How Much Does an NP Make in Iowa in 2026?

A typical NP in Iowa earns about $62.58 per hour ($130,160 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that comes out to roughly $10,847 a month and about $2,503 a week. Those figures cover the full range of NP roles across the state, from hospital-based to clinic settings.

Iowa's typical NP pay sits about 2% below the national figure of $132,300 per year, placing the state 32nd among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Roughly 3,240 NPs work across Iowa, a workforce large enough to support steady comparisons across cities and employers. Pay that trails the national figure by a small margin often reflects a lower cost of living rather than a shortage of opportunity.

Entry-level positions in Iowa typically offer around $51.92 per hour ($107,990 per year), according to the same wage data. Pay tends to rise substantially as NPs gain experience, moving toward the state's typical figure of $130,160 within the first several years of practice. New graduates often start in primary care or general practice settings before moving into higher-paying specialties.

Experienced NPs in Iowa often earn upwards of $141,940 a year, or about $80.57 an hour at the top end, with the top 10% of earners making over $167,590 annually. That leaves a spread of $59,600 between entry-level and top pay across the state. Setting, years of practice, and city all play a part in where an individual NP lands within that range.

Iowa's typical NP pay rose from $92,760 in 2015 to $130,160 in 2025, a gain of $37,400. That amounts to a 40% increase over the decade, with pay climbing in nearly every year covered by the wage data. Only 2020 saw a small dip before the climb resumed the following year.

Nationally, NP pay climbed 35% over the same decade, a slightly smaller rise than Iowa posted. Iowa's gain outpaced the national trend by five percentage points across those ten years. For someone starting a career in Iowa now, that decade of movement shows pay has moved upward fairly consistently, though nothing about future gains is guaranteed.

Pay runs highest in Des Moines, where the metro-area figure reaches $132,230 a year, about 2% above the statewide figure. West Des Moines, part of the same metro area, matches that figure exactly. Davenport follows closely at $130,400, keeping the top tier of Iowa cities fairly close together.

Cedar Falls posts the lowest figure among Iowa's ranked cities at $126,330 a year, putting the spread between the state's highest-paying and lowest-paying cities at $5,900. Des Moines also carries the largest NP workforce in the state, with 820 workers in its metro area. Each city figure reflects its full metro area, and cities with lower pay generally come with a lower cost of living.

Iowa's typical NP pay compares closely with its neighbors. Minnesota and Nebraska both pay about 2% more, at $133,260 and $132,130 a year, while Wisconsin runs about 1% higher at $131,980. South Dakota pays about 1% less, at $128,840, the only neighboring state below Iowa's figure. NP licensure earned in one state can often be endorsed into a neighboring state, making moves across these borders relatively straightforward.

Iowa NPs typically earn $130,160 a year, or $62.58 an hour, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That figure has climbed 40% over the past decade, adding $37,400 in typical pay since 2015. For specific requirements, the Iowa Board of Nursing licensing page has the details, and the city-level pages on this site break down local figures for Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and other Iowa metro areas.