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Wage Garnishment Limits in Iowa

Iowa applies the federal limit and also caps the total that one creditor can garnish each year, from $250 for workers expecting under $12,000 a year up to 10% of expected earnings at $50,000 or more.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Iowa at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Federal limit plus yearly cap per creditor ($250 to 10%)
Yearly caps: $250, $400, $800, $1,500, $2,000, or 10% of expected earnings, by income band.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Iowa

How much of your wages can be garnished for consumer debt in Iowa?

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Iowa: Federal limit plus yearly cap per creditor ($250 to 10%). Yearly caps: $250, $400, $800, $1,500, $2,000, or 10% of expected earnings, by income band.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Iowa?

Yes. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in Iowa: yes.

Does Iowa protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Iowa: yes.

Does Iowa give extra garnishment protection to a head of household?

No. Head of household exemption in Iowa: no.

Where do the Iowa wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Iowa Code 642.21. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

An employer may not fire a worker because the worker's earnings were garnished for debt.

What this means in practice

Disposable earnings are what remains after deductions the law requires, such as income tax, Social Security and required withholding. Voluntary deductions like health insurance or retirement contributions are usually not subtracted, so the protected amount is often less than take home pay suggests.

The limits in this guide apply to ordinary consumer debt. Child support, alimony, federal and state taxes, and federal student loans follow separate rules that often allow a larger share of pay to be taken, even in states with strict limits for other debts.

Exemptions are often not applied automatically. A worker may need to file a claim of exemption with the court within a short deadline after receiving notice of the garnishment. Reading the notice promptly, and talking with the creditor about a payment plan or settlement, can keep more of each paycheck.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.