How Much Does an RN Make in Cedar Rapids, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Cedar Rapids, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Cedar Rapids metro area
A typical RN in Cedar Rapids, Iowa earns $37.68 per hour, or $78,370 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,531 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,940, and the top 10% of earners make over $102,250.
That pay is right at the Iowa figure of $78,630 and 20% below the national figure of $97,550. Cedar Rapids ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Iowa for RN pay. About 2,880 RNs work in the Cedar Rapids area.
RN pay in Cedar Rapids at a glance
- Typical pay is $37.68 an hour, or $78,370 a year.
- That is right at the Iowa figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,940; the top 10% make over $102,250.
- Typical pay rose +54% from 2015 to 2025, against +46% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Cedar Rapids?
Pay in Cedar Rapids runs from entry-level positions at around $29.78 an hour to more than $49.16 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Cedar Rapids
| Career stage | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $61,940$29.78 an hour | $63,840$30.69 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $67,220$32.32 an hour | $68,290$32.83 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $78,370$37.68 an hour | $78,630$37.80 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $92,570$44.51 an hour | $85,940$41.32 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $102,250$49.16 an hour | $100,500$48.32 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Cedar Rapids area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Cedar Rapids
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Cedar Rapids area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Cedar Rapids was $50,730 a year. By 2025 it had reached $78,370, a change of +54%, compared with +46% for Iowa over the same years.
How Cedar Rapids compares with other Iowa cities
Iowa City pays RNs the most in Iowa at $85,940 a year, $7,570 more than Cedar Rapids. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux City at $75,840.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cedar Rapids | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $85,940 | $41.32 | +10% | 4,090 |
| 2 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $78,630 | $37.80 | 0% | 8,130 |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $78,370 | $37.68 | this city | 2,880 |
| 4 | Ames | $77,160 | $37.09 | -2% | 1,070 |
| 5 | Davenport | $77,150 | $37.09 | -2% | 3,520 |
| 6 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $76,920 | $36.98 | -2% | 1,890 |
| 7 | Dubuque | $76,790 | $36.92 | -2% | 1,280 |
| 8 | Sioux City | $75,840 | $36.46 | -3% | 1,600 |
Every metro area in Iowa with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $78,630
Is Cedar Rapids a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Cedar Rapids earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $78,370 a year, 20% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Cedar Rapids area, about 21 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 Cedar Rapids, IA?
- A typical RN in Cedar Rapids earns $78,370 a year, or $37.68 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $61,940 and the top 10% earn over $102,250.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Cedar Rapids?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Cedar Rapids is $37.68. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $29.78, and the top 10% earn over $49.16 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Cedar Rapids?
- Entry-level RN positions in Cedar Rapids typically offer around $29.78 an hour, or $61,940 a year.
- Is RN pay in Cedar Rapids higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Cedar Rapids pay is right at the Iowa figure of $78,630 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Iowa City pays the most in Iowa at $85,940.