Registered Nurse salary in Iowa
Registered Nurses in Iowa earn a median of $37.00 per hour, about $76,960 a year, 18% below the U.S. median of $45.00. The middle half earn between $31.62 and $40.00 per hour. The highest median among Iowa metro areas is in Iowa City, IA, at $39.87 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $37.00median pay per hour
- $76,960median pay per year
- 33,480registered nurses employed in Iowa
- #47of 50 states by median pay
Registered Nurse pay in Iowa: percentiles
| Level | Iowa per hour | Iowa per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $29.91 | $62,210 | $31.75 |
| Lower quartile | $31.62 | $65,770 | $37.79 |
| Median | $37.00 | $76,960 | $45.00 |
| Upper quartile | $40.00 | $83,200 | $51.90 |
| Top 10% | $47.25 | $98,280 | $65.06 |
Registered Nurse pay by metro area in Iowa
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs Iowa median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $39.87 | $82,920 | 4,050 | 8% above | $43.57 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37.97 | $78,970 | 7,800 | 3% above | $41.41 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36.82 | $76,590 | 3,810 | in line with | $41.33 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $36.81 | $76,560 | 2,690 | 1% below | $41.38 |
| Ames, IA | $35.06 | $72,920 | 1,100 | 5% below | $39.47 |
| Dubuque, IA | $34.01 | $70,740 | 1,280 | 8% below | $38.95 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $33.50 | $69,680 | 1,960 | 9% below | $38.48 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $33.26 | $69,180 | 1,520 | 10% below | $38.47 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Registered Nurse pay in states next to Iowa
What employers are posting in Iowa
- 19roles with published pay
- $44.10median pay per hour
- $33–$59typical published range
- 5employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 6 | $49.44 |
| Select Medical | 4 | $44.80 |
| Avera Health | 4 | $36.56 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 3 | $44.10 |
| Acadia Healthcare | 2 | $39.84 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 19 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Registered Nurse jobs in Iowa · Registered Nurse salary nationwide · Iowa state guide · Iowa licensing guide
Common questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Iowa?
The median is $37.00 per hour, about $76,960 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $29.91 and the top 10% earn over $47.25 (BLS, May 2024).
Which Iowa city pays registered nurses the most?
Among Iowa metro areas, Iowa City, IA has the highest median at $39.87 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does Iowa rank for registered nurse pay?
Iowa ranks 47th of 50 states by median registered nurse pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay registered nurses? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
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Your RN pay reportIowa · 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
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.