Registered Nurse Salary in Des Moines, IA
Registered Nurses in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $78,630 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,810 take-home, or $5,151 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,469
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,875
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,140
- Iowa income tax$2,336
- Take-home pay$61,810
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,680 | $31.10 | $52,344 | $4,362 |
| 25th percentile | $70,070 | $33.69 | $56,113 | $4,676 |
| Median (50th) | $78,630 | $37.80 | $61,810 | $5,151 |
| 75th percentile | $86,690 | $41.68 | $67,174 | $5,598 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,500 | $48.32 | $76,365 | $6,364 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,630 buys in Des Moines, IA
Prices in Des Moines, IA are 8.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $61,810 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,404 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #181 of 206 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | $92,480 | $89,260 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,810 | $89,883 | $89,094 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
| 181 | Des Moines, IA | $78,630 | $61,810 | $67,404 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 metros →
About the job: registered nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Iowa City, IA — $85,940
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $78,370
- Davenport, IA — $77,150
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Des Moines, IA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $78,630 a year, or about $37.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $70,070 and $86,690.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $78,630 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $61,810 a year ($5,151 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,336 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,404 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #181 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is $1,092 a month ($1,302 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.