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There is a growing trend among Iowa’s nursing community to acquire a MSN degree to facilitate greater salaries. In 2014, the United States Department of Labor reported that BSN nurses in Iowa earned an average annual salary of $54,020. On the other hand, the following MSN nursing professions achieved such substantially higher annual salaries they were found among the state’s top 40 highest-paying occupations in that year:
- Nurse Anesthetists: $167,600
- Nurse Practitioners: $102,500
- Nurse Midwives: $90,800
Salaries for MSN-Educated Nurses in Iowa According to Experience Level
Transitioning from a BSN nurse to a MSN nurse is just the first step to earning optimal nursing salaries in Iowa. From there, MSN nurses should focus on attaining voluminous experience in a variety of healthcare settings because local employers typically base salary offers on past work performance. In 2014, the United States Department of Labor issued pay reports showing the average annual salaries for the following MSN nursing careers in Iowa:
Nurse Anesthetists
- Entry-Level: $134,000
- Mid-Career: $167,600
- Experienced: $187,200+
Nurse Practitioners
- Entry-Level: $76,000
- Mid-Career: $90,800
- Experienced: $117,800
Nurse Midwives
- Entry-Level: $79,100
- Mid-Career: $102,500
- Experienced: $187,200+
Postsecondary Nursing Instructors and Teachers
- Entry-Level: $39,300
- Mid-Career: $59,400
- Experienced: $95,600
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Salaries in Iowa
In some cases, nurse anesthetists may find higher salaries in more rural areas of Iowa because the availability of healthcare professionals cannot meet the demand for their services.
As a result, local employers in these regions may offer unconventionally high salaries to stand out in a more competitive market. For instance, in 2014 the United States Department of Labor reported that nurse anesthetists practicing in the Des Moines-West Des Moines district earned an average annual salary of $166,230, while those in the Northeast metropolitan area took home closer to $171,320:
Salaries for Iowa’s Nurse Practitioners
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor declared the Northeast nonmetropolitan area and the city of Ames as the highest-paying places in Iowa for nurse practitioners. Those employed in Ames took home an average annual salary of $102,960, while nurse practitioners in the Northeast nonmetropolitan regions were paid $122,610. Nurse practitioner salaries in other major localities across Iowa in that year are as follows: