IA · Ankeny · Updated October 15, 2026

Registered Nurse jobs in Ankeny, IA

The median registered nurse pay in the Ankeny area is $37.97 per hour ($78,970 a year), with the typical range running from $32.78 to $41.40. 5 open roles with published pay are listed for Ankeny and its metro area. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in the Ankeny metro area. The free report below lists employers near Ankeny and what they pay.

Open Registered Nurse roles near Ankeny

Roles in other cities of the Des Moines-West Des Moines area.

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

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Who is hiring registered nurses near Ankeny

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Veterans Health Administration3$51.60
Select Medical2$43.40

Registered Nurse pay in Ankeny, 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 Ankeny 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

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 Ankeny

  • 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.

Estimate your Ankeny 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 Ankeny

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 registered nurse 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).

Hospitals in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area

CMS lists 4 hospitals in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.

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.

Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Des Moines, IA11 mi$37.97/hr213,096
West Des Moines, IA16 mi$37.97/hr73,664
Ames, IA20 mi$35.06/hr69,026
Waterloo, IA83 mi$33.50/hr67,477
Cedar Rapids, IA100 mi$36.81/hr137,904
Iowa City, IA107 mi$39.87/hr76,710

Registered Nurse jobs in Iowa · Registered 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.

Iowa state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Ankeny

Ankeny city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do registered nurses make in Ankeny, IA?

Registered Nurses 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 Ankeny a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?

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

Who is hiring registered nurses in Ankeny?

We list 5 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Ankeny.

Do I need a Iowa license to work in Ankeny as a registered 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 Ankeny 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 Ankeny?

The federal per diem benchmark in Ankeny 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 registered nurses in Ankeny?

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

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What do employers near Ankeny pay registered nurses? 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 · RN near Ankeny, IA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RN pay reportAnkeny, IA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Veterans Health AdministrationDes Moines, IA · 6 postings$49.44/ hr$34–$67
  • Select MedicalDes Moines, IA · 4 postings$44.80/ hr$37–$53
  • CommonSpirit HealthCOUNCIL BLUFFS, IA · 3 postings$44.10/ hr$30–$52
  • Acadia HealthcareCouncil Bluffs, IA · 2 postings$39.84/ hr$34–$46

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$32Median$44.10High$59

19 RN postings with published pay in Iowa, 15 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 19 RN roles

  1. Registered Nurse- Community Living Center Admission CoordinatorPermanent
    $75k–$139k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Des Moines, IA · posted today
  2. Admissions Registered NursePermanent
    $34.00–$45.69/ hour
    Acadia Healthcare · Council Bluffs, IA · posted today

+ 17 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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