Registered Nurse Salary in Ankeny, IA: $78,962 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Ankeny, IA earns a median $78,962/year (≈ $37.96/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Ankeny's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.4), that paycheck buys what $87,347 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% below the Iowa state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Ankeny, Iowa, registered nurses can expect a median annual salary of $78,962 in 2026, which is significantly lower than the national median of $102,730. Salary ranges for registered nurses in this area are expected to vary quite a bit, with entry-level positions starting around $56,931 and seasoned professionals earning as much as $113,165. These figures are derived from local estimates based on 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price levels. The compensation structure in Ankeny is influenced by factors such as shift differentials, with higher pay rates typically awarded for night shifts and weekends, driving effective compensation for those willing to work these less desirable hours. Given Ankeny’s relatively low cost of living index at 90.4, potential nurses might find their earnings to have a considerable impact on their overall purchasing power.
About the Ankeny Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($71,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $56,931 | $27.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $65,277 | $31.38 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $78,962 | $37.96 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $92,666 | $44.55 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $113,165 | $54.40 |
Median Salary Position
23.14% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Ankeny
In Ankeny, IA, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,234 (2026 est.). At $78,962, the local median is 23.14% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Ankeny: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Ankeny Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Ankeny median: $78,962/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Ankeny Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $81,237 | -2.80% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -23.14% less |
Registered Nurses in Ankeny, IA earn a median of $78,962 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.14% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 2.80% below the Iowa state average of $81,237.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Ankeny has a cost of living 9.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Ankeny, IA has a cost-of-living index of 90.4 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $78,962 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $87,347 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.62% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,341
2025 BLS Actual
$74,981
2026 Current Est.
$78,962
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Ankeny (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,341 | Actual |
| 2020 | $57,902 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,647 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,429 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,157 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,376 | Actual |
| 2025 | $74,981 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $78,962 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $83,155 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Ankeny metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $56,341 (2019) to $74,981 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $83,155 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,814 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Ankeny 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) | $56,931 – $65,277 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $65,277 – $78,962 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $78,962 – $92,666 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $92,666 – $113,165 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Ankeny
The local job market for registered nurses in Ankeny appears stable, with approximately 16 registered nurses currently employed in the area. A cost-of-living index of 90.4 suggests that while salaries may be lower than the national average, nurses can still enjoy an affordable lifestyle. Among local employers, hospital systems, particularly those with acute care, emergency departments, and surgical units, tend to provide the most competitive pay. Factors contributing to variations in registered nurse pay in Ankeny include specialty certifications, shift differentials, and additional roles such as charge nurse assignments. To maximize earnings, nursing professionals can explore positions at magnet-status hospitals that often favor BSN-prepared candidates with specialty certifications or consider the opportunities that arise from travel nursing, which has gained prominence post-COVID, especially in higher-cost specialty markets.
More salary data for Ankeny, 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 $74,981 for registered nursesin the Ankeny 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
Salary data for Ankeny is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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