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Iowa Final Paycheck and Pay Frequency Laws (2026)

Last updated: 2026-10-12 · Rules checked against Iowa's statutes and labor agency on 2026-10-03

In Iowa, a final paycheck for an employee who is fired or laid off is due by the next regular payday for the period in which the wages were earned (commission true-ups within 30 days). If the employee quits: same: next regular payday. Pay frequency: Iowa employers must pay at least monthly, semimonthly or biweekly on regular paydays at consistent intervals, no more than 12 days (not counting Sundays and legal holidays) after the period ends. A written agreement can vary these rules.

Final pay: fired
Next regular payday
Final pay: quits
Next regular payday
Pay frequency
At least monthly
Payday deadline
12 days (excl. Sundays/holidays)
after the pay period ends

Iowa final paycheck law

Fired or laid off
By the next regular payday for the period in which the wages were earned (commission true-ups within 30 days).
Quits
Same: next regular payday.
Final-pay source
Iowa Code § 91A.4

14 states require final pay immediately or within about three days of a firing (California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah and Vermont); most others allow the next regular payday. Final wages include all earned pay; whether unused vacation must be paid out is a separate state rule.

How often Iowa employers must pay

Iowa employers must pay at least monthly, semimonthly or biweekly on regular paydays at consistent intervals, no more than 12 days (not counting Sundays and legal holidays) after the period ends. A written agreement can vary these rules.

  • All employeesWeekly (allowed)Biweekly (allowed)Semimonthly (allowed)Monthly (allowed)

Green: allowed. Amber: allowed only if a condition is met. Struck through: not allowed without approval.

Rule
At least monthly
Salaried / exempt staff
Same rule as other employees.
Payday deadline after the pay period
Payday no more than 12 days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, after the end of the period in which wages were earned. Employer and employee can vary this by written agreement.
Posting / notice of paydays
Employers notified by the labor commissioner must tell employees in writing at hire their wages and regular paydays (Iowa Code § 91A.6).
Changing paydays
Employers the labor commissioner has notified must give notice at least one pay period before changing regular paydays (Iowa Code § 91A.6).

Same category (at least monthly): Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.

Build a Iowa payroll calendar

Generate every 2026–2028 payday for your schedule, moved for bank holidays, and check it against Iowa's frequency and payday-deadline rules. Download it as Excel, CSV, PDF or a calendar file.

Payroll calendar settings

Pay periods run Sunday–Saturday; payday is Friday, 6 days after the period ends (e.g. Dec 14, 2025 – Dec 27, 2025 → Fri, Jan 2, 2026).

Paychecks in 2026
27
Usual is 26 — plan for the extra payroll
Months with 3+ paychecks
3
January, July, December
Paydays moved
2
Weekend or holiday
First / last payday
Jan 2 – Dec 31
Fri / Thu

Year-end shift: the payday scheduled for Fri, Jan 1, 2027 moves to Thu, Dec 31, 2026 and is paid in 2026, so it counts toward 2026 — W-2 wages, Social Security wage base and 401(k) limits follow the date wages are paid.

27 biweekly paychecks. If salaried staff are paid annual salary ÷ 26, a 27th check pays about 3.8% more than the salary for the year; dividing by 27 lowers each check about 3.7% instead. Decide before January and adjust per-paycheck benefit deductions and 401(k) deferrals.

Check #Pay periodPay dateSubmit payroll byDays after period endNotes
1Dec 14, 2025 – Dec 27, 2025Fri, Jan 2, 2026Tue, Dec 30, 20256
2Dec 28, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026Fri, Jan 16, 2026Wed, Jan 14, 20266
3Jan 11, 2026 – Jan 24, 2026Fri, Jan 30, 2026Wed, Jan 28, 202663rd check in January.
4Jan 25, 2026 – Feb 7, 2026Fri, Feb 13, 2026Wed, Feb 11, 20266
5Feb 8, 2026 – Feb 21, 2026Fri, Feb 27, 2026Wed, Feb 25, 20266
6Feb 22, 2026 – Mar 7, 2026Fri, Mar 13, 2026Wed, Mar 11, 20266
7Mar 8, 2026 – Mar 21, 2026Fri, Mar 27, 2026Wed, Mar 25, 20266
8Mar 22, 2026 – Apr 4, 2026Fri, Apr 10, 2026Wed, Apr 8, 20266
9Apr 5, 2026 – Apr 18, 2026Fri, Apr 24, 2026Wed, Apr 22, 20266
10Apr 19, 2026 – May 2, 2026Fri, May 8, 2026Wed, May 6, 20266
11May 3, 2026 – May 16, 2026Fri, May 22, 2026Wed, May 20, 20266
12May 17, 2026 – May 30, 2026Fri, Jun 5, 2026Wed, Jun 3, 20266
13May 31, 2026 – Jun 13, 2026Thu, Jun 18, 2026Tue, Jun 16, 20265Moved from Fri, Jun 19, 2026 (Juneteenth).
14Jun 14, 2026 – Jun 27, 2026Fri, Jul 3, 2026Wed, Jul 1, 20266
15Jun 28, 2026 – Jul 11, 2026Fri, Jul 17, 2026Wed, Jul 15, 20266
16Jul 12, 2026 – Jul 25, 2026Fri, Jul 31, 2026Wed, Jul 29, 202663rd check in July.
17Jul 26, 2026 – Aug 8, 2026Fri, Aug 14, 2026Wed, Aug 12, 20266
18Aug 9, 2026 – Aug 22, 2026Fri, Aug 28, 2026Wed, Aug 26, 20266
19Aug 23, 2026 – Sep 5, 2026Fri, Sep 11, 2026Wed, Sep 9, 20266
20Sep 6, 2026 – Sep 19, 2026Fri, Sep 25, 2026Wed, Sep 23, 20266
21Sep 20, 2026 – Oct 3, 2026Fri, Oct 9, 2026Wed, Oct 7, 20266
22Oct 4, 2026 – Oct 17, 2026Fri, Oct 23, 2026Wed, Oct 21, 20266
23Oct 18, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026Fri, Nov 6, 2026Wed, Nov 4, 20266
24Nov 1, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Fri, Nov 20, 2026Wed, Nov 18, 20266
25Nov 15, 2026 – Nov 28, 2026Fri, Dec 4, 2026Wed, Dec 2, 20266
26Nov 29, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026Fri, Dec 18, 2026Wed, Dec 16, 20266
27Dec 13, 2026 – Dec 26, 2026Thu, Dec 31, 2026Tue, Dec 29, 20265Moved from Fri, Jan 1, 2027 (New Year's Day). 3rd check in December.

Holidays: Federal Reserve Bank closures, when ACH direct deposits don't settle (the Reserve Banks stay open on the Friday before a Saturday holiday, such as July 3, 2026 and Dec. 24, 2027). Submit-payroll dates count Federal Reserve business days; your provider's cutoff may differ.

Other Iowa payroll rules

Iowa final paycheck and payday FAQ

When is a final paycheck due in Iowa if an employee is fired?

By the next regular payday for the period in which the wages were earned (commission true-ups within 30 days). Source: Iowa Code § 91A.4.

When is a final paycheck due in Iowa if an employee quits?

Same: next regular payday. Source: Iowa Code § 91A.4.

How often do Iowa employers have to pay employees?

Iowa employers must pay at least monthly, semimonthly or biweekly on regular paydays at consistent intervals, no more than 12 days (not counting Sundays and legal holidays) after the period ends. A written agreement can vary these rules.

Can I pay employees monthly in Iowa?

Yes. Monthly pay periods are allowed for all employees. Salaried / exempt staff: Same rule as other employees.

How soon after a pay period ends must Iowa employees be paid?

Payday no more than 12 days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, after the end of the period in which wages were earned. Employer and employee can vary this by written agreement.

Do I have to give notice before changing paydays in Iowa?

Employers the labor commissioner has notified must give notice at least one pay period before changing regular paydays (Iowa Code § 91A.6).

Official Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-03

Related Resources on This Site

Final paycheck and payday laws in other states

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General information, not legal advice. Confirm the current rules with Iowa's labor department before relying on them.