PermanentPosted today
Admissions Registered Nurse
Acadia Healthcare · Council Bluffs, IA
$34.00–$45.69/ hour
New this week
Registered Nurse jobs in Council Bluffs, IA
Registered Nurses in the Council Bluffs area earn a median of $38.95 per hour, about $81,020 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $37.47 and $47.00. That ranks 222nd of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 191st of 335 once local prices are factored in. 4 open roles with published pay are listed for Council Bluffs. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Council Bluffs.
- $38.95median pay per hour, Omaha
- $37–$47typical range per hour
- 12,860registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 4open roles with published pay
Open Registered Nurse roles in Council Bluffs
PermanentPosted yesterday
Registered Nurse
Acadia Healthcare · Council Bluffs, IA
$34.00–$45.69/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
50+ more Registered Nurse roles for you in Council Bluffs, IA
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 2 days ago
Medical Surgical RN
CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA
$36.00–$52.20/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Non-Invasive Cardiac RN
CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA
$30.39–$44.06/ hour
Get the Council Bluffs Registered Nurse pay report
Named employers near Council Bluffs, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring registered nurses near Council Bluffs
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Acadia Healthcare | 2 | $39.84 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 2 | $40.66 |
Registered Nurse pay in Council Bluffs, IA
The metro median is 5% above the Iowa statewide median of $37.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 12,860 registered nurses employed in the Omaha metro area, 26.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.23).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.06 | $64,600 | 31% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $37.47 | $77,940 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Median | $38.95 | $81,020 | 13% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $47.00 | $97,760 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $49.08 | $102,090 | 9% above U.S. median |
How Council Bluffs ranks
- 222nd of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 191st of 335 after adjusting for local prices
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 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 $38.95 median hour buys what $42.38 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Council Bluffs paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,402
- Per year: $70,110
- Per month: $5,842
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 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).
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 registered 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.
Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, NE | 8 mi | $38.95/hr | 64,777 |
| Omaha, NE | 11 mi | $38.95/hr | 489,265 |
| Lincoln, NE | 52 mi | $40.61/hr | 300,619 |
| Sioux City, IA | 91 mi | $33.26/hr | 86,875 |
| West Des Moines, IA | 110 mi | $37.97/hr | 73,664 |
| St. Joseph, MO | 116 mi | $35.94/hr | 71,098 |
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 Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered nurses make in Council Bluffs, IA?
Registered Nurses in the Omaha metro area have a median pay of $38.95 per hour, about $81,020 a year. The middle half earn between $37.47 and $47.00 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Council Bluffs a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
Omaha ranks 191st of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 222nd of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring registered nurses in Council Bluffs?
We list 4 open roles with published pay from 2 employers 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 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 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 registered 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 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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160+ Registered 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 RN pay reportCouncil Bluffs, IA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- CommonSpirit HealthCOUNCIL BLUFFS, IA · 3 postings$44.10/ hr$30–$52
- Acadia HealthcareCouncil Bluffs, IA · 2 postings$39.84/ hr$34–$46
- Veterans Health AdministrationDes Moines, IA · 6 postings$49.44/ hr$34–$67
- Select MedicalDes Moines, IA · 4 postings$44.80/ hr$37–$53
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.