What Is the Average Salary of an RN in Iowa?

Registered nurses, or RNs, work in constantly changing environments where they aim to provide the best possible care for their patients. Nurses can be found in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, nursing homes, private residences and other settings. But before officially finding work as a nurse, aspiring nurses must undergo formal training and a licensing examination to earn the title of "registered nurse." If you are interested in becoming a nurse in Iowa, then learn about how much these nurses can earn in this state.

Iowa

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earned an hourly mean wage of $24.97 and an annual mean wage of $51,930 in Iowa during May 2009.

National Comparison

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals how registered nurses earned a national hourly mean wage of $31.99 and an annual mean wage of $66,530 in May 2009. The national hourly wage was $7.02 above Iowa's hourly wage. The national mean salary was $14,600 above Iowa's annual mean.

Metropolitan Areas

• Salaries for registered nurses in Iowa varied across metropolitan areas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Metropolitan areas may stretch across multiple states. In May 2009, registered nurses in the Ames, Iowa metropolitan area earned an annual mean wage of $57,190; Cedar Rapids, Iowa, $51,950; Davenport-Moline-Rock Island Iowa-Illinois, $46,210; Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa, $55,890; Dubuque, Iowa, $50,250; Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska-Iowa, $57,740; Sioux City, Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota, $47,780; and Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa, $49,910.

Regional

• Salaries for registered nurses in Hawaii differed across regions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In May 2009, registered nurses in northeast Iowa earned an annual mean wage of $50,570; northwest Iowa, $47,270; southwest Iowa, $48,460; and southeast Iowa, $48,550.

Job Outlook

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, national employment for registered nurses is expected to increase at a rate of 22 percent from 2008 through 2018. Employment for registered nurses in Iowa is projected to experience a 23 percent increase through 2016.