How Much Does an RN Make in Iowa in 2026?

A typical RN in Iowa earns about $37.80 per hour ($78,630 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $6,552 a month and $1,512 a week. These figures represent typical pay across the state, not what someone earns starting out or after many years of experience.

Iowa's typical RN pay runs 19% below the national figure of $97,550, and the state ranks 48th out of 51 states and territories for RN pay. Lower pay in Iowa tends to track the state's lower cost of living compared with many higher-paying states. About 34,420 RNs work across Iowa, giving a sense of the scale of the profession statewide.

Entry-level positions in Iowa typically offer around $30.69 an hour ($63,840 a year) for RNs just starting out. Pay tends to move up toward the typical $37.80-an-hour rate within the first several years on the job. Newer nurses often start in lower-paying settings or smaller cities before moving into roles that pay closer to the state's typical figure.

Experienced RNs in Iowa often earn upwards of $41.32 an hour ($85,940 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $48.32 an hour, or $100,500 a year. That's a spread of $36,660 between entry-level and top-earning RNs. Setting, years of experience, and which city an RN works in all factor into where a given nurse falls in that range.

Iowa RN pay has climbed significantly over the past decade. Typical pay rose from $53,910 in 2015 to $78,630 in 2025, a gain of $24,720, or 46%. That rise has been fairly steady year over year, with the sharpest jumps occurring between 2022 and 2024.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same decade, nearly matching Iowa's pace of increase. Pay in Iowa has moved up consistently in recent years, though that trend describes what has already happened and isn't a guarantee of future increases. Someone starting an RN career in Iowa today enters a field where typical pay has grown substantially since 2015.

Iowa City pays RNs the most among the state's largest cities, with typical pay around $85,940 a year, about 9% above the statewide figure. Des Moines and West Des Moines follow closely at $78,630 a year, matching the state's typical pay. Cedar Rapids and Ames also post pay above $77,000 a year, and these figures reflect each city's full metro area.

Sioux City pays the least among Iowa's largest cities, at $75,840 a year, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $10,100. Des Moines has the largest RN workforce in the state, with 8,130 nurses, even though it isn't the highest-paying city. Higher pay in cities like Iowa City often comes with a higher cost of living, which tends to offset some of the difference.

Iowa's neighbors generally pay more. Minnesota leads at $101,510 a year, 29% above Iowa's typical pay, followed by Illinois at $95,990 (22% higher), Wisconsin at $95,530 (21% higher), Nebraska at $84,730 (8% higher), and Missouri at $81,780 (4% higher). South Dakota is the exception, paying about 1% less, at $78,060. RN licensure earned in Iowa can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state.

Registered nurses in Iowa typically earn $78,630 a year ($37.80 an hour), a figure that has risen 46% since 2015. Pay varies by city and experience, with entry-level nurses starting around $63,840 and experienced RNs earning well above the typical figure. Readers considering a move to Iowa or a specific city should check the state's nursing licensure or registry page for requirements, and city pages for local pay figures.