Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary in Iowa
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Iowa have a median of $62,630 a year, below the national $64,400 (−3%); the state ranks 32nd of 51 states by median. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earn 29% more than the median across all occupations in Iowa ($48,540). Among neighbouring states, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska pay more (up to $75,000 in Illinois) and Missouri and South Dakota pay less (down to $52,750 in South Dakota). Iowa employs 5,510 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, 3.54 per 1,000 jobs, the 32nd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.85 is close to the national share.
Iowa vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $24.30 | $27.12 | $30.11 | $34.06 | $37.36 | $30.49 | 5,510 | 3.54 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $50,550 | $56,400 | $62,630 | $70,840 | $77,710 | $63,420 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.91 | $28.37 | $30.96 | $36.55 | $40.12 | $32.24 | 648,410 | – | – |
| Annual | $49,740 | $59,000 | $64,400 | $76,030 | $83,440 | $67,050 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 32nd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 32nd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.85
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.54
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Iowa's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Iowa
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Iowa publish a row for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | $31.55 | $65,610 | $51,420 | $78,050 | 190 | 3.46 | 0.83 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $30.82 | $64,100 | $51,050 | $76,090 | 640 | 3.54 | 0.85 |
| Dubuque, IA | $30.65 | $63,750 | $51,180 | $76,200 | 200 | 3.47 | 0.83 |
| Iowa City, IA | $30.62 | $63,690 | $51,210 | $78,620 | 230 | 2.47 | 0.59 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $30.61 | $63,670 | $51,970 | $78,410 | 1,040 | 2.58 | 0.62 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $30.55 | $63,540 | $49,800 | $78,830 | 1,840 | 3.69 | 0.88 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $29.73 | $61,840 | $51,390 | $75,660 | 380 | 2.73 | 0.65 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $29.06 | $60,440 | $49,810 | $74,050 | 260 | 3.52 | 0.84 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $28.82 | $59,950 | $50,730 | $74,530 | 360 | 4.28 | 1.03 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $30.64 | $63,720 | $50,460 | $78,700 | 690 | 4.75 | 1.14 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29.98 | $62,350 | $50,460 | $78,070 | 720 | 3.58 | 0.86 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29.66 | $61,700 | $47,910 | $72,660 | 490 | 6.66 | 1.60 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29.65 | $61,670 | $49,930 | $76,210 | 490 | 4.88 | 1.17 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (every state ranked) and the Iowa wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Iowa estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.