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State enforcement profile · #21 of 56 by penalties · AT/BELOW-US

Workplace enforcement in Iowa

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Iowa has 2,595 employers in the federal enforcement record, with 4,770 OSHA inspections and $19.4M in penalties assessed. The state's Wage and Hour Division has recovered $21.8M in back wages across 1,077 enforcement cases.

2,595
Employers
4,770
Inspections
$19.4M
OSHA penalties
$21.8M
Back wages

The state in one line

Iowa ranks #21 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 10,267 violations cited across 4,770 inspections and $21.8M in wages recovered for workers.

#21
of 56 states by penalties
2.15
violations per inspection
$7K
avg penalty per employer
1,077
WHD wage-theft cases

This rank counts 48% of the penalty dollars recorded for Iowa: only employers with at least two OSHA inspections or $1,000 or more in Wage & Hour back wages. On every recorded penalty dollar it would rank #27 of 56.

OSHA citation docket

State IMIS book IA · Iowa AT/BELOW-US · MID-PPE

#21/56 · 4,770 insp · $19.4M

  • BOOK 2,595 employers
  • INSP 4,770 inspections
  • RANK #21 of 56
  • PEN $19.4M
  • RATE 2.15 viol/insp
  • VS-US AT/BELOW-US
  • WHD $21.8M
  • PHOTO South Carolina

Nearest employer-book peer: South Carolina ($16.5M penalty gap)

Iowa ranks #21 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 10,267 violations cited across 4,770 inspections and $21.8M in wages recovered for workers. OSHA IMIS + DOL WHD citation stamps for this jurisdiction. Read with this state → · Worst-cited employer → · Similar-footprint state → · Compare employers →

Iowa in the OSHA-penalty neighbourhood

Total assessed OSHA penalties among this state and nearest employer-book peers

penalties

What this shows Iowa carries $19.4M in assessed OSHA penalties, ranked #21 of 56 jurisdictions.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

Where Iowa ranks nationally

Average OSHA penalty per tracked employer, vs all 56 U.S. jurisdictions

$7,489 Top 36% most affordable more affordable than 64% of 56 U.S. jurisdictions

$0–$2,000: 5 U.S. jurisdictions (9%). Below this entry. $2,000–$4,000: 9 U.S. jurisdictions (16%). Below this entry. $4,000–$6,000: 17 U.S. jurisdictions (30%). Below this entry. $6,000–$8,000: 10 U.S. jurisdictions (18%). This entry sits in this band. $8,000–$10,000: 5 U.S. jurisdictions (9%). Above this entry. $10,000–$12,000: 4 U.S. jurisdictions (7%). Above this entry. $12,000–$14,000: 2 U.S. jurisdictions (4%). Above this entry. $14,000–$16,000: 3 U.S. jurisdictions (5%). Above this entry. $16,000–$18,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. $18,000–$20,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. $20,000–$22,000: 1 U.S. jurisdictions (2%). Above this entry. $22,000–$24,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. Iowa $0 $24,000 every U.S. jurisdiction, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $2K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. jurisdictions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts · 2026

Do more violations mean harsher penalties?

Each dot is one of the 56 U.S. jurisdictions with both violation and penalty data, placed by total violations cited and the average current penalty per violation. The highlighted dot is Iowa.

High volume, high penaltyLow volume, high penaltyHigh volume, low penaltyBelow median on both020897.041793.962690.983587.9$26.7$1330.4$2634.1$3937.8$5241.6Total violations citedAverage penalty per violationCalifornia, Total violations cited: 62917 · Average penalty per violation: $1931.91New Jersey, Total violations cited: 51588 · Average penalty per violation: $2257.14Texas, Total violations cited: 37481 · Average penalty per violation: $3006.51Ohio, Total violations cited: 33085 · Average penalty per violation: $3209.32Illinois, Total violations cited: 38576 · Average penalty per violation: $2518.72Pennsylvania, Total violations cited: 34307 · Average penalty per violation: $2124.18New York, Total violations cited: 79647 · Average penalty per violation: $851.4Wisconsin, Total violations cited: 23614 · Average penalty per violation: $2667.32Florida, Total violations cited: 20137 · Average penalty per violation: $2911.21Georgia, Total violations cited: 23607 · Average penalty per violation: $2424.16Virginia, Total violations cited: 29121 · Average penalty per violation: $1651.15Michigan, Total violations cited: 67640 · Average penalty per violation: $671.06Alabama, Total violations cited: 14683 · Average penalty per violation: $2955.54Nevada, Total violations cited: 18844 · Average penalty per violation: $1778.2Missouri, Total violations cited: 12358 · Average penalty per violation: $2481.04Massachusetts, Total violations cited: 12091 · Average penalty per violation: $2401.87Connecticut, Total violations cited: 23647 · Average penalty per violation: $1188.05Kansas, Total violations cited: 9514 · Average penalty per violation: $2852.86Tennessee, Total violations cited: 38865 · Average penalty per violation: $633.23Colorado, Total violations cited: 11833 · Average penalty per violation: $1925.51Iowa, Total violations cited: 10267 · Average penalty per violation: $1892.75Nebraska, Total violations cited: 4514 · Average penalty per violation: $3581.2Oklahoma, Total violations cited: 5020 · Average penalty per violation: $2618.51Maryland, Total violations cited: 24360 · Average penalty per violation: $537.35Hawaii, Total violations cited: 9120 · Average penalty per violation: $1397.7Washington, Total violations cited: 28812 · Average penalty per violation: $424.16Alaska, Total violations cited: 11441 · Average penalty per violation: $1050.89Mississippi, Total violations cited: 4912 · Average penalty per violation: $2280.7North Carolina, Total violations cited: 18017 · Average penalty per violation: $593.13Arkansas, Total violations cited: 3343 · Average penalty per violation: $3153.71Maine, Total violations cited: 8054 · Average penalty per violation: $1235.73Puerto Rico, Total violations cited: 11369 · Average penalty per violation: $851.43Delaware, Total violations cited: 1884 · Average penalty per violation: $5004.52Louisiana, Total violations cited: 3408 · Average penalty per violation: $2525.26North Dakota, Total violations cited: 1761 · Average penalty per violation: $4787.03New Hampshire, Total violations cited: 3281 · Average penalty per violation: $2336.7Idaho, Total violations cited: 3829 · Average penalty per violation: $1867.02West Virginia, Total violations cited: 3289 · Average penalty per violation: $2142.24Utah, Total violations cited: 6414 · Average penalty per violation: $1044.66Rhode Island, Total violations cited: 3528 · Average penalty per violation: $1806.54Indiana, Total violations cited: 4225 · Average penalty per violation: $1430.22South Dakota, Total violations cited: 1901 · Average penalty per violation: $3123.16Oregon, Total violations cited: 21930 · Average penalty per violation: $263.72Kentucky, Total violations cited: 3171 · Average penalty per violation: $1801.2Montana, Total violations cited: 2718 · Average penalty per violation: $2076Minnesota, Total violations cited: 9173 · Average penalty per violation: $604.31New Mexico, Total violations cited: 2690 · Average penalty per violation: $1987.11Wyoming, Total violations cited: 2936 · Average penalty per violation: $1582.38Guam, Total violations cited: 3356 · Average penalty per violation: $1368.12Vermont, Total violations cited: 3044 · Average penalty per violation: $1498.54Arizona, Total violations cited: 8689 · Average penalty per violation: $523.14District of Columbia, Total violations cited: 2002 · Average penalty per violation: $1600.22South Carolina, Total violations cited: 5382 · Average penalty per violation: $551.38American Samoa, Total violations cited: 829 · Average penalty per violation: $3521.93Virgin Islands, Total violations cited: 2592 · Average penalty per violation: $737.45Northern Mariana Islands, Total violations cited: 943 · Average penalty per violation: $1423.52
Iowa cites 10,267 total violations at an average current penalty of $1892.75 per violation. The crosshair marks the median jurisdiction on both axes. Across this dataset, citing more violations is mildly ASSOCIATED WITH A LOWER average penalty per violation, not a higher one -- the opposite of what volume alone might suggest.

Top OSHA & wage enforcement actions in Iowa

Ranked by combined OSHA penalties and DOL Wage & Hour Division back wages. Some employers below have wage-theft cases with zero OSHA safety violations, or vice versa; check the Inspections/Violations columns before drawing safety conclusions.

# Employer InspectionsViolationsPenalty + wages
1 Gronen Restoration Inc. Dubuque 0 0 $732K
2 Alaniz Metro Group Mount Pleasant 0 0 $655K
3 El Rodeo Clive 0 0 $629K
4 Kraft Heinz Muscatine 5 18 $624K
5 Seaboard Triumph Foods Sioux City 20 39 $464K
6 Waterloo Processing, LLC Waterloo 4 40 $444K
7 Vangent Inc. Coralville 0 0 $373K
8 Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Des Moines 12 71 $367K
9 Borghi USA INC. Oil Hydraulic Conduits West Burlington 7 37 $332K
10 Schneider National Carriers, Inc. Amana 0 0 $299K
11 Hy-Vee, Inc. West Des Moines 0 0 $296K
12 Barn Town Brewing West Des Moines 0 0 $291K
13 Midwest Torching & Maintenance Clive 0 0 $288K
14 Tivoli Inn & Suites Elk Horn 0 0 $284K
15 Precision of New Hampton New Hampton 0 0 $280K
16 ITA Group West Des Moines 0 0 $269K
17 CH Inc. Council Bluffs 0 0 $269K
18 ML Farm Systems Inc Iowa Falls 0 0 $266K
19 Heartland Tire and Auto Waukee 0 0 $217K
20 TM1 Stop, LLC. Iowa City 0 0 $211K

All employers in Iowa

Employer CityInspectionsPenalty
Gronen Restoration Inc. Dubuque 0 $0
Alaniz Metro Group Mount Pleasant 0 $0
El Rodeo Clive 0 $0
Kraft Heinz Muscatine 5 $613K
Seaboard Triumph Foods Sioux City 20 $132K
Waterloo Processing, LLC Waterloo 4 $444K
Vangent Inc. Coralville 0 $0
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Des Moines 12 $367K
Borghi USA INC. Oil Hydraulic Conduits West Burlington 7 $332K
Schneider National Carriers, Inc. Amana 0 $0
Hy-Vee, Inc. West Des Moines 0 $0
Barn Town Brewing West Des Moines 0 $0
Midwest Torching & Maintenance Clive 0 $0
Tivoli Inn & Suites Elk Horn 0 $0
Precision of New Hampton New Hampton 0 $0
ITA Group West Des Moines 0 $0
CH Inc. Council Bluffs 0 $0
ML Farm Systems Inc Iowa Falls 0 $0
Heartland Tire and Auto Waukee 0 $0
TM1 Stop, LLC. Iowa City 0 $0
Nationwide Insurance Des Moines 0 $0
El Rodeo Urbandale 0 $0
Islas Del Pacifico Des Moines 0 $0
Area Residential Care Dubuque 0 $0
Jimmy John's Ankeny 0 $0
Waste Connections of Iowa Inc. Des Moines 0 $0
Monterrey Mexican Restaurant West Des Moines 0 $0
Dolly's Transport Cedar Falls 0 $0
Blaze Pizza West Des Moines 0 $0
U.S. Postal Service Des Moines 28 $174K
Roquette America, INC. Keokuk 21 $172K
CRST International Inc. Cedar Rapids 0 $0
Mechdyne Marshalltown 0 $0
Keokuk Mills, LLC Keokuk 5 $163K
Top Job Services Urbandale 0 $0
Tyson Fresh Meats, INC. Waterloo 24 $149K
Calcium Products Fort Dodge 5 $142K
American Pop Corn Company Sioux City 7 $140K
Pitney Bowes Presort Services Urbandale 5 $34K
Vincentini Plumbing Carter Lake 0 $0
Auto Systems Experts, Inc. Davenport 0 $0
Titan Tire Corporation Des Moines 18 $134K
MI-T-M Corporation Peosta 4 $125K
Midamerican Energy Company Davenport 1 $10K
Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant Mason City 0 $0
College Community School District Cedar Rapids 0 $0
Woods Estates Bettendorf 0 $0
El Porton Mexican Grill (Glenwood, IA) Glenwood 0 $0
E & J Electric, Inc. E & J Geothermal, Inc. Solon 0 $0
Smithfield Foods - Denison Denison 10 $125K
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Industries in Iowa

Enforcement and wage-compliance data broken out by industry sector within Iowa.

Accommodation & Food ServicesAdministrative & Waste ServicesAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing & HuntingArts, Entertainment & RecreationConstructionEducational ServicesFinance & InsuranceHealthcare & Social AssistanceInformationManufacturingOtherOther ServicesProfessional & Technical ServicesPublic AdministrationReal Estate & RentalRetail TradeTransportation & WarehousingUtilitiesWholesale Trade

Top Cities in Iowa

The 20 cities with the most employers in the federal enforcement record within Iowa (of 97 total).

Des Moines (260)Cedar Rapids (156)Davenport (94)Sioux City (87)Waterloo (81)Ames (78)Council Bluffs (75)Iowa City (68)West Des Moines (68)Ankeny (63)Dubuque (62)Bettendorf (40)Cedar Falls (37)Marshalltown (34)Muscatine (32)Burlington (30)Mason City (30)Fort Dodge (29)Clinton (29)Urbandale (29)

View all 97 cities in Iowa →

Nationwide states with similar OSHA penalties or violation rates

Two enforcement-record peer sets for Iowa: nearest jurisdictions by total assessed OSHA penalties and by violations per inspection. These are cross-state neighborhoods, not the employer-book peers above.

Similar total OSHA penalties

Nearest jurisdictions by total assessed OSHA penalties ($19.4M here).

Nebraska $16.2M Colorado $22.8M Tennessee $24.6M Oklahoma $13.1M

Similar violations per inspection

Nearest states by inspection-weighted violation rate (2.15 here).

Rhode Island 2.15/insp Pennsylvania 2.13/insp Mississippi 2.13/insp Illinois 2.12/insp

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data, U.S. Department of Labor · Verify with OSHA establishment search →
Source: Wage & Hour Division Compliance Actions, U.S. Department of Labor · DOL WHD data →