Average registered nurse compensation in Iowa across seven career stages — from new grad RN to Chief Nursing Officer. Updated 2026 benchmarks to help you negotiate, plan, and grow.
RN Salary by Role in Iowa
Iowa has more modest nursing wages than many states, with staff RNs averaging roughly $66,000 a year, though everyday costs tend to be lower as well.
In Iowa, compensation grows considerably as nurses gain experience and take on more responsibility. New grad RNs typically start around $48,000, with specialty nurses in units like the ICU, ER, or OR averaging closer to $75,000. Moving into leadership brings a meaningful jump — nurse managers average about $84,000, directors of nursing around $97,000, and chief nursing officers can earn $114,000 or more. For nurses pursuing advanced practice roles (NP, CNS, CRNA, CNM), average pay in Iowa runs near $84,000.
Iowa is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate RN or LPN license issued here is valid for practice in other compact states — useful for travel nursing, telehealth, or relocating without re-licensing.
Iowa's lower wages are often paired with a lower cost of living, which can narrow the real-world gap compared to higher-paying states.
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