Under Iowa overtime laws you earn no state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, and no daily overtime in Iowa — only the weekly total counts. The minimum wage is $7.25. This guide gives the exact iowa overtime laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.
Rules verified against Iowa Division of Labor (Iowa Workforce Development) on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Iowa Division of Labor (Iowa Workforce Development) or an attorney before you rely on it.
Iowa Overtime Laws at a Glance
| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
| Weekly overtime | No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Iowa — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | No |
In This Iowa Overtime Laws Guide:
Iowa Overtime Laws: The Rules
No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Iowa — only the weekly total counts. The overtime rate is one and a half times your regular rate of pay — the regular rate includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift differentials, not just the base wage.
Iowa has no state overtime law; the federal 40-hour rule applies.
How to Calculate Overtime Under Iowa Overtime Laws
Take your total pay for the week, divide by the hours you worked to get the regular rate, and multiply the overtime hours by 1.5 times that rate. A worker paid $7.25 an hour who works 48 hours in a 40-hour state is owed 8 hours at time and a half.
Salary does not mean exempt: a salaried worker below the exemption tests still gets overtime on the hours over the threshold.
Iowa Overtime Laws at a Glance
Rules verified against Iowa Division of Labor (Iowa Workforce Development) on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Iowa Division of Labor (Iowa Workforce Development) or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
| Weekly overtime | No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Iowa — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | No |
Who Is Exempt From Iowa Overtime Laws
Because Iowa follows federal overtime rules, the main exempt jobs are salaried executives, administrators and learned or creative professionals, plus outside sales workers. To count as exempt, most workers must be paid a set salary at or above the federal threshold and do mainly exempt duties. A job title alone does not make someone exempt.
Daily Overtime and Iowa Overtime Laws
Iowa has no daily overtime rule: a 12-hour day in a 36-hour week earns no premium, because only the weekly total counts. Iowa has no rule of its own on comp time, so federal law generally applies. Private employers generally may not give comp time instead of paid overtime; only public employers may offer comp time under federal rules.
Is Overtime Taxed Differently Under Iowa Overtime Laws?
No — overtime is ordinary wages and is taxed at the same income-tax rates as the rest of your pay; it can push more of your pay into a higher withholding bracket on one check, but the annual tax rate does not change. Iowa allows a tip credit, but overtime for tipped workers is figured on the full minimum wage, not the lower cash wage.
Tips cannot be used to lower the overtime premium itself.
📨 Get Free Unemployment And Workplace Rights Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
How to Claim Unpaid Overtime Under Iowa Overtime Laws
Iowa has no state overtime law, so unpaid overtime is generally claimed under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Iowa’s Division of Labor Services itself tells workers with overtime issues to contact the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. You can file a complaint by phone, online or at a local office, and the federal look-back period applies.
Workers may also file a private lawsuit, so confirm the current filing window with the Wage and Hour Division.
Other Iowa Overtime Laws Rules to Know
Iowa has no separate daily or weekly overtime statute, and federal law sets the rules. Iowa’s Wage Payment Collection Law (Iowa Code chapter 91A) still covers wages that were earned but not paid, and the Division of Labor Services handles those claims within its own limits on time and amount.
Think you are owed overtime? The wage-claim agency takes the complaint for free.
Iowa — the bottom line
- Iowa overtime laws start the premium no state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate — count the week, not the day.
- Under iowa overtime laws the rate is 1.5 times the regular rate, and the regular rate includes your bonuses and differentials.
- Iowa overtime laws are enforced by a free wage claim — you do not need a lawyer to recover unpaid overtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I get overtime under Iowa overtime laws?
No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Iowa — only the weekly total counts.
What is the overtime rate in Iowa?
One and a half times your regular rate of pay, which includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift pay.
Does Iowa have daily overtime?
No daily overtime in iowa — only the weekly total counts.
Can my employer give comp time instead of overtime pay in Iowa?
Iowa has no rule of its own on comp time, so federal law generally applies. Private employers generally may not give comp time instead of paid overtime; only public employers may offer comp time under federal rules.
How do I claim unpaid overtime in Iowa?
Iowa has no state overtime law, so unpaid overtime is generally claimed under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Iowa’s Division of Labor Services itself tells workers with overtime issues to contact the U.S.
Official Iowa Sources & Resources
- Iowa Division of Labor (Iowa Workforce Development): https://www.iowadivisionoflabor.gov/wage-payment-collection
- Iowa statute (Iowa has no state overtime law; the federal 40-hour rule applies.): https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/91A.pdf
- Verified source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This iowa overtime laws guide was last verified against official Iowa sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Iowa Workplace Rights Guides
- Iowa Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
- Iowa Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
- Iowa Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
- Iowa Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.