Salary · IA · SOC 31-1131

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) salary in Iowa, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for nursing assistants in Iowa, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for nursing assistants in Iowa was $39,350 a year, or $18.92 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $35,620 to $47,980. About 22,670 were employed.

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Iowa vs the US

Certified Nursing Assistant wages in Iowa and the US, May 2025
Measure	IA annual	IA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$39,350	$18.92	$42,260
Mean (average)	$41,490	$19.95	$42,700
10th percentile	$35,620	$17.13	$33,940
25th percentile	$37,360	$17.96	$37,260
75th percentile	$45,650	$21.95	$47,220
90th percentile	$47,980	$23.07	$51,980

Employment in Iowa: 22,670. Location quotient: 1.56 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Certified Nursing Assistant salary by metro area in Iowa

Certified Nursing Assistant median wage by metro area, Iowa
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$43,940	$21.13	4,660
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$38,740	$18.62	2,220
Cedar Rapids, IA	$39,110	$18.80	1,740
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$38,930	$18.72	1,440
Iowa City, IA	$39,330	$18.91	1,310
Dubuque, IA	$41,580	$19.99	1,010
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$38,940	$18.72	930
Ames, IA	$43,540	$20.93	770
Omaha, NE-IA	$40,020	$19.24	7,740

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Iowa

Median pay: $39,350 a year ($18.92 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $35,620 to $47,980 a year

Employed: 22,670

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Iowa</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$39,350</strong> a year ($18.92 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $35,620 to $47,980 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 22,670</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/certified-nursing-assistant/ia" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a CNA make per hour in Iowa?

The median hourly wage was $18.92 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $17.13 and the 90th was $23.07.

What is the average CNA salary in Iowa?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $41,490 a year and a median of $39,350 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do nursing assistants in Iowa earn more than the US median?

The Iowa median of $39,350 is 7% lower than the US median of $42,260 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Iowa rank for certified nursing assistant pay?

Iowa ranks 31 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for nursing assistants (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-1131. BLS reports CNAs as Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131). Figures BLS did not publish are left out.