Healthcare Recruiting
Registered Nurse Salary in Iowa 2026: City-by-City Pay Data
Registered Nurse Salary in Iowa (2026): City-by-City Pay Data
The average registered nurse salary in Iowa in 2026 is $64,300/year ($30.91/hour). Iowa City (University of Iowa Health Care) is the premium academic market; Des Moines is the largest urban nursing market. Iowa's low cost of living makes its nursing salaries competitive in purchasing power terms.
RN Salary by City in Iowa
| City / Metro | Avg Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $70,200 | UI Health Care, academic premium; transplant, oncology, NICU |
| Des Moines Metro | $66,500 | UnityPoint Health, MercyOne, Broadlawns, largest IA market |
| Cedar Rapids | $63,000 | UnityPoint St. Luke's, Mercy Cedar Rapids |
| Davenport / Quad Cities | $62,500 | UnityPoint, Genesis Health, IA/IL border market |
| Sioux City | $60,000 | MercyOne Siouxland, UnityPoint, NW Iowa/SD/NE tristate |
Top Iowa Healthcare Employers for RNs
- University of Iowa Health Care, highest academic pay in IA; Holden Cancer Center, transplant, Iowa Children's Hospital specialty premiums
- UnityPoint Health, largest statewide community system; consistent demand across Iowa markets
- MercyOne, Catholic regional system across Iowa and adjacent states
Compact License Status
Iowa is an NLC compact state. RNs with a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Iowa without a separate endorsement.
Iowa RN Job Market Outlook
Rural Iowa has significant nursing shortages, critical access hospitals across the state have persistent vacancies with sign-on bonuses, loan repayment, and relocation assistance. Travel RN rates in Des Moines run $1,500-$1,900/week. The Iowa nursing workforce is aging, creating pipeline demand for new graduates across all regions.
Related: RN Salary Minnesota 2026, RN Salary Illinois 2026, Iowa RN License Guide.
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