Registered Nurse Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA: $82,531 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Cedar Rapids, IA earns a median $82,531/year (≈ $39.68/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Cedar Rapids's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.0), that paycheck buys what $92,770 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.6% above the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Cedar Rapids, IA, registered nurse salaries present a compelling case for those considering a career in this vital field. The projected median salary of $82,531 for 2026 illustrates a significant structure in the local market, particularly when contrasted against the national median of $102,730. This local figure falls about 19.66% below the national average, with a salary range that spans from $65,229 at the 10th percentile to $107,679 at the 90th percentile. Such disparities primarily arise from the differences between staff nurses and traveling nurses, with travel assignments often commanding higher pay due to their temporary nature and the urgency of staffing needs. The statistical insights derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected into 2026, highlight the dynamics of the Cedar Rapids nursing industry.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $65,229 | $31.36 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $70,789 | $34.04 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $82,531 | $39.68 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $97,485 | $46.87 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $107,679 | $51.77 |
Median Salary Position
19.66% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cedar Rapids
In Cedar Rapids, IA, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $42,450 (2026 est.). At $82,531, the local median is 19.66% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cedar Rapids: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cedar Rapids Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Cedar Rapids median: $82,531/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cedar Rapids Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $81,232 | +1.60% more |
| National Average | $102,730 | -19.66% less |
Registered Nurses in Cedar Rapids, IA earn a median of $82,531 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.66% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 1.60% above the Iowa state average of $81,232.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cedar Rapids has a cost of living 11.04% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA has a cost-of-living index of 88.963 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $82,531 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $92,770 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.41% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$58,870
2025 BLS Actual
$78,370
2026 Current Est.
$82,531
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Cedar Rapids (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $58,870 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,550 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,890 | Actual |
| 2023 | $67,150 | Actual |
| 2024 | $76,560 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,370 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $82,531 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,914 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $58,870 (2019) to $78,370 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,914 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,044 (47.64%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cedar Rapids 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) | $65,229 – $70,789 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $70,789 – $82,531 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $82,531 – $97,485 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $97,485 – $107,679 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Cedar Rapids
Within Cedar Rapids's job market, approximately 2,880 registered nurses are currently employed, contributing to a stable healthcare workforce. However, the favorable cost of living index of 88.963 enhances the attractiveness of nursing positions in the area, allowing for a more robust purchasing power compared to higher-cost locales. Hospitals such as UnityPoint Health and Mercy Medical Center tend to offer the most competitive salaries in the region, particularly for roles in acute care, ICU, and emergency departments. Factors that influence salary variability include shift differentials, where night and weekend shifts can earn RNs an additional $3 to $7 per hour, as well as specialty certifications and magnet hospital status. To maximize registered nurse pay in Cedar Rapids, pursuing additional certifications and seeking positions with higher demand, like critical care units, can significantly enhance earning potential.
More salary data for Cedar Rapids, 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 $78,370 for registered nursesin the Cedar Rapids 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