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

Registered Nurse Salary in Iowa

Median Annual in Iowa
$78,630/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$37.80/hr
▼ 19% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Iowa

groups Employed in IA
34,420
public U.S. Median
$97,550
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$89,595 #39 of 51

Registered Nurse pay in Iowa, explained

Registered nurses in Iowa earn a median of $78,630 per year ($37.80 per hour), which is 19% below the national median of $97,550. Entry-level workers earn around $63,840, while the most experienced registered nurses reach about $100,500. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Iowa.

Is $78,630 good pay in Iowa?

Adjusted for Iowa's cost of living (which runs 88% of the U.S. average), that $78,630 is worth about $89,595 in national buying power — ranking Iowa #39 for real pay (vs #48 on the sticker number).

See the full Registered Nurse Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Registered Nurse pay by experience in Iowa

Entry level (10th pct)
$63,840
$30.69/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$78,630
$37.80/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$100,500
$48.32/hr

Registered Nurse pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IA
Iowa (here) $78,630 $89,595 —
Minnesota $101,510 $102,929 −$22,880
Illinois $95,990 $96,030 −$17,360
Wisconsin $95,530 $101,525 −$16,900
Nebraska $84,730 $94,037 −$6,100
Missouri $81,780 $90,049 −$3,150
South Dakota $78,060 $88,118 +$570

Registered Nurse in Iowa: FAQ

How much do registered nurses make in Iowa?

Registered nurses in Iowa earn a median of $78,630 per year ($37.80 per hour), compared with $97,550 nationally.

Does Iowa pay registered nurses well?

At $78,630, Iowa pays 19% below the national median for registered nurses. An estimated 34,420 work in the state.

Registered Nurse salary in other states

California · $140,270 Hawaii · $136,320 Oregon · $129,010 Washington · $124,200 Alaska · $109,480 New York · $109,440 New Jersey · $106,500 Massachusetts · $104,550 Nevada · $103,670 Connecticut · $102,740 District of Columbia · $102,540 Minnesota · $101,510

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Iowa

Nurse Practitioner $130,160/yr median Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) $39,350/yr median Physician Assistant $134,770/yr median