PlainWorker
States › Iowa

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

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.

#EmployerInspectionsViolationsPenalty + wages
1Gronen Restoration Inc.Dubuque00$732K
2Alaniz Metro GroupMount Pleasant00$655K
3El RodeoClive00$629K
4Kraft HeinzMuscatine518$624K
5Seaboard Triumph FoodsSioux City2039$464K
6Waterloo Processing, LLCWaterloo440$444K
7Vangent Inc.Coralville00$373K
8Bridgestone Americas Tire OperationsDes Moines1271$367K
9Borghi USA INC. Oil Hydraulic ConduitsWest Burlington737$332K
10Schneider National Carriers, Inc.Amana00$299K
11Hy-Vee, Inc.West Des Moines00$296K
12Barn Town BrewingWest Des Moines00$291K
13Midwest Torching & MaintenanceClive00$288K
14Tivoli Inn & SuitesElk Horn00$284K
15Precision of New HamptonNew Hampton00$280K
16ITA GroupWest Des Moines00$269K
17CH Inc.Council Bluffs00$269K
18ML Farm Systems IncIowa Falls00$266K
19Heartland Tire and AutoWaukee00$217K
20TM1 Stop, LLC.Iowa City00$211K

All employers in Iowa

EmployerCityInspectionsPenalty
Mongolian BuffetAmes0$0
Creative Co.Fort Dodge0$0
JR Revar SteelDes Moines0$0
Mauser Packaging SolutionsWebster City4$71K
Rembrandt EnterprisesRembrandt6$71K
El Porton Mexican Grill (Shenandoah, IA)Shenandoah0$0
West Towne PubAmes0$0
Pillar of Cedar ValleyWaterloo0$0
Smart Construction (DBRA Springs Bettendorf)Bettendorf0$0
DHL Supply ChainOsceola5$70K
Guttenberg Municipal HospitalGuttenberg0$0
Meridian Manufacturing Group, INC.Storm Lake2$68K
Core Plastech International, INC.Nashua2$67K
A.y. McDonald MFG. CO.Dubuque8$66K
Matt's GreenhouseFort Madison0$0
Casa de OroPerry0$0
Mackaymitchell Envelope Company LLCMount Pleasant6$65K
SimplerayFairfield0$0
Hofer Builders, Inc.Bettendorf0$0
Retail Data Systems, Inc.Davenport0$0
Big Soo TerminalSioux City2$60K
J A K's Puppies IncBritt0$0
Premium Iowa Pork, LLCHospers4$59K
Quality Manufacturing CORP.Urbandale4$59K
Ach Foam Technologies, LLCWashington2$59K
Cedar Valley Recycling & TransferWaterloo2$59K
Greystone Manufacturing LLC.Bettendorf7$59K
United Parcel ServicesDes Moines2$59K
Pinnacle Foods Group LLCFort Madison2$57K
Lucky's on 16thCedar Rapids0$0
Modern BuildersJanesville0$0
Pella CorporationPella11$57K
Winegard CompanyBurlington4$57K
Cargill Meat SolutionsOttumwa4$57K
Monogram Prepared MeatsHarlan4$57K
Reliable 1Iowa Falls0$0
Collis INC.Clinton6$56K
Grain Processing CorporationMuscatine8$56K
Maxyield CooperativeBelmond2$56K
Fansteel Wellman DynamicsCreston7$56K
John Deere Davenport WorksDavenport8$53K
Giovanni's Pizza RestaurantNewton0$0
Whirlpool Corporation - Amana OperationAmana8$55K
Van Diest Supply CompanyWebster City6$55K
John Deere Des Moines WorksAnkeny9$47K
Triple B Construction, LLCCouncil Bluffs0$0
Shearer's Snacks, LLC.Burlington5$54K
Motel 6Des Moines0$0
City of WaterlooWaterloo2$54K
Cargill Meat Solutions CorporationOttumwa6$53K
← Previous Page 3 of 52 Next →

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 & WarehousingUnknownUtilitiesWholesale 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 →