Nurse Practitioner Salary in Des Moines, IA
Nurse Practitioners in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $132,230 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,272 take-home, or $8,106 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nurse practitioner salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,469
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,198
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,917
- Iowa income tax$4,373
- Take-home pay$97,272
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.80% state
Nurse Practitioner pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $113,470 | $54.55 | $84,996 | $7,083 |
| 25th percentile | $128,110 | $61.59 | $94,613 | $7,884 |
| Median (50th) | $132,230 | $63.57 | $97,272 | $8,106 |
| 75th percentile | $141,950 | $68.25 | $103,547 | $8,629 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,960 | $80.27 | $119,690 | $9,974 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,230 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 nurse practitioner's $97,272 take-home pay has the buying power of $106,075 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nurse Practitioner jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for nurse practitioners, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #19 of 117 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $231,560 | $150,760 | $136,530 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $219,080 | $143,890 | $124,458 |
| 3 | Killeen, TX | $138,670 | $106,047 | $116,366 |
| 4 | Tulsa, OK | $139,460 | $100,857 | $113,050 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $130,390 | $100,388 | $110,765 |
| 6 | McAllen, TX | $122,550 | $95,029 | $110,634 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $144,060 | $109,731 | $109,496 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $166,570 | $111,690 | $109,330 |
| 19 | Des Moines, IA | $132,230 | $97,272 | $106,075 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 117 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make in Des Moines, IA?
The median nurse practitioner salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $132,230 a year, or about $63.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,110 and $141,950.
What is a nurse practitioner’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $132,230 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $97,272 a year ($8,106 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,373 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a nurse practitioner?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $132,300. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $106,075 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #19 of 117 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nurse practitioner 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) — 13% of a median nurse practitioner’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $141,110
- Physical Therapist — $97,790
- Dental Hygienist — $93,660
- Registered Nurse — $78,630
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $67,640
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $63,670
- Medical Records Specialist — $54,270
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $50,240
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $49,960
- Pharmacy Technician — $46,620