How much is the registered nurse vs nurse practitioner pay gap in Iowa?

The estimated gap in Iowa is about $29,540 a year, or roughly 36% more for nurse practitioners. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these Iowa figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Iowa wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Iowa's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Iowa · IA

Registered Nurse vs Nurse Practitioner salary in Iowa

In Iowa, nurse practitioners earn more — an estimated $112,460 a year versus $82,920 for registered nurses, a gap of about $29,540 (roughly 36% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Iowa.

Registered Nurse — Iowa

Estimated

Median annual pay

$82,920

-15% vs national

Hourly

$39.87/hr

Median $82,920

$58,600Middle 50%: $68,280–$95,500$116,850

Typical range: $68,280–$95,500; What most nurses earn
High end: $116,850; Top earners
Entry level: $58,600; Newer nurses

Nurse Practitioner — Iowa

Estimated

Median annual pay

$112,460

-15% vs national

Hourly

$54.07/hr

Median $112,460

$86,140Middle 50%: $100,290–$133,200$148,260

Typical range: $100,290–$133,200; What most nurses earn
High end: $148,260; Top earners
Entry level: $86,140; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Iowa

Nurse Practitioners — advanced practice nurses who diagnose and prescribe — earn well above staff RNs. The Iowa figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Iowa's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Registered Nurse vs Nurse Practitioner comparison or personalize the calculator.

Registered Nurse vs Nurse Practitioner in Iowa — FAQ

Do registered nurses or nurse practitioners earn more in Iowa?: In Iowa, nurse practitioners earn more — an estimated $112,460 a year versus $82,920 for registered nurses, a gap of about $29,540 (roughly 36% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Iowa's local pay level.
How much is the registered nurse vs nurse practitioner pay gap in Iowa?: The estimated gap in Iowa is about $29,540 a year, or roughly 36% more for nurse practitioners. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Iowa figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Iowa wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Iowa's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate based on national nurse pay and local cost of living. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)

Iowa figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.85×).

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Iowa. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.