SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — Iowa
Iowa · 8 metro areas compared
In Iowa the median wage is $78,630.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Iowa the median wage is $78,630. That is 19.4% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay ranges from under $63,840 at the tenth percentile to more than $100,500 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $68,290 to $85,940.
Employment stands at 34,420, or 22.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Iowa ranks number 48th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Iowa City records the highest median at $85,940. Of the 711 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 182nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,840 | −34.6% |
| 25th | $68,290 | −30.0% |
| Median (50th) | $78,630 | −19.4% |
| 75th | $85,940 | −11.9% |
| 90th | $100,500 | +3.0% |
| Mean | $80,540 | −17.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $85,940 | 4,090 | |
| 2 | Des Moines | $78,630 | 8,130 | |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $78,370 | 2,880 | |
| 4 | Ames | $77,160 | 1,070 | |
| 5 | Davenport | $77,150 | 3,520 | |
| 6 | Waterloo | $76,920 | 1,890 | |
| 7 | Dubuque | $76,790 | 1,280 | |
| 8 | Sioux City | $75,840 | 1,600 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $78,630 goes as far as $89,556 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$78,630as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$89,556US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $78,630 a year, 19.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $63,840 to $100,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 34,420 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Iowa City, at $85,940.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $78,630, or $37.80 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $97,550, so pay in Iowa is 19.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Iowa earns more than $100,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $63,840 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Iowa City, at $85,940 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 34,420 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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