PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Registered Nurse- Emergency Department
Veterans Health Administration · Iowa City, IA
$74k–$123k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Registered Nurse jobs in Iowa City, IA
The median registered nurse pay in the Iowa City area is $39.87 per hour ($82,920 a year), with the typical range running from $32.61 to $41.18. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Iowa City. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Iowa City. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Iowa City.
- $39.87median pay per hour, Iowa City
- $33–$41typical range per hour
- 4,050registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay
Open Registered Nurse roles in Iowa City
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Registered Nurse - Inpatient Medical Surgical
Veterans Health Administration · Iowa City, IA
$74k–$123k/ year
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
45+ more Registered Nurse roles for you in Iowa City, 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.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
Get the Iowa City Registered Nurse pay report
Named employers near Iowa City, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportRegistered Nurse pay in Iowa City, IA
The metro median is 8% above the Iowa statewide median of $37.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 4,050 registered nurses employed in the Iowa City metro area, 43.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.06).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $32.61 | $67,830 | 28% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $32.61 | $67,830 | 28% below U.S. median |
| Median | $39.87 | $82,920 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $41.18 | $85,650 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $49.24 | $102,420 | 9% above U.S. median |
How Iowa City ranks
- 173rd of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 139th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st 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 Iowa City
- Overall prices in Iowa City run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 16% below the U.S. average (index 84.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $39.87 median hour buys what $43.57 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Iowa City paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,435
- Per year: $71,766
- Per month: $5,980
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Iowa City metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Iowa City
| 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 Iowa City
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Iowa City, 2 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City Va Medical Center Iowa City, IA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA | Acute care | Government and federal | 2 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 Johnson County
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Johnson 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.
Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 23 mi | $36.81/hr | 137,904 |
| Davenport, IA | 48 mi | $36.82/hr | 100,938 |
| Waterloo, IA | 72 mi | $33.50/hr | 67,477 |
| Dubuque, IA | 72 mi | $34.01/hr | 58,987 |
| Ankeny, IA | 107 mi | $37.97/hr | 76,727 |
| Des Moines, IA | 108 mi | $37.97/hr | 213,096 |
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 Iowa City
Iowa City city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered nurses make in Iowa City, IA?
Registered Nurses in the Iowa City metro area have a median pay of $39.87 per hour, about $82,920 a year. The middle half earn between $32.61 and $41.18 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Iowa City a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
Iowa City ranks 139th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 173rd of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring registered nurses in Iowa City?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Iowa City. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Iowa City.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Iowa City 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 Iowa City in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Johnson 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 Iowa City?
The federal per diem benchmark in Iowa City 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 Iowa City?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Iowa City and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Iowa City.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Iowa City 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 reportIowa City, 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.