Registered Nurse Salary in Ames, IA: $81,257 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Ames, IA earns a median $81,257/year (≈ $39.06/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Ames's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.8), that paycheck buys what $91,475 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, registered nurses in Ames, IA, can expect a median annual salary of $81,257, which is significantly lower than the national median of $102,730. The salary range for RNs varies widely, with entry-level positions starting around $67,778, while experienced practitioners can earn up to $104,720. This disparity reflects a structural divide in the labor market, where staff nurses frequently earn less than travel nurses in response to fluctuating demand. The data provided is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected for 2026, illustrating the continued considerations for local healthcare dynamics and staffing needs in Ames.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $67,778 | $32.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $70,853 | $34.06 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $81,257 | $39.06 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $85,196 | $40.96 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $104,720 | $50.35 |
Median Salary Position
20.9% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Ames
In Ames, IA, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $36,942 (2026 est.). At $81,257, the local median is 20.9% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Ames: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Ames Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Ames median: $81,257/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Ames Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $102,730 | -20.90% less |
Registered Nurses in Ames, IA earn a median of $81,257 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.90% lower than the national median of $102,730.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Ames has a cost of living 11.17% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Ames, IA has a cost-of-living index of 88.83 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $81,257 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $91,475 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.57% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$60,160
2025 BLS Actual
$77,160
2026 Current Est.
$81,257
2019–2027 Growth
+42.2%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Ames (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60,160 | Actual |
| 2020 | $62,650 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,540 | Actual |
| 2022 | $64,540 | Actual |
| 2023 | $68,590 | Actual |
| 2024 | $72,920 | Actual |
| 2025 | $77,160 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $81,257 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $85,572 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Ames metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 28.3% from $60,160 (2019) to $77,160 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $85,572 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,412 (42.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Ames metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $67,778 – $70,853 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $70,853 – $81,257 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $81,257 – $85,196 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $85,196 – $104,720 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Ames
The job market for registered nurses in Ames remains robust, with approximately 1,070 employed RNs in the area. Coupled with a cost-of-living index of 88.83, which is below the national average, this environment enhances take-home purchasing power for nurses. While hospital systems, especially those recognized for magnet status, typically offer the highest pay, specialty roles in surgical centers and home health agencies also provide competitive compensation. Factors influencing pay include shift differentials for nights and weekends, which can add $3 to $7 per hour, and stipends for specialty certifications. For nurses aiming to maximize their earnings in Ames, pursuing additional certifications and considering shifts that require on-call availability can prove beneficial in negotiating higher wages. The interplay between local demand and the availability of qualified nurses continues to shape the registered nurse pay in Ames, IA.
More salary data for Ames, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $77,160 for registered nursesin the Ames metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov