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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Salary in Iowa

Median Annual in Iowa
$39,350/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$18.92/hr
▼ 7% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Iowa

groups Employed in IA
22,670
public U.S. Median
$42,260
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$44,837 #16 of 51

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pay in Iowa, explained

Certified nursing assistants in Iowa earn a median of $39,350 per year ($18.92 per hour), which is 7% below the national median of $42,260. Entry-level workers earn around $35,620, while the most experienced certified nursing assistants reach about $47,980. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Iowa.

Is $39,350 good pay in Iowa?

Adjusted for Iowa's cost of living (which runs 88% of the U.S. average), that $39,350 is worth about $44,837 in national buying power — ranking Iowa #16 for real pay (vs #31 on the sticker number).

See the full Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pay by experience in Iowa

Entry level (10th pct)
$35,620
$17.12/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$39,350
$18.92/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$47,980
$23.07/hr

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IA
Iowa (here) $39,350 $44,837 —
Minnesota $46,680 $47,333 −$7,330
Illinois $45,960 $45,979 −$6,610
Wisconsin $45,130 $47,962 −$5,780
Nebraska $40,000 $44,394 −$650
South Dakota $38,800 $43,799 +$550
Missouri $37,680 $41,490 +$1,670

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Iowa: FAQ

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Iowa?

Certified nursing assistants in Iowa earn a median of $39,350 per year ($18.92 per hour), compared with $42,260 nationally.

Does Iowa pay certified nursing assistants well?

At $39,350, Iowa pays 7% below the national median for certified nursing assistants. An estimated 22,670 work in the state.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) salary in other states

Oregon · $49,830 Washington · $49,180 New York · $48,590 New Hampshire · $47,870 District of Columbia · $47,700 California · $47,630 Colorado · $47,380 Vermont · $47,130 Maine · $47,070 New Jersey · $46,830 Massachusetts · $46,680 Minnesota · $46,680

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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