. Your premium depends on your job classes and claims history.
per Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, as of Jan 1, 2024
- Health insurance (employer share)
$6,595 single / $17,648 family
Average employer contribution per enrolled employee a year at Iowa private-sector employers that offer coverage, 2025 survey.
per Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (MEPS-IC), as of Jan 1, 2025
- Minimum wage
$7.25 in 2026
Iowa pays the federal $7.25 minimum. State rate equals the federal rate.
per Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, as of Oct 8, 2026
Checked against each source on Oct 23, 2026.
Two worked examples in Iowa
Both for a new employer with 10 employees in a general industry in 2026, with single health coverage at the state average.
Salaried employee at $50,000
A $50,000 salary, 40 hours a week.
| Pay for hours worked2,080 hours | $50,000 |
|---|---|
| Social Security (employer share)6.2% of $50,000 | $3,100 |
| Medicare (employer share)1.45% of $50,000 | $725 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment tax)0.6% of $7,000 | $42 |
| State unemployment insurance (new employer)1% of $20,400 | $204 |
| Workers' compensation (state index rate)$1.21 per $100 of payroll | $605 |
| Health insurance (single coverage, state average)average employer contribution | $6,595 |
| Total cost a year | $61,271 |
22.5% on top of pay · $29.46 per hour worked
Hourly employee at $18 an hour
$18 an hour for 40 hours a week, 52 weeks.
| Pay for hours worked2,080 hours | $37,440 |
|---|---|
| Social Security (employer share)6.2% of $37,440 | $2,321 |
| Medicare (employer share)1.45% of $37,440 | $543 |
| FUTA (federal unemployment tax)0.6% of $7,000 | $42 |
| State unemployment insurance (new employer)1% of $20,400 | $204 |
| Workers' compensation (state index rate)$1.21 per $100 of payroll | $453 |
| Health insurance (single coverage, state average)average employer contribution | $6,595 |
| Total cost a year | $47,598 |
27.1% on top of pay · $22.88 per hour worked
What changes for Iowa employers in 2027
- The Social Security wage base rises from $184,500 to $192,300: up to $484 more employer tax for employees paid above it. per Social Security Administration, as of Jan 1, 2027
- The Iowa new-employer unemployment insurance rate is 1% in 2027. per Iowa Workforce Development, as of Jan 1, 2027
Only changes already official on Oct 23, 2026. Most states publish next year's unemployment insurance rates in November and December; this page is updated when they do.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire an employee in Iowa?
About $61,271 a year in 2026 for a $50,000 employee of a new Iowa employer with 10 staff: $11,271 above pay, of which $6,595 is health coverage, $605 workers' comp and $204 Iowa unemployment tax. At $18 an hour full time: $47,598.
What payroll taxes do employers pay in Iowa?
Iowa new employers pay $4,071 yearly on a $50,000 salary, $204 of it state unemployment tax.
What is the Iowa SUTA rate for new employers in 2026?
1% on the first $20,400 of each employee's pay: up to $204 per employee a year. Construction: 5.4%.
What is the minimum wage in Iowa in 2027?
Iowa uses the federal $7.25 an hour, so 2027 starts there unless the state acts.
Is paid sick leave required in Iowa?
No statewide requirement in Iowa among the laws we track.
How much does workers' comp cost in Iowa?
$1.21 per $100 of payroll at Iowa's index rate (rank 19 of 51, 110% of the median): about $605 on $50,000 of pay.
How much do Iowa employers pay for health insurance?
$6,595 a year per employee with single coverage and $17,648 with family coverage, the average Iowa private-employer share of $8,620 and $25,181 premiums in 2025.
More employer cost pages
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Software and services for these costs
- Payroll Software
Calculates and files these payroll taxes for every state you hire in.
- PEO Services
Takes on payroll taxes, workers' comp and benefits, often at group rates.
- Benefits Administration
Runs the health plan and leave programs behind the benefits lines.
Benefits and workers’ comp are most of this cost
A PEO pools employers for health insurance and workers’ comp, often at group rates. Compare PEOs we research, with verified prices and features.