PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Acute Inpatient Registered Nurse - RN - Dialysis
Fresenius Medical Care · Dubuque, IA
Pay range with your report
Registered Nurse jobs in Dubuque, IA
Pay for registered nurses in the Dubuque area centers on $34.01 per hour, or about $70,740 a year. The lower quarter earns under $31.31 and the upper quarter over $40.00. That ranks 360th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 308th of 335 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Dubuque. The free report below lists employers near Dubuque and what they pay.
- $34.01median pay per hour, Dubuque
- $31–$40typical range per hour
- 1,280registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Registered Nurse roles in Dubuque
1 more open role from employers in Dubuque. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Registered Nurse pay in Dubuque, IA
The metro median is 8% below the Iowa statewide median of $37.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 1,280 registered nurses employed in the Dubuque metro area, 21.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.02).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $29.90 | $62,190 | 34% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $31.31 | $65,120 | 30% below U.S. median |
| Median | $34.01 | $70,740 | 24% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $40.00 | $83,200 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $41.11 | $85,510 | 9% below U.S. median |
How Dubuque ranks
- 360th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 308th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th 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.
Get the Dubuque Registered Nurse pay report
Named employers near Dubuque, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Dubuque
- Overall prices in Dubuque run 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 36% below the U.S. average (index 64.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $34.01 median hour buys what $38.95 buys at the national price level, 13% 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 Dubuque paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,224
- Per year: $61,218
- Per month: $5,101
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Dubuque metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Dubuque
| 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 Dubuque as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse- Community Living Center Admission Coordinator
Veterans Health Administration · Des Moines, IA
$75k–$139k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
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.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
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 Dubuque
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Dubuque, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finley Hospital Dubuque, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque, 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 Dubuque County
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Dubuque County (1 population-group, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 62 mi | $36.81/hr | 137,904 |
| Davenport, IA | 65 mi | $36.82/hr | 100,938 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $39.87/hr | 76,710 |
| Madison, WI | 76 mi | $43.26/hr | 285,300 |
| Waterloo, IA | 84 mi | $33.50/hr | 67,477 |
| Rockford, IL | 86 mi | $39.21/hr | 147,486 |
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 Dubuque
Dubuque city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered nurses make in Dubuque, IA?
Registered Nurses in the Dubuque metro area have a median pay of $34.01 per hour, about $70,740 a year. The middle half earn between $31.31 and $40.00 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Dubuque a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
Dubuque ranks 308th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 360th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Where do registered nurses work in Dubuque?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Dubuque, led by Finley Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Dubuque 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 Dubuque in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Dubuque 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 Dubuque?
The federal per diem benchmark in Dubuque 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 Dubuque?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Dubuque and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Dubuque.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Dubuque 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.
Get your free pay report
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 reportDubuque, 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.