Registered Nurse Salary in Iowa: $79K Median

The average Registered Nurse salary in Iowa is $79,184 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $58,622 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $122,066 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.

Registered Nurses in Iowa earn approximately 8% less than the US national median ($86,070 nationally vs $79,184 in Iowa). Iowa's cost-of-living index of 90 amplifies the real purchasing power.

Yes — Registered Nurse salaries in Iowa grew approximately 560.0% year-over-year, from $11,998 in 2025 to $79,184 in 2026. This reflects the broader Healthcare sector's wage growth, driven by Telehealth and Epic EHR demand.

Iowa has no major metros in our database — fallback to the closest tracked city for detailed breakdowns.

RN employment projected to grow 6% through 2034, with 194,500 openings annually. Chronic shortage continues, driving competitive salaries and signing bonuses. Iowa's top industries include Agriculture, Insurance, Manufacturing, and the state's unemployment rate is 3% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

Yes, Iowa has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $79,184, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.

Hottest 2026 skills: Telehealth, Epic EHR, BSN credential, Specialty certifications, NLC compact license. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Iowa employers.

Given the current shortage in this specialty and my certifications, I'm looking for $X base plus shift differential and a sign-on bonus. What flexibility do you have on those line items? Beyond base, negotiate: Sign-on bonus ($10K-$30K, often $50K+ for hard-to-fill roles), Tuition reimbursement and certification stipends, Loan repayment programs (especially federal/HRSA-eligible), Shift differentials (nights +15%, weekends +10%). Walk-away anchor for Iowa: $71,985.