salary$78,630 a year$38 an hour · median pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$64,680per year
Top pay (top 10%)$100,500per year
Jobs in the area8,130people work this job
Can a registered nurse afford Des Moines?
Cheap. Rent of $1,266 a month takes 19.3% of the median registered nurse salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Registered Nurse pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Des Moines
Nurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations ManagerLawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Des Moines, IA?
The median pay for a registered nurse in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area is $78,630 a year ($38 an hour). Most earn between $64,680 and $100,500.
Can a registered nurse afford to live in Des Moines?
Typical rent of $1,266 a month takes 19.3% of the median registered nurse salary, which we rate Cheap.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area.