How Much Does an RN Make in Ames, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Ames, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Ames metro area
A typical RN in Ames, Iowa earns $37.09 per hour, or $77,160 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,430 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,360, and the top 10% of earners make over $99,440.
That pay is 2% below the Iowa figure of $78,630 and 21% below the national figure of $97,550. Ames ranks 4th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for RN pay. About 1,070 RNs work in the Ames area.
RN pay in Ames at a glance
- Typical pay is $37.09 an hour, or $77,160 a year.
- That is 2% below the Iowa figure, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,360; the top 10% make over $99,440.
- Typical pay rose +37% from 2015 to 2025, against +46% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Ames?
Pay in Ames runs from entry-level positions at around $30.94 an hour to more than $47.81 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Ames
| Career stage | Ames | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $64,360$30.94 an hour | $63,840$30.69 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $67,280$32.34 an hour | $68,290$32.83 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $77,160$37.09 an hour | $78,630$37.80 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $80,900$38.89 an hour | $85,940$41.32 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $99,440$47.81 an hour | $100,500$48.32 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Ames area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Ames
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Ames area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Ames was $56,230 a year. By 2025 it had reached $77,160, a change of +37%, compared with +46% for Iowa over the same years.
How Ames compares with other Iowa cities
Iowa City pays RNs the most in Iowa at $85,940 a year, $8,780 more than Ames. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux City at $75,840.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Ames | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $85,940 | $41.32 | +11% | 4,090 |
| 2 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $78,630 | $37.80 | +2% | 8,130 |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $78,370 | $37.68 | +2% | 2,880 |
| 4 | Ames | $77,160 | $37.09 | this city | 1,070 |
| 5 | Davenport | $77,150 | $37.09 | 0% | 3,520 |
| 6 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $76,920 | $36.98 | 0% | 1,890 |
| 7 | Dubuque | $76,790 | $36.92 | 0% | 1,280 |
| 8 | Sioux City | $75,840 | $36.46 | -2% | 1,600 |
Every metro area in Iowa with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $78,630
Is Ames a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Ames earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $77,160 a year, 21% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Ames area, about 19 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Ames, IA?
- A typical RN in Ames earns $77,160 a year, or $37.09 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $64,360 and the top 10% earn over $99,440.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Ames?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Ames is $37.09. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.94, and the top 10% earn over $47.81 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Ames?
- Entry-level RN positions in Ames typically offer around $30.94 an hour, or $64,360 a year.
- Is RN pay in Ames higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Ames pay is 2% below the Iowa figure of $78,630 a year, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state. Iowa City pays the most in Iowa at $85,940.