Registered Nurse Salary in Dubuque, IA
Registered Nurses in the Dubuque, IA metro area earn a median $76,790 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,586 take-home, or $5,049 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Dubuque, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,064
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,761
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,113
- Iowa income tax$2,266
- Take-home pay$60,586
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.80% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Dubuque, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,700 | $31.59 | $53,125 | $4,427 |
| 25th percentile | $71,740 | $34.49 | $57,225 | $4,769 |
| Median (50th) | $76,790 | $36.92 | $60,586 | $5,049 |
| 75th percentile | $82,250 | $39.54 | $64,219 | $5,352 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,570 | $46.43 | $73,749 | $6,146 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,790 buys in Dubuque, IA
Prices in Dubuque, IA are 12.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 36% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $60,586 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,377 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 Dubuque, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Dubuque, IA ranks #261 of 370 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 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 261 | Dubuque, IA | $76,790 | $60,586 | $69,377 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Iowa City, IA — $85,940
- Waterloo, IA — $76,920
- Sioux City, IA — $75,840
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $78,370
- Ames, IA — $77,160
- Davenport, IA — $77,150
- Des Moines, IA — $78,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Dubuque, IA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Dubuque, IA metro area is $76,790 a year, or about $36.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $71,740 and $82,250.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Dubuque, IA?
On the median $76,790 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $60,586 a year ($5,049 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,266 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Dubuque, IA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 12.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,377 would in a typical U.S. city. Dubuque, IA ranks #261 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Dubuque, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dubuque, IA is $841 a month ($1,077 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.