Med-surg nurse salary in Iowa
Open med-surg nurse jobs in Iowa post a median of $40 an hour, the middle half $39–$44.25 (about $83,200 a year full time), $10.75 below the national posted median. From 10 jobs at 5 employers that state their pay.
The jobs themselves: Med-surg nurse jobs in Iowa · Med-surg nurse pay nationwide
What med-surg nurses are paid in Iowa
Each bar counts the open jobs posting an hourly rate in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Posted on open jobs in Iowa
Middle half of 6 employer rates (each employer's advertised range once), median $40. 11% of the 90 open med-surg nurse jobs in Iowa state an hourly rate.
Med-surg nurse in Iowa: new openings every week
A weekly email with the newest Med-surg nurse openings in Iowa, taken from the employers' own careers sites. Free, stop anytime.
Only job openings in your inbox. Leave anytime with one click.
Med-surg nurse pay by town in Iowa
Towns where at least three open jobs state an hourly rate, the towns with the most such jobs first.
| Town | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs (employers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Union | $39 | $38.96 | 3 (1) |
| West Burlington | $35.75 | $35.79 | 3 (1) |
Median of employers' rates in the town, the lowest and highest rate posted, and the jobs and employers behind them. A town opens its own job page.
Med-surg nurse pay by employer in Iowa
What each employer posts for med-surg nurses here, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first.
| Employer | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs stating pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gundersen Health System | $39 | $38.96 | 3 |
| Great River Health | $35.75 | $35.79 | 3 |
| CommonSpirit Health | $53.75 | $30.76–$93.38 | 2 |
| Avera Health | $40.50 | $32.50–$48.50 | 1 |
| Buchanan County Health Center | $39.25 | $32.70–$45.80 | 1 |
Median of each employer's jobs in Iowa (a range at its midpoint), and its lowest and highest rate here. An employer's name opens its pay for med-surg nurses nationwide when it has such a page.
Best-paid open med-surg nurse jobs in Iowa
The open jobs posting the highest hourly rates tonight, at most two from one employer.

CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA· 2d ago
$30.76–$93.38/hr
CommonSpirit Health · Missouri Valley, IA· 2w ago
$35.45–$55.36/hr
Registered Nurse (RN) | Med Surg | PRN
Avera Health · Rock Rapids, IA· 1mo ago
$32.50–$48.50/hr
Buchanan County Health Center · Independence, IA· 3d ago
$32.7–$45.8/hr
Registered Nurse, RN | Med/Surg | 0.6 FTE
Gundersen Health System · West Union, IA· 2w ago
$38.96/hr
Registered Nurse, RN | Med/Surg | 0.75 FTE
Gundersen Health System · West Union, IA· 1w ago
$38.96/hr
Registered Nurse | 36 hours per week | Medical Surgical Unit
Great River Health · West Burlington, IA· 2mo ago
$35.79/hr
Registered Nurse (RN) | 24 hours per week | Medical Surgical Unit
Great River Health · West Burlington, IA· 4mo ago
$35.79/hr
What BLS measures in Iowa
What people employed in the occupation earned in the state, at every level of experience, from the BLS survey. A posting advertises what a new hire is offered.
| BLS occupation | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (29-1141) | $30.69 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $32.83 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $37.80 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $41.32 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $48.32 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | 34,420 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) |
BLS median by metro area
- Omaha, NE-IA$40.67/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Omaha, NE-IA, opens in a new tab)
- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$37.80/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, opens in a new tab)
- Iowa City, IA$41.32/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Iowa City, IA, opens in a new tab)
- Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$37.09/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL, opens in a new tab)
- Cedar Rapids, IA$37.68/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Cedar Rapids, IA, opens in a new tab)
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$36.98/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, opens in a new tab)
- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD$36.46/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, opens in a new tab)
- Dubuque, IA$36.92/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Dubuque, IA, opens in a new tab)
Med-surg nurse salary in Iowa: common questions
How much does a med-surg nurse make in Iowa?
Open med-surg nurse jobs in Iowa that state an hourly rate post a median of $40, the middle half $39–$44.25 (10 jobs from 5 employers). Full time that is about $83,200 a year. BLS measured a median of $37.80/hr ($78,630 a year) for people employed in the occupation in Iowa (May 2025).
Where in Iowa do med-surg nurses earn the most?
By the median rate open jobs post, in the towns with the most jobs stating pay: West Union ($39) and West Burlington ($35.75). The town table lists 2.
Which employers in Iowa pay med-surg nurses the most?
Among employers stating a rate on at least three open jobs here: Gundersen Health System ($39) and Great River Health ($35.75).
How does Iowa compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in Iowa ($40) is $10.75 below the national posted median of $50.75. In the BLS survey Iowa ranks 48 of 52 by median wage.
Where do these figures come from?
From the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 10 of 90 open med-surg nurse jobs in Iowa (11%) state an hourly rate. No pay is estimated for a job that states none; "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out.
Med-surg nurse pay in other states
Sources and method
- CareJobs.Now job board: the pay open jobs state, read nightly from each employer's own careers site, published October 24, 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), every state, published May 15, 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Registered Nurses, national, published May 15, 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Registered Nurses by metropolitan area, published May 15, 2026
Cite this page
CareJobs.Now. (2026). Med-surg nurse salary in Iowa. Data as of October 24, 2026. https://carejobs.now/salaries/med-surg-nurse/iowa