Iowa employer payroll tax calculator 2026
Hiring in Iowa? New Iowa employers pay 1% state unemployment tax on the first $20,400 of each employee's wages, on top of the federal 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare and FUTA. For a $60,000 employee that's about $4,836 a year in employer payroll taxes — $204.00 of it to Iowa.
| Wages | $60,000.00 |
| Employer Social Security | $3,720.00 |
| Employer Medicare | $870.00 |
| FUTA (0.6% on $7,000.00) | $42.00 |
| State unemployment insurance (SUI) (1% on $20,400.00) | $204.00 |
| Employer payroll taxes | $4,836.00 |
| Total cost before benefits | $64,836.00 |
Per two-week payroll: $2,493.69. Add health insurance, retirement and workers' compensation in the cost of an employee calculator.
Iowa unemployment tax (SUTA) for new employers
New non-construction employers pay 1.000% in 2026 (Table D, the lowest allowed); new construction employers pay 5.400%.
After a few years the state assigns your own rate based on your layoff history; enter it in the calculator once you have it. Your rate also earns the usual federal FUTA credit: pay Iowa on time and FUTA is 0.6% on the first $7,000. If Iowa ends up a credit-reduction state for the year (the Department of Labor lists them each November), FUTA is higher.
Other Iowa payroll programs
Iowa has no state paid-leave or disability program with an employer share, and no other broad state payroll tax on employers.
What an employee costs in Iowa
| Salary | Federal employer taxes | Iowa employer taxes | Total cost | Taxes as % of pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $3,102.00 | $204.00 | $43,306.00 | 8.3% |
| $60,000 | $4,632.00 | $204.00 | $64,836.00 | 8.1% |
| $100,000 | $7,692.00 | $204.00 | $107,896.00 | 7.9% |
A year, before benefits. New-employer rates, 5 employees, full FUTA credit.
How much does a $40,000 employee cost in Iowa?
About $43,306 a year: the $40,000 salary plus $3,102.00 of federal employer taxes and $204.00 of Iowa employer taxes, before benefits. That's $1,665.62 per two-week payroll.
How much does a $60,000 employee cost in Iowa?
About $64,836 a year: the $60,000 salary plus $4,632.00 of federal employer taxes and $204.00 of Iowa employer taxes, before benefits. That's $2,493.69 per two-week payroll.
How much does a $100,000 employee cost in Iowa?
About $107,896 a year: the $100,000 salary plus $7,692.00 of federal employer taxes and $204.00 of Iowa employer taxes, before benefits. That's $4,149.85 per two-week payroll.
Both halves of one paycheck
On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, the employee sees $11,356 a year taken out of pay — federal income tax, their own Social Security and Medicare and Iowa taxes — and takes home $48,644 (single filer, standard W-4). That money is withheld from their wages, not an extra cost to you. On top of the salary, you pay $4,836.00 of employer taxes. See the employee's side line by line in the Iowa paycheck calculator.
More employer tools
Cost of an employee (benefits and cost per hour) · Employer payroll tax calculator (all states) · Employer payroll taxes guide
Iowa figures checked 2026-09-28 against the state's own publications. Planning estimate, not a payroll return: your rate notice and the state's rules decide the final amount.
Sources
- Iowa Workforce Development — Unemployment insurance taxes (employer handbook) — 2026 taxable wage base $20,400; new non-construction 1.000%, construction 5.400% (checked 2026-09-28)
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide — 2026 employer Social Security and Medicare rates and wage limits; FUTA
- IRS — FUTA credit reduction — 6.0% FUTA on the first $7,000; usual 5.4% credit; credit-reduction states lose part of the credit
- U.S. Department of Labor — FUTA credit reductions — the list of credit-reduction states for each year (checked 2026-09-28)
Questions
What is the Iowa SUTA rate for new employers?
1% in 2026, on the first $20,400 of each employee's wages. New non-construction employers pay 1.000% in 2026 (Table D, the lowest allowed); new construction employers pay 5.400%.
What is the Iowa unemployment tax wage base for 2026?
$20,400 per employee per year.
How much does it cost to employ someone for $60,000 in Iowa?
About $64,836 a year before benefits: $4,632.00 of federal employer taxes and $204.00 for Iowa, at the new-employer rate with 5 employees.