Do charge nurses or nurse managers earn more in Iowa?

In Iowa, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $102,220 a year versus $84,130 for charge nurses, a gap of about $18,090 (roughly 22% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Iowa pay for the closest reported role.

How much is the charge nurse vs nurse manager pay gap in Iowa?

The estimated gap in Iowa is about $18,090 a year, or roughly 22% more for nurse managers. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these Iowa figures exact?

No — they're estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Iowa pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Iowa · IA

Charge Nurse vs Nurse Manager salary in Iowa

In Iowa, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $102,220 a year versus $84,130 for charge nurses, a gap of about $18,090 (roughly 22% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Iowa.

Charge Nurse — Iowa

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$84,130

-19% vs national

Hourly

$40.45/hr

Median $84,130

$68,310Middle 50%: $73,070–$91,960$107,540

Typical range: $73,070–$91,960; What most nurses earn
High end: $107,540; Top earners
Entry level: $68,310; Newer nurses

Nurse Manager — Iowa

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$102,220

-19% vs national

Hourly

$49.14/hr

Median $102,220

$82,990Middle 50%: $88,780–$111,720$130,650

Typical range: $88,780–$111,720; What most nurses earn
High end: $130,650; Top earners
Entry level: $82,990; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Iowa

Nurse managers generally earn more than charge nurses because the manager holds a salaried leadership position with responsibility for a unit's budget, staffing, and performance. Charge nurse pay is typically a staff RN wage plus a per-shift lead differential rather than a separate salaried role. The Iowa figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Iowa's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Charge Nurse vs Nurse Manager comparison or personalize the calculator.

Charge Nurse vs Nurse Manager in Iowa — FAQ

Do charge nurses or nurse managers earn more in Iowa?: In Iowa, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $102,220 a year versus $84,130 for charge nurses, a gap of about $18,090 (roughly 22% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Iowa pay for the closest reported role.
How much is the charge nurse vs nurse manager pay gap in Iowa?: The estimated gap in Iowa is about $18,090 a year, or roughly 22% more for nurse managers. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Iowa figures exact?: No — they're estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Iowa pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled specialty estimate (BLS state wage × specialty adjustment)

Public wage data does not report Charge Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Iowa (May 2025) and applies a 1.07× specialty adjustment.

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Iowa. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.