$12 an hour after taxes in Iowa
$12 an hour is $24,960 a year before tax at 40 hours a week. After 2026 federal, FICA and Iowa taxes:
You keep
$21,868
a year after taxes
- Every two weeks
- $841
- A month
- $1,822
- Effective tax rate
- 12.4%
IA A flat 3.8% income tax
| Line | Every two weeks | Year |
|---|---|---|
GROSS Gross pay |
$960.00 | $24,960.00 |
FED Federal income tax |
-$34.08 | -$886.00 |
OASDI Social Security tax |
-$59.52 | -$1,547.52 |
MED Medicare tax |
-$13.92 | -$361.92 |
ST Iowa income tax |
-$11.41 | -$296.68 |
NET Take-home pay | $841.07 | $21,867.88 |
$12 an hour per paycheck, month and day in Iowa
| Period | Gross | Taxes | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | $24,960 | -$3,092 | $21,868 |
| Month | $2,080 | -$258 | $1,822 |
| Every two weeks | $960 | -$119 | $841 |
| Week | $480 | -$59 | $421 |
| Day | $96 | -$12 | $84 |
Biweekly means 26 paychecks a year. A day is one of 260 working days (five a week). "Taxes and deductions" includes every line on the stub above.
If you work more or fewer hours
| Hours a week | Yearly gross | Yearly take-home |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $12,480 | $11,525 |
| 25 | $15,600 | $14,407 |
| 30 | $18,720 | $16,966 |
| 35 | $21,840 | $19,417 |
| 40 | $24,960 | $21,868 |
| 45 (5 overtime) | $29,640 | $25,700 |
| 50 (10 overtime) | $34,320 | $29,478 |
From 2026, federal income tax exempts the overtime premium (the extra half of time-and-a-half) up to $12,500 a year for single filers. Social Security, Medicare and Iowa tax still apply to it in this estimate.
What $12 an hour affords in Iowa
- Rent at 30% of gross pay
- $624 a month
- Needs (50% of take-home)
- $911 a month
- Wants (30%)
- $547 a month
- Savings and debt (20%)
- $364 a month
The 30% rule is the benchmark HUD uses for housing cost burden. The 50/30/20 split applies to the $1,822 monthly take-home figure above.
How Iowa compares
Iowa taxes wages at a flat 3.8%. On $12 an hour ($24,960 a year) the state takes $297 in income tax (1.2% of gross), the 19th lowest of 51 jurisdictions.
| State | State taxes | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $297 | $21,868 |
| Illinois | $1,091 | $21,074 |
| Minnesota | $629 | $21,535 |
| Missouri | $223 | $21,942 |
| Nebraska | $346 | $21,818 |
| South Dakota | $0 | $22,165 |
| Wisconsin | $381 | $21,784 |
Questions people ask about $12 an hour in Iowa
How much is $12 an hour a year after taxes in Iowa?
Working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, $12 an hour is $24,960 before tax. After $886 federal income tax, $1,909 Social Security and Medicare, and $297 in Iowa state taxes, you take home $21,868 a year as a single filer in 2026.
How much is $12 an hour biweekly after taxes in Iowa?
$12 an hour is $960 gross every two weeks. After taxes a biweekly paycheck comes to about $841.
$12 an hour is how much a month?
$12 an hour is $2,080 a month before tax and about $1,822 after tax in Iowa, averaged over 12 months.
How much rent can I afford on $12 an hour?
The 30% rule puts rent at $624 a month on $2,080 gross. Budgeting from take-home pay with 50/30/20, all needs including rent get $911.
How much is $12 an hour with overtime in Iowa?
At 50 hours a week (10 hours at $18.00), you earn $34,320 a year and keep $29,478. The 2026 federal overtime deduction takes $3,120 of overtime premium out of federal taxable income; Social Security and Medicare still apply.
How much Iowa state tax comes out of $12 an hour?
$297 a year, or $11 per biweekly paycheck, in Iowa income tax. Local income taxes, where they exist, are not included.
Try your own numbers
Sources and assumptions
Tax year 2026. Annual tax for a filer with no dependents, no other income and no credits, working 52 weeks. Hours over 40 a week are paid at 1.5×. Local income taxes are not included: Iowa school districts levy an income surtax computed as a % of state tax (excluded). How we calculate.
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32: federal brackets and standard deduction (retrieved 2026-09-26)
- Social Security Administration: 2026 wage base; IRS: Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax
- Iowa tax source (retrieved 2026-09-26)