Med-Surg Nurse salary in Des Moines
A med-surg nurse in the Des Moines, IA area earns an estimated $85,840 a year ($41.27/hr) — about 12% below the U.S. average, with most between $70,690 and $98,870. City figures are estimates based on national pay for the role and local cost of living — a starting point, not a guaranteed local wage.
Med-Surg Nurse — Des Moines, IA
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$85,840
-12% vs nationalHourly
$41.27/hr
- Typical range
- $70,690–$98,870
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $120,970
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $60,670
- Newer nurses
Part of Med-Surg Nurse pay in Iowa.
Other nursing roles in Des Moines
Compare estimated pay for related roles in this metro.
What affects med-surg nurse pay in Des Moines
Largest Iowa metro. For a med-surg nurse, local pay also reflects the concentration of major hospital systems and academic medical centers, union contracts, shift differentials, unit acuity, and how competitive staffing is. Nights, weekends, and critical-care specialties typically add to base pay. Use the calculator to estimate your own.
How this estimate was calculated
The Des Moines figure adjusts the national RN average of $97,550 for local pay levels — a factor of 0.88× (about 12% below the U.S. average). It is a starting point — not an official Des Moines wage — until verified local figures and nurse submissions are loaded.
Local pay can vary well beyond this by specialty, shift, union status, employer type, overtime, and care setting. When official metro wage data is loaded, this number updates to a verified value automatically.
Use this metro estimate as a starting point
- It’s a starting point for Des Moines, based on national pay and local cost of living until official metro data is loaded — not a guaranteed local wage.
- Your actual pay shifts with role and specialty, care setting, shift, overtime, union status, and years of experience — so compare a role-specific page and personalize the calculator.
- Reviewed salary submissions from nurses in Des Moines make this page more precise over time.
Med-Surg Nurse salary in Des Moines — FAQ
- How much does a med-surg nurse make in Des Moines?
- A med-surg nurse in the Des Moines, IA area earns an estimated $85,840 a year — about $41.27 an hour, with most between $70,690 and $98,870. That's about 12% below the national average. This is an estimate based on the role's national pay and Des Moines's local pay level, not a guaranteed local wage.
- Is Des Moines a good place for med-surg nurses?
- On pay, Des Moines runs about 12% below the national average for med-surg nurses. Big-city wages are often offset by a higher cost of living, so weigh the estimated $85,840 against local housing and expenses.
- How does Des Moines med-surg nurse pay compare to Iowa overall?
- Statewide, Iowa med-surg nurses earn an estimated $82,920 a year, versus about $85,840 in Des Moines. Metro pay can run above or below the state figure depending on hospital concentration and local demand.
- 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 estimate (BLS national × metro wage index)
Des Moines, IA figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a metro adjustment of 0.88×).
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figure — national med-surg nurse pay adjusted for Des Moines. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.