How Much Does an RN Make in West Des Moines, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in West Des Moines, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area
A typical RN in West Des Moines, Iowa earns $37.80 per hour, or $78,630 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,553 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,680, and the top 10% of earners make over $100,500.
That pay is right at the Iowa figure of $78,630 and 19% below the national figure of $97,550. West Des Moines ranks 2nd of 8 metro areas in Iowa for RN pay. About 8,130 RNs work in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area. West Des Moines is part of the Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Des Moines share these figures.
RN pay in West Des Moines at a glance
- Typical pay is $37.80 an hour, or $78,630 a year.
- That is right at the Iowa figure, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,680; the top 10% make over $100,500.
- Typical pay rose +39% from 2015 to 2025, against +46% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in West Des Moines?
Pay in West Des Moines runs from entry-level positions at around $31.10 an hour to more than $48.32 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in West Des Moines
| Career stage | West Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $64,680$31.10 an hour | $63,840$30.69 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $70,070$33.69 an hour | $68,290$32.83 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $78,630$37.80 an hour | $78,630$37.80 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $86,690$41.68 an hour | $85,940$41.32 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $100,500$48.32 an hour | $100,500$48.32 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Des Moines · West Des Moines area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in West Des Moines
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in West Des Moines was $56,420 a year. By 2025 it had reached $78,630, a change of +39%, compared with +46% for Iowa over the same years.
How West Des Moines compares with other Iowa cities
Iowa City pays RNs the most in Iowa at $85,940 a year, $7,310 more than West Des Moines. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux City at $75,840.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs West Des Moines | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $85,940 | $41.32 | +9% | 4,090 |
| 2 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $78,630 | $37.80 | this city | 8,130 |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $78,370 | $37.68 | 0% | 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 | -4% | 1,600 |
Every metro area in Iowa with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $78,630
Is West Des Moines a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in West Des Moines earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $78,630 a year, 19% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area, about 20 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 West Des Moines, IA?
- A typical RN in West Des Moines earns $78,630 a year, or $37.80 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $64,680 and the top 10% earn over $100,500.
- How much does an RN make an hour in West Des Moines?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in West Des Moines is $37.80. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $31.10, and the top 10% earn over $48.32 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in West Des Moines?
- Entry-level RN positions in West Des Moines typically offer around $31.10 an hour, or $64,680 a year.
- Is RN pay in West Des Moines higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- West Des Moines pay is right at the Iowa figure of $78,630 a year, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state. Iowa City pays the most in Iowa at $85,940.