Iowa Worker Rights
Iowa follows the federal minimum wage and has a state OSHA plan and a wage payment law that lets workers recover unpaid wages.
- Iowa
Pay
- Minimum wage: $7.25, the same as federal. Cities can’t set higher minimums.
- Overtime: federal rules, 1.5x over 40 hours a week.
- Final pay: by the next regular payday.
- Prevailing wage: no state law; Davis-Bacon applies on federal projects.
Breaks and leave
- No state law requiring meal or rest breaks for adults.
- No state paid sick leave law. The federal FMLA may apply.
Unions and right-to-work
Iowa is a right-to-work state: a union contract can’t require you to join a union or pay dues or fees to keep your job. You still have the right to organize and act together with coworkers under federal law. See Right-to-Work States.
Where to file
- Unpaid wages and overtime: Iowa’s labor services division (Iowa Wage Payment Collection Law), or the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Discrimination and harassment: Iowa Civil Rights Commission, or the U.S. EEOC.
- Safety: Iowa OSHA, the state plan, covers most private and public employers.
- Work injuries: report the injury to your employer right away, in writing, and follow up with Iowa’s workers’ compensation agency. See Workers’ Compensation.
Check current rules: this is a summary. Wage rates and labor laws change often, usually on January 1 or July 1, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm details with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing before acting. Federal protections apply too. See Where to Get Help.
Standards & references
Last updated: