How much does a Police Officer make in Iowa?

BLS puts the average Police Officer pay in Iowa at $76,280 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in Iowa, after federal taxes, FICA, and Iowa state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $60,246 annually ($5,021/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Police Officer in Iowa?

On a $76,280 salary in Iowa, your take-home pay is approximately $60,246/year or $5,021/month. Federal tax: $7,952. State tax: $2,247. FICA: $5,835.

Is $76,280 a good Police Officer salary?

$76,280 is the BLS average Police Officer pay in Iowa, 4% below the US average of $79,200 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in Iowa earn between $63,810 and $86,160.

How do Iowa taxes affect Police Officer salaries?

Iowa levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $76,280 is $2,247. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 21.0%.

What are the career growth prospects for Police Officers?

In Iowa, the top 10% earn over $101,520 and the bottom 10% under $59,360 (BLS, May 2025). 3% growth through 2032 (about as fast as average). Related roles include: Detective, Sergeant, State Trooper, Sheriff Deputy, Federal Agent.

How can a Police Officer in Iowa reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Public Safety

Police Officer Salary in Iowa (2026)

Average Police Officer pay in Iowa

$76,280/year

≈ $37/hour before tax

Middle 50% earn $63,810–$86,160

US average: $79,200

Source: BLS, May 2025

After tax (single filer)

$60,246/year

$5,021/month · effective tax rate 21.02%

Federal $7,952
State $2,247
FICA $5,835
Take-home

Pay by role in Iowa

Sergeant / Lieutenant / Captain (Des Moines metro)BLS · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · middle 50%$99,430–$124,710
Senior Patrol / Specialty OfficerBLS · 75th–90th percentile$86,160–$101,520
Detective / InvestigatorBLS · middle 50%$67,370–$90,380
Patrol Officer / Trooper / DeputyBLS · middle 50%$63,810–$86,160
Recruit / Probationary OfficerBLS · 10th–25th percentile$59,360–$63,810
Corrections OfficerBLS · 75th–90th percentile$63,370–$73,530

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$60,246
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$5,021
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$2,317
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$29/hr
Federal Tax	$7,952
State Tax	$2,247
FICA Taxes	$5,835
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	21.02%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Police Officers earn the same — not even close

Iowa's police officer market is anchored by Des Moines Police Department (~400 sworn officers + the largest IA municipal police + the substantial Des Moines post-2020 reform + DMPD Special Investigations + the substantial post-2020 Des Moines recruitment + retention challenges + the substantial Des Moines metro fastest-growing IA region), Iowa State Patrol ISP (~365 sworn troopers within Iowa Department of Public Safety + the substantial IA statewide police agency + ISP Major Crime Unit + ISP SWAT + ISP K-9 + the substantial ISP I-80 + I-35 + I-380 + I-29 interstate patrol + the substantial ISP covering rural IA territory), Cedar Rapids Police Department (~190 sworn + the substantial Cedar Rapids Collins Aerospace + Quaker Oats market), Davenport Police Department (~155 sworn + the substantial Quad Cities + John Deere market), Waterloo Police Department (~120 sworn + John Deere Waterloo Works + UNI + the substantial Waterloo post-2020 reform + post-2020 Waterloo Black-Latino-Asian Coalition oversight), Sioux City Police Department (~120 sworn + the substantial Sioux City tri-state border SD + NE + the substantial Smithfield + Tyson market), Iowa City Police Department (~85 sworn + UI University of Iowa + the substantial Iowa City university market), Polk County Sheriff Des Moines (~370 sworn + the largest IA sheriff office + Polk County Jail + court services), Linn County Sheriff Cedar Rapids + Scott County Sheriff Davenport + Black Hawk County Sheriff Waterloo + the substantial IA rural sheriff offices, plus substantial federal law enforcement at FBI Des Moines + DEA Des Moines + ATF + USMS + USPS Postal Inspection + the substantial Iowa Air National Guard 132d Wing security.

Sergeant / Lieutenant / Captain (Des Moines metro)

$99,430–$124,710

Senior officer + sergeant at DMPD · IPERS Sheriffs and Deputies + IA right-to-work · OT + detail

Source: BLS May 2025 · First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · middle 50%

Senior Patrol / Specialty Officer

$86,160–$101,520

Senior trooper at ISP · Major Crime + SWAT + K-9 + I-80 + I-35 + I-380 + I-29 interstate

Source: BLS May 2025 · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · Iowa · 75th–90th percentile

Detective / Investigator

$67,370–$90,380

Senior detective at DMPD + ISP + CRPD + Polk SO + Davenport PD · investigations + casework + IPERS

Source: BLS May 2025 · Detectives and Criminal Investigators · Iowa · middle 50%

Patrol Officer / Trooper / Deputy

$63,810–$86,160

Mid-career officer · IPERS Sheriffs and Deputies membership · ILEA Iowa Law Enforcement Academy certified

Source: BLS May 2025 · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · Iowa · middle 50%

Recruit / Probationary Officer

$59,360–$63,810

New officer · post-academy + field training · ILEA certified · IPERS at hire

Source: BLS May 2025 · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · Iowa · 10th–25th percentile

Corrections Officer

$63,370–$73,530

Senior corrections at Iowa Department of Corrections IDOC + Iowa State Penitentiary + the substantial IA DOC

Source: BLS May 2025 · Correctional Officers and Jailers · Iowa · 75th–90th percentile

Worth knowing: Iowa Public Employees Retirement System IPERS Sheriffs and Deputies + Protection Occupation is the structural foundation of IA career police compensation and a distinctive IA police officer feature most national surveys understate. IPERS (the IA statewide public pension covering ~400K active + retired members + the substantial IPERS Sheriffs and Deputies Special Service classification for sheriffs + deputies + jailers + the substantial IPERS Protection Occupation for police + firefighters + corrections + the substantial IPERS defined-benefit + the substantial IPERS funded ratio above 85% historically well-funded major US public pension) provides defined-benefit protective service pension at IA public-safety formula appreciably more generous than IPERS Regular — supporting career police retirement after 22 years for Sheriffs and Deputies (early retirement at age 55) + 25 years for Protection Occupation. IA IS a Right-to-Work state (signed 1947 + one of earliest US RTW states) — meaning collective bargaining for public-sector employees is limited, especially post-2017 IA HF 291 Public Employment Relations Act reform which restricted bargaining for non-public-safety employees to base wages only. Public safety (police + firefighters) retain broader bargaining rights via IA Public Employee Relations Board PERB — the substantial Iowa State Police Association ISPA + Des Moines Police Association DMPA + the substantial IA Police Officers Association + Fraternal Order of Police FOP Iowa + the substantial IA Police Standards & Training ILEA certification operate via collective bargaining for public safety officers. Post-2020 Des Moines + Cedar Rapids + Waterloo + Davenport recruitment + retention challenges drove substantial signing bonus + retention bonus + lateral transfer incentives — DMPD post-2022 offered $10K-$15K lateral signing bonuses to certified officers. Post-2020 IA tornado + flood mutual aid drove substantial IA public-safety inter-agency coordination — the substantial post-2024 Greenfield IA tornado response + the substantial Cedar Rapids 2020 derecho response + the substantial 2008 Cedar Rapids flood + Iowa City flood response. The 2025 No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies through 2028 — IA OBBBA OT applies to officer overtime + detail . IA 3.8% flat (post-2024 HF 352) + IA 6% sales tax + IA NO estate tax + IA IS a Right-to-Work state + IPERS Sheriffs and Deputies + Protection Occupation + post-2017 HF 291 collective bargaining limits + post-2020 recruitment crisis anchor the IA police officer proposition.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Police Officers in Iowa and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Iowa 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.

Run your own numbers