Travel nursing contracts in Iowa advertise a median of $2,267 a week, with the middle half between $2,150 and $2,409, across 102 open nursing contracts on CircleRN. These are advertised weekly totals before tax, usually including tax-free stipends; for almost all postings the figure is the top of an advertised range. Not take-home pay. Every open contract is on the Iowa job board.
Travel nurses in Iowa have access to 27 furnished rental listings, 7 reviewed hospitals, and ongoing pay data on CircleRN. All data is submitted by working travel nurses.
193 openings across 17 cities from $1,859–$3,737/week.
18 hospitals in Iowa are hiring travel nurses, 180 openings in all. Each page lists the openings by specialty with advertised weekly pay, cost of living and housing nearby.
27 furnished rentals with a median rent of $1,300/month.
For the same specialties, Iowa pays about 3% below the national median, across 103 open listings. Each opening is compared with the national median for its own specialty. Once Iowa prices are counted, that is worth about +10%.
Statewide, prices run 12% lower overall. Individual metros vary, so check the city page for where you are going.
| Category | Index | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87.8 | 12% lower |
| Housing | 65.3 | 35% lower |
| Utilities | 83.3 | 17% lower |
| Groceries and goods | 93.7 | 6% lower |
| Services | 92.9 | 7% lower |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.
A two-bedroom runs about $940/month, the median across 118 Iowa cities (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2025, utilities included).
The federal ceiling on tax-free lodging reimbursement across Iowa runs $113–$122 per night depending on the area, plus up to $80 a day for meals (GSA, FY2027). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay. Look up the exact rate for any ZIP code.
Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so an active multistate license covers you here. A single-state license from elsewhere does not. Check your license with the compact checker.
Hospitals in Iowa reviewed by travel nurses
Of the 10 nursing specialties with open contracts in Iowa, Cath Lab pays the most at $3,063 per week and Psych the least at $2,014.
| Specialty | Open contracts | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Med-Surg | 29 | $2,150 |
| ER | 15 | $2,266 |
| ICU | 11 | $2,267 |
| Cath Lab | 7 | $3,063 |
| OR | 7 | $2,749 |
| PCU | 6 | $2,508 |
| Telemetry | 6 | $2,223 |
| L&D | 5 | $2,748 |
| PACU | 5 | $2,236 |
| Psych | 3 | $2,014 |