Iowa RN Salary - How Much Do RNs Make in IA?

As of May 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that the state of Iowa employed 32,100 registered nurses. The average RN salary in Iowa was $53,520 or about $25.30 per hour. This falls below the national average of $65,470 per year. Nurses in Iowa with earnings in the top ten percentile of their field made more than $71,000. Those in the top 25 percentile made $61,430 or more. Registered nurses in this state with salaries in the bottom 10th percentile may earn $39,700 or less.

The Iowa City area has the highest average RN salary in the state. The mean annual salary for RNs here is $60,720. Registered nurses with earnings above the 90th percentile make more than $ 76,090. Those with salaries above the 75th percentile earn over $69,550. Registered nurses whose salaries fall below the 25th percentile make less than $53,680 and those under the 10th percentile earn under $49,600. Not only are these earnings higher than average for the state of Iowa, the cost of living in Iowa City is 5.8% lower than the average for the state, according to Forbes. The lowest RN salary in Iowa on average is found in Sioux City. The mean annual salary for RNs here is $48,550. This is offset somewhat by a cost of living 12.7% lower than the national average.

The outlook for RNs in this state is positive. The state’s unemployment rate is below the national average at 4.5%, and the overall employment outlook for registered nurses is excellent. Though earnings in relation to the cost of living are still lower than average, these factors can make this a promising place to pursue a nursing career.

Registered nurses can maximize their earning potential in many ways. Though experience is a big factor, pursuing continuing education and specializing can help RNs increase their salary potential. A bachelor’s degree, while not required, is a valuable asset that can make RNs more competitive in their field.

Resources

• http://www.bls.gov/oes/2018/may/oes_ia.htm
• https://www.forbes.com/places/ia/iowa-city/
• https://www.forbes.com/places/ia/sioux-city/
• https://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm