How Much Does a Home Health Aide Make in Iowa in 2026?

A typical Home Health Aide in Iowa earns about $17.34 per hour ($36,080 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). When calculated from the annual figure, this comes out to approximately $3,007 per month or $694 per week. These figures reflect standard full-time schedules across home care agencies and residential care providers throughout the state. Most entry roles and ongoing assignments follow these baseline compensation levels.

This statewide pay level sits about 1 percent above the national typical figure of $17.21 hourly, or $35,800 annually. Iowa currently ranks 25th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Across the state, an estimated 25,800 aides work in the field. This represents a small portion of the 4,305,810 home care positions nationwide.

Entry-level positions in Iowa typically offer around $14.63 per hour, which equals $30,420 annually for workers starting out. Aides with some initial background often see rates rise toward $16.14 hourly, or $33,570 per year. Pay generally moves toward the typical statewide figure of $17.34 within a few years of steady work. This progression reflects growing familiarity with routine client care and daily assistance routines.

Experienced caregivers often earn upwards of $19.05 hourly, or $39,630 per year. The top 10% of earners make over $21.87 per hour, equivalent to $45,490 annually. This establishes an entry-to-top spread of $15,070 per year across the state. Differences in work setting, specialized client care, accumulated years of service, and geographic city largely separate these earning tiers.

Between 2019 and 2025, typical compensation for Iowa home care workers rose from $26,090 to $36,080 per year. That wage shift represents an overall gain of $9,990 over the six-year tracking period. In percentage terms, statewide wages experienced an increase of approximately 38 percent during this timeframe. Annual increases occurred steadily across each reporting cycle.

By comparison, the national rise over the decade reached 42 percent, slightly outpacing Iowa's growth. While historical data shows that pay has moved up steadily, past trends provide no promises for future compensation. New aides entering the field can observe that statewide baseline pay has improved over time. These changes reflect broader economic adjustments across the regional health sector.

Compensation varies across the state, with city figures covering each city's full metropolitan area. Dubuque leads all regions with a typical rate of $18.31 per hour ($38,090 annually), sitting 6 percent above the state baseline. Sioux City follows closely at $17.59 per hour ($36,580 per year). Waterloo and Cedar Falls both record typical earnings of $17.55 hourly ($36,510 annually).

At the lower end, Davenport reports typical compensation of $16.52 per hour ($34,370 annually). This creates a geographic city spread of $3,720 between urban markets. The West Des Moines and Des Moines area employs the largest workforce with 6,210 aides, earning a typical $17.48 hourly ($36,350 annually). Lower pay usually tracks lower living costs across these distinct communities.

Iowa's typical wage of $36,080 sits near the middle of its surrounding region. Minnesota leads neighboring states at $38,370 per year (6 percent higher), followed by Illinois at $38,060 and South Dakota at $37,740. Wisconsin at $36,340 and Nebraska at $36,150 remain close to Iowa levels, while Missouri pays 8 percent less at $33,080. Licensure or registry status in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one.

A typical Home Health Aide in Iowa currently earns $36,080 per year, following a 38 percent increase over the last six years. Pay varies across metropolitan regions, ranging from smaller communities to larger urban medical hubs. Prospective aides should consult the state registry page to review current training and credentialing requirements, while checking specific city pages to evaluate local employment opportunities and compensation rates.