How Much Does an LPN Make in Iowa in 2026?

A typical LPN in Iowa earns about $30.11 per hour, or roughly $62,630 per year, per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to about $5,219 a month and $1,204 a week. Those are the numbers most Iowa LPNs will recognize from their own paychecks.

That figure sits 3% below the national typical pay of $64,400 a year, and Iowa ranks 32nd among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Roughly 5,510 LPNs work across the state, compared with 648,410 nationwide. Lower pay in Iowa tends to track its lower cost of living relative to higher-cost states.

Entry-level positions in Iowa typically offer around $24.30 an hour, or about $50,550 a year, for LPNs just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the statewide typical of $30.11 an hour within the first few years on the job. New graduates in hospitals or larger health systems often see faster movement than those in smaller clinics.

Experienced LPNs in Iowa often earn upwards of $34.06 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $37.36 an hour, or about $77,710 a year. That leaves a spread of $27,160 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play into where an individual LPN lands within that range.

Iowa LPN pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from $39,140 in 2015 to $62,630 in 2025. That's a gain of $23,490, or 60%, over ten years. The increase has been especially sharp since 2022, when typical pay moved from $49,350 to its current level in just three years.

That 60% rise outpaces the national decade gain of 49%, meaning Iowa pay has grown faster than the country as a whole even while trailing it in dollar terms. Nationally, typical LPN pay rose at a slower rate over the same ten years. For someone starting out now, pay has moved up steadily over the past decade, though nothing about future increases is guaranteed.

Pay runs highest in the Ames metro area, where LPNs earn $65,610 a year (about $31.55 an hour), roughly 5% above the statewide figure. Davenport and Dubuque follow closely, with typical pay of $64,100 and $63,750 a year. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just its downtown core.

At the other end, Cedar Falls and Waterloo pay the least, at $59,950 a year (about $28.82 an hour), putting the full city-to-city spread at $5,660. West Des Moines, tied with Des Moines, employs the most LPNs of any Iowa city, with 1,040 workers and typical pay of $63,670 a year. Cities with higher pay generally carry higher living costs, so the gap in take-home value is often smaller than the raw numbers suggest.

Iowa's LPN pay lags its eastern neighbor by a wide margin: Illinois pays $75,000 a year, about 20% more than Iowa. Wisconsin and Minnesota edge slightly ahead at $63,760 and $63,750, roughly 2% above Iowa, while Nebraska runs about even at $62,660. Missouri pays slightly less, at $61,530, about 2% below Iowa, and South Dakota trails furthest at $52,750, about 16% below. Nursing licenses can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, widening job options for LPNs near a state line.

LPNs in Iowa typically earn $62,630 a year, and that figure has risen 60% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, but the overall trend has been upward. For exact requirements, readers can check Iowa's board of nursing licensing or registry page, and city-level pages on this site offer more specific local figures for places like Des Moines, Ames, and Davenport.