How much does a Police Officer make in Iowa?

The average Police Officer salary in Iowa is around $62,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and Iowa state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $50,253 annually ($4,188/month).

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

On a $62,000 salary in Iowa, your take-home pay is approximately $50,253/year or $4,188/month. Federal tax: $5,260. State tax: $1,744. FICA: $0.00.

Is $62,000 a good Police Officer salary?

$62,000 is a competitive salary for a Police Officer — near the national median. In Iowa, demand for this role is active.

How do Iowa taxes affect Police Officer salaries?

Iowa levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $62,000 is $1,744. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 18.9%.

What are the career growth prospects for Police Officers?

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)

The average Police Officer in Iowa earns around $62,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $50,253/year ($4,188/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$50,253
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$4,188
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$1,933
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$24/hr
Federal Tax	$5,260
State Tax	$1,744
FICA Taxes	$4,743
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	18.95%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Want to model 401(k), HSA, or pre-tax contributions against your full salary? Open the salary calculator →

Working overtime? The 2025 OBBBA deduction may save you up to $12,500 on federal tax. Open the No Tax on Overtime calculator →

1099 contract work or side gigs? Self-employment tax adds 15.3% on top. Open the 1099 tax calculator →

Got a year-end bonus, sign-on, or retention payout? See the bonus calculator →

Key terms:···

Police Officer Salary Ranges in Iowa

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$55,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$80,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$130,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

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.

Senior Officer / Sergeant (Des Moines PD)

$68,000–$98,000+ OT

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

Senior Trooper (Iowa State Patrol)

$65,000–$95,000+ OT

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

Senior Detective / Investigator

$68,000–$98,000+ OT

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

Senior K-9 / Tactical Officer

$72,000–$108,000+ OT

K-9 handler + ISP SWAT + DMPD tactical · IA tactical specialty + hazard premium

Senior Federal Agent (FBI / DEA / ATF Des Moines)

$112,000–$185,000+

Senior federal agent · FBI Des Moines + DEA Des Moines + ATF + USMS · LEAP availability pay

Senior Sheriff Deputy (Polk / Linn / Scott)

$55,000–$82,000+ OT

Senior deputy at IA sheriff offices · patrol + corrections + court services + civil process

Senior Officer (Iowa City / Ames University)

$58,000–$85,000+ OT

Senior officer at Iowa City + Ames + Cedar Falls university towns · UI + ISU + UNI market

Mid-Career Officer (3-7 yrs)

$48,000–$65,000+ OT

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

New Officer (Post-Academy)

$45,000–$58,000+ OT

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

Senior Corrections Officer

$42,000–$60,000+ OT

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

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.