PermanentPosted 17 days ago
PCU LPN
CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA
$21.85–$30.87/ hour
Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Council Bluffs, IA
Pay for licensed practical nurses in the Council Bluffs area centers on $29.61 per hour, or about $61,600 a year. The lower quarter earns under $25.71 and the upper quarter over $31.58. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Council Bluffs. That ranks 160th of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 110th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Council Bluffs and what they pay.
- $29.61median pay per hour, Omaha
- $26–$32typical range per hour
- 1,810licensed practical nurses employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Council Bluffs
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Named employers near Council Bluffs, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportLicensed Practical Nurse pay in Council Bluffs, IA
The metro median is 4% above the Iowa statewide median of $28.59 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 1,810 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Omaha metro area, 3.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.90).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $21.84 | $45,430 | 27% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $25.71 | $53,480 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Median | $29.61 | $61,600 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $31.58 | $65,690 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $35.84 | $74,550 | 20% above U.S. median |
How Council Bluffs ranks
- 160th of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 110th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Council Bluffs
- Overall prices in Omaha run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $29.61 median hour buys what $32.22 buys at the national price level, 7% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Council Bluffs paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,066
- Per year: $53,298
- Per month: $4,442
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Omaha metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Council Bluffs
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel licensed practical nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Council Bluffs
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Council Bluffs, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chi Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson Council Bluffs, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Pottawattamie County
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Pottawattamie County (1 geographic, 2 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 11 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Licensed Practical Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, NE | 8 mi | $29.61/hr | 64,777 |
| Omaha, NE | 11 mi | $29.61/hr | 489,265 |
| Lincoln, NE | 52 mi | $28.65/hr | 300,619 |
| Sioux City, IA | 91 mi | $28.05/hr | 86,875 |
| West Des Moines, IA | 110 mi | $29.39/hr | 73,664 |
| St. Joseph, MO | 116 mi | $27.90/hr | 71,098 |
Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Iowa · Licensed Practical Nurse jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
Iowa is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Iowa license by endorsement.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do licensed practical nurses make in Council Bluffs, IA?
Licensed Practical Nurses in the Omaha metro area have a median pay of $29.61 per hour, about $61,600 a year. The middle half earn between $25.71 and $31.58 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Council Bluffs a good place for licensed practical nurses once cost of living is counted?
Omaha ranks 110th of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 160th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring licensed practical nurses in Council Bluffs?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Council Bluffs. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Council Bluffs.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Council Bluffs as a licensed practical nurse?
Iowa is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Iowa license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Council Bluffs in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Pottawattamie County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Council Bluffs?
The federal per diem benchmark in Council Bluffs is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place licensed practical nurses in Council Bluffs?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Council Bluffs and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Council Bluffs.
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What do employers near Council Bluffs pay licensed practical nurses? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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20+ Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Iowa, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your LPN / LVN pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Avera HealthSpencer, IA · 3 postings$31.88/ hr$22–$41
- MaineGeneral HealthAugusta, ME · 4 postings$47.83/ hr$32–$63
- CommonSpirit HealthWOODLAND, CA · 5 postings$41.23/ hr$31–$51
- Boston Medical CenterMassachusetts · 3 postings$40.82/ hr$33–$48
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
Low$20Median$31.38High$41
5 LPN / LVN postings with published pay in Iowa, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 5 LPN / LVN roles
- Licensed Practical Nurse - Primary Care Patient Aligned Care TeamPermanent$39k–$63k/ year
- Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | Rock Rapids Clinic PRNPer diem$22.50–$41.25/ hour
+ 3 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.