IA · Des Moines · Updated October 15, 2026

Nurse Case Manager jobs in Des Moines, IA

Nurse Case Managers in the Des Moines area earn a median of $37.97 per hour, about $78,970 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $32.78 and $41.40. That ranks 279th of 379 U.S. metro areas for nurse case manager pay, and 242nd of 335 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Des Moines. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Des Moines.

Nurse Case Manager pay in Des Moines, IA

The metro median is 3% above the Iowa statewide median of $37.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 7,800 registered nurses employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area, 19.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.90).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$30.93$64,33031% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$32.78$68,18027% below U.S. median
Median$37.97$78,97016% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$41.40$86,1108% below U.S. median
Top 10%$47.17$98,1105% above U.S. median

How Des Moines ranks

  • 279th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 242nd of 335 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 8 Iowa metro areas

BLS does not publish a separate figure for nurse case manager. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Registered Nurses.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Des Moines

  • Overall prices in Des Moines-West Des Moines run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 15% below the U.S. average (index 84.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $37.97 median hour buys what $41.41 buys at the national price level, 8% below 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.

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Named employers near Des Moines, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Des Moines paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,367
  • Per year: $68,346
  • Per month: $5,696

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Des Moines

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$121
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,407
13-week assignment$18,291

Travel nurse case manager assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. 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).

Open Nurse Case Manager roles in Iowa

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Des Moines as they open.

All Nurse Case Manager jobs in Iowa

Hospitals in Des Moines

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Des Moines, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of nurse case managers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Va Central Iowa Healthcare System
Des Moines, IA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Broadlawns Medical Center
Des Moines, IA
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
Des Moines, IA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center
Des Moines, IA
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Polk County

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Polk County (1 population-group, 2 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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.

Nurse Case Manager pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
West Des Moines, IA9 mi$37.97/hr73,664
Ankeny, IA11 mi$37.97/hr76,727
Ames, IA31 mi$35.06/hr69,026
Waterloo, IA91 mi$33.50/hr67,477
Cedar Rapids, IA103 mi$36.81/hr137,904
Iowa City, IA108 mi$39.87/hr76,710

Nurse Case Manager jobs in Iowa · Nurse Case Manager 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.

Iowa state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Des Moines

Des Moines city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do nurse case managers make in Des Moines, IA?

Nurse Case Managers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area have a median pay of $37.97 per hour, about $78,970 a year. The middle half earn between $32.78 and $41.40 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Des Moines a good place for nurse case managers once cost of living is counted?

Des Moines-West Des Moines ranks 242nd of 335 metro areas for nurse case manager pay after adjusting for local prices, and 279th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do nurse case managers work in Des Moines?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Des Moines, led by Va Central Iowa Healthcare System. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Iowa license to work in Des Moines as a nurse case manager?

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 Des Moines in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Polk 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 Des Moines?

The federal per diem benchmark in Des Moines is $121 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,407 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place nurse case managers in Des Moines?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Des Moines and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Des Moines.

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What do employers near Des Moines pay nurse case managers? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Case Manager near Des Moines, IA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Case Manager pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Emanate HealthGlendora, CA · 3 postings$84.00/ hr$84–$84
  • MultiCarePuyallup, WA · 6 postings$67.28/ hr$20–$95
  • UMass Memorial Health CareMilford, MA · 4 postings$60.11/ hr$40–$85
  • Central Maine Healthcare CorporationLynwood, CA · 3 postings$55.33/ hr$38–$66

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list

2What they are offering now

Low$35Median$47.33High$65

180 Case Manager postings with published pay in the US, 156 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 Case Manager roles

  1. Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (RN) | Case Manager Estherville ClinicPermanent
    $22.50–$41.25/ hour
    Avera Health · Estherville, IA · posted 2 days ago
  2. Registered Nurse - Case Management Contract Nursing HomePermanent
    $74k–$123k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Iowa City, IA · posted 8 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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