PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse- Community Living Center Admission Coordinator
Veterans Health Administration · Des Moines, IA
$75k–$139k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Registered Nurse jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA
Registered Nurses in the Cedar Rapids area earn a median of $36.81 per hour, about $76,560 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $32.06 and $41.61. That ranks 325th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 243rd of 335 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids. The free report below lists employers near Cedar Rapids and what they pay.
- $36.81median pay per hour, Cedar Rapids
- $32–$42typical range per hour
- 2,690registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Registered Nurse pay in Cedar Rapids, IA
The metro median is 1% below the Iowa statewide median of $37.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 2,690 registered nurses employed in the Cedar Rapids metro area, 19.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.91).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $28.99 | $60,300 | 36% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $32.06 | $66,680 | 29% below U.S. median |
| Median | $36.81 | $76,560 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $41.61 | $86,550 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $48.03 | $99,900 | 7% above U.S. median |
How Cedar Rapids ranks
- 325th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 243rd of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th 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 Cedar Rapids
- Overall prices in Cedar Rapids run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.0, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 29% below the U.S. average (index 71.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $36.81 median hour buys what $41.38 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.
Get the Cedar Rapids Registered Nurse pay report
Named employers near Cedar Rapids, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Cedar Rapids paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,325
- Per year: $66,258
- Per month: $5,522
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Cedar Rapids metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Cedar Rapids
| 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 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 (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).
Open Registered Nurse roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Cedar Rapids as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Admissions Registered Nurse
Acadia Healthcare · Council Bluffs, IA
$34.00–$45.69/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
160+ more Registered Nurse roles for you in Iowa
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted yesterday
Registered Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health
Veterans Health Administration · Des Moines, IA
$75k–$139k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Registered Nurse (RN) - Full-Time Night Shift
Select Medical · Des Moines, IA
$37.00–$49.80/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Registered Nurse (RN) - Full-Time Day Shift
Select Medical · Des Moines, IA
$37.00–$49.80/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Registered Nurse
Acadia Healthcare · Council Bluffs, IA
$34.00–$45.69/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Cedar Rapids
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| St Lukes Hospital Cedar Rapids, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 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 Linn County
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Linn County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 16 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | 23 mi | $39.87/hr | 76,710 |
| Waterloo, IA | 50 mi | $33.50/hr | 67,477 |
| Dubuque, IA | 62 mi | $34.01/hr | 58,987 |
| Davenport, IA | 62 mi | $36.82/hr | 100,938 |
| Ames, IA | 100 mi | $35.06/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 100 mi | $37.97/hr | 76,727 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered nurses make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Registered Nurses in the Cedar Rapids metro area have a median pay of $36.81 per hour, about $76,560 a year. The middle half earn between $32.06 and $41.61 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Cedar Rapids a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
Cedar Rapids ranks 243rd of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 325th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do registered nurses work in Cedar Rapids?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids, led by Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Linn 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 Cedar Rapids?
The federal per diem benchmark in Cedar Rapids 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 registered nurses in Cedar Rapids?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Cedar Rapids and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Cedar Rapids.
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What do employers near Cedar Rapids pay registered 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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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportCedar Rapids, 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
- Registered Nurse- Community Living Center Admission CoordinatorPermanent$75k–$139k/ year
- Admissions Registered NursePermanent$34.00–$45.69/ hour
+ 17 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.