Iowa Labor Laws: An Employer's Overview

Overtime

Iowa follows the federal rule: time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek, with no separate daily-overtime requirement.

Minimum Wage

Iowa uses the federal $7.25 floor for covered employers.

Breaks

Iowa has no general adult meal-break mandate, though offered short breaks must be paid.

Paid Sick Leave & Final Pay

Iowa has no statewide paid sick leave mandate. Final-paycheck timing is state-specific — see the dedicated guides linked below for details, and always confirm against the official source.

Iowa Labor-Law Snapshot

A quick Iowa snapshot: the minimum wage is $7.25/hour (the federal floor), overtime is about $10.88/hour, Iowa has no statewide paid-sick-leave mandate, and a final paycheck is due by the next regular payday on discharge.

For Iowa employers these rules interact with timekeeping: accurate, audit-logged hours drive overtime, final pay, and break records. Iowa sets no statewide meal-break requirement and does not mandate paid rest breaks; a final paycheck is due by the next regular payday when an employee resigns. Confirm current Iowa figures with the state labor office before relying on any single number.

Official Sources

• U.S. DOL — Minimum wage by state
• U.S. DOL — State overtime
• U.S. DOL — State labor offices

More Iowa Guides

Labor Law Overview in Other States

Iowa Labor Law Overview: Frequently Asked Questions