Nurse pay in Iowa
Nurses in Iowa are being offered a median $91,714 a year right now across 540 live job postings that state pay — ranking #27 of 51 states. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $62k
- 25th percentile
- $74k
- 75th percentile
- $113k
- 90th percentile
- $138k
Where does your pay sit in Iowa?
Checked against 540 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $62k
- 25th percentile
- $74k
- 75th percentile
- $113k
- 90th percentile
- $138k
Enter your pay to see your percentile.
Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.
Iowa market overview
- 25th percentile
- $74,443
- Median
- $91,714
- 75th percentile
- $112,834
- 90th percentile
- $137,634
- Median hourly (236 postings)
- $33/hr
- Sign-on bonus, median (400 postings)
- $10,000
- Sign-on bonus, highest posted
- $25,000
- Live postings stating pay
- 540
Annual figures are posted offers (midpoint of stated ranges) on live listings, updated October 26, 2026.
What each specialty is offered in Iowa
| Specialty | Median | 90th percentile | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICU | $116k | $141k | 23 |
| Acute Care | $116k | $139k | 13 |
| Travel | $117k | $141k | 12 |
| Home Health | $84k | $93k | 9 |
| Medical/Surgical | $116k | $128k | 9 |
| Nursing Management/Admin | $117k | $128k | 9 |
| General | $109k | $137k | 8 |
| Geriatric | $99k | $101k | 8 |
| Nursing Assistant | $56k | $56k | 8 |
| Education/Staff Development | $117k | $129k | 7 |
| Medical-Surgical | $128k | $143k | 7 |
| Telemetry | $114k | $137k | 7 |
| Infectious Disease | $118k | $131k | 6 |
| Operating Room | $120k | $140k | 5 |
Highest-offering employers in Iowa right now
- #1$133k
FirstChoice
median across 71 priced postings
- #2$127k
Genie Healthcare
median across 4 priced postings
- #3$111k
TNAA Healthcare
median across 19 priced postings
- #4$111k
White Glove Placement, Inc.
median across 8 priced postings
- #5$110k
Supplemental Health Care
median across 4 priced postings
What are you being paid?
30 seconds, no name. After a quick review, your report joins the nurse-reported pay, always shown apart from what employers post, so nurses can compare the two.
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee open nursing roles in IowaEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do nurses make in Iowa?
- Across 540 live job postings in Iowa that state pay, the median posted offer is $91,714 a year (about $33/hr). The middle half of postings runs $74,443–$112,834, and the top 10% start at $137,634.
- How does Iowa nurse pay compare nationally?
- Iowa's posted median of $91,714 is 4% below the national median ($95,680), ranking #27 of 51 states on the Pay Index right now.
- Do Iowa nursing jobs offer sign-on bonuses?
- 400 live postings in Iowa advertise a sign-on bonus right now, with a median of $10,000 and offers up to $25,000.