Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in Ames, IA
Pay for nurse manager & leaderships in the Ames area centers on $48.01 per hour, or about $99,850 a year. The lower quarter earns under $39.36 and the upper quarter over $59.18. That ranks 295th of 377 U.S. metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay, and 191st of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Ames. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Ames.
- $48.01median pay per hour, Ames
- $39–$59typical range per hour
- 260nurse manager & leaderships employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Nurse Manager & Leadership pay in Ames, IA
The metro median is 1% below the Iowa statewide median of $48.44 per hour. Nationally the median is $56.71 per hour. BLS counts about 260 medical and health services managers employed in the Ames metro area, 4.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.26).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $32.51 | $67,620 | 43% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $39.36 | $81,870 | 31% below U.S. median |
| Median | $48.01 | $99,850 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $59.18 | $123,090 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $76.93 | $160,010 | 36% above U.S. median |
How Ames ranks
- 295th of 377 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 191st of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th of 8 Iowa metro areas
BLS does not publish a separate figure for nurse manager & leadership. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Medical and Health Services Managers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Ames
- Overall prices in Ames run 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 31% below the U.S. average (index 69.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $48.01 median hour buys what $54.05 buys at the national price level, 5% 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.
Get the Ames Nurse Manager & Leadership pay report
Named employers near Ames, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Ames paycheck
- Per year: $86,418
- Per month: $7,202
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Ames metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Ames
| 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 nurse manager & leadership 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 Ames
CMS lists 1 hospital in Ames, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of nurse manager & leaderships.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Greeley Medical Center Ames, IA | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 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 Story County
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Story County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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 Manager & Leadership pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 20 mi | $49.70/hr | 76,727 |
| Des Moines, IA | 31 mi | $49.70/hr | 213,096 |
| West Des Moines, IA | 34 mi | $49.70/hr | 73,664 |
| Waterloo, IA | 72 mi | $46.26/hr | 67,477 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 100 mi | $48.33/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 111 mi | $49.77/hr | 76,710 |
Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in Iowa · Nurse Manager & Leadership 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 Ames
Ames city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do nurse manager & leaderships make in Ames, IA?
Nurse Manager & Leaderships in the Ames metro area have a median pay of $48.01 per hour, about $99,850 a year. The middle half earn between $39.36 and $59.18 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Ames a good place for nurse manager & leaderships once cost of living is counted?
Ames ranks 191st of 333 metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay after adjusting for local prices, and 295th of 377 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do nurse manager & leaderships work in Ames?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Ames, led by Mary Greeley Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Ames as a nurse manager & leadership?
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 Ames in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Story 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 Ames?
The federal per diem benchmark in Ames 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 nurse manager & leaderships in Ames?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Ames and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Ames.
What do employers near Ames pay nurse manager & leaderships? 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+ Nurse Manager & Leadership roles in Iowa, sent free by email
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Your Nurse Leader pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- AB Health Corp LLCCresco, IA · 3 wage offers$36.08/ hr$34–$38
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 4 postings$121.16/ hr$90–$148
- MultiCareTacoma, WA · 6 postings$93.11/ hr$78–$157
- Veterans Health AdministrationLong Beach, CA · 3 postings$80.49/ hr$48–$110
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
3 employer-reported wage offers for Nurse Leader in federal filings in Iowa, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Nurse Leader roles
Open Nurse Leader roles near Ames, IA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.