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BLS wage data · May 2025

Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in Iowa

Certified Nursing Assistants in Iowa earn a median of $39,350 a year, or $18.92 an hour. That ranks Iowa #31 of 51 states and is $2,910 less than the national median.

Median / year
$39,350
Median / hour
$18.92
Employed
22,670
National rank
#31of 51

Pay range in Iowa

10th percentile$35,620
25th percentile$37,360
Median percentile$39,350
75th percentile$45,650
90th percentile$47,980

Certified Nursing Assistant pay by Iowa metro area

Metro areaMedianJobs
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$43,9404,660
Ames, IA$43,540770
Dubuque, IA$41,5801,010
Omaha, NE-IA$40,0207,740
Iowa City, IA$39,3301,310
Cedar Rapids, IA$39,1101,740
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD$38,940930
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$38,9301,440
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$38,7402,220

FAQ

How much does a certified nursing assistant make in Iowa?

The median annual wage is $39,350 ($18.92 per hour), according to the BLS for May 2025. That is $2,910 below the U.S. median of $42,260.

What do entry-level nursing assistants make in Iowa?

The lowest-paid 10% of Iowa nursing assistants earned $35,620 or less ($17.13/hour), a reasonable estimate for new graduates.

Where do nursing assistants earn the most in Iowa?

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA has the highest metro median at $43,940.

How many nursing assistants work in Iowa?

About 22,670 nursing assistants were employed in Iowa in May 2025.