How Much Does an RN Make in Iowa City, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Iowa City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa City metro area
A typical RN in Iowa City, Iowa earns $41.32 per hour, or $85,940 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,162 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $70,290, and the top 10% of earners make over $106,150.
That pay is 9% above the Iowa figure of $78,630 and 12% below the national figure of $97,550. Iowa City ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Iowa for RN pay. About 4,090 RNs work in the Iowa City area.
RN pay in Iowa City at a glance
- Typical pay is $41.32 an hour, or $85,940 a year.
- That is 9% above the Iowa figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $70,290; the top 10% make over $106,150.
- Typical pay rose +40% from 2015 to 2025, against +46% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Iowa City?
Pay in Iowa City runs from entry-level positions at around $33.79 an hour to more than $51.03 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Iowa City
| Career stage | Iowa City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $70,290$33.79 an hour | $63,840$30.69 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $70,290$33.79 an hour | $68,290$32.83 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $85,940$41.32 an hour | $78,630$37.80 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $92,700$44.57 an hour | $85,940$41.32 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $106,150$51.03 an hour | $100,500$48.32 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Iowa City area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Iowa City
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Iowa City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Iowa City was $61,380 a year. By 2025 it had reached $85,940, a change of +40%, compared with +46% for Iowa over the same years.
How Iowa City compares with other Iowa cities
Iowa City pays RNs the most of any metro area in Iowa. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux City at $75,840.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Iowa City | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $85,940 | $41.32 | this city | 4,090 |
| 2 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $78,630 | $37.80 | -9% | 8,130 |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $78,370 | $37.68 | -9% | 2,880 |
| 4 | Ames | $77,160 | $37.09 | -10% | 1,070 |
| 5 | Davenport | $77,150 | $37.09 | -10% | 3,520 |
| 6 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $76,920 | $36.98 | -10% | 1,890 |
| 7 | Dubuque | $76,790 | $36.92 | -11% | 1,280 |
| 8 | Sioux City | $75,840 | $36.46 | -12% | 1,600 |
Every metro area in Iowa with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $78,630
Is Iowa City a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Iowa City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $85,940 a year, 12% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Iowa City area, about 44 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Iowa City, IA?
- A typical RN in Iowa City earns $85,940 a year, or $41.32 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $70,290 and the top 10% earn over $106,150.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Iowa City?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Iowa City is $41.32. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $33.79, and the top 10% earn over $51.03 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Iowa City?
- Entry-level RN positions in Iowa City typically offer around $33.79 an hour, or $70,290 a year.
- Is RN pay in Iowa City higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Iowa City pay is 9% above the Iowa figure of $78,630 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.