Students are limited to working 20 hours per week during the academic year per State of Iowa Law. Students are allowed to work 40 hours per week during Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break and summer. Students who work over 40 hours per week will be paid overtime but per Federal regulation, Work-Study cannot cover overtime wages.
Although these are the hour limitations by law, the Work-Study dollar eligibility of the student employee will determine the number of hours the student can work per week and may limit the work hours below the maximums listed. For example:
A student’s Work-Study offer is $1,750 per semester and they are earning the minimum wage of $8.20/hour:
- For fall semester, the student could work an average of 9.7 hours per week, if they work every week during the 22-week fall period. ($8.20 x 9.7 hours x 22 weeks = $1.749.88)
- For spring semester, the student could work an average of 11.8 hours per week, if they work every week during the 18-week spring period. ($8.20 x 11.8 hours x 18 weeks = $1,741.68)
Many employers can continue to employ the student after the Work-Study offer is earned. The student should discuss this option with the employer before establishing the weekly work schedule.