Trauma Nurse salary in Des Moines
A trauma nurse in the Des Moines, IA area earns an estimated $83,350 a year ($40.07/hr) — about 19% below the U.S. average, with most between $74,270 and $91,890. City figures are estimates based on national pay for the role and local cost of living — a starting point, not a guaranteed local wage.
Trauma Nurse — Des Moines, IA
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$83,350
-19% vs nationalHourly
$40.07/hr
- Typical range
- $74,270–$91,890
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $106,530
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $68,560
- Newer nurses
Part of Trauma Nurse pay in Iowa.
Other nursing roles in Des Moines
Compare estimated pay for related roles in this metro.
What affects trauma nurse pay in Des Moines
Largest Iowa metro. For a trauma 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
Public wage data does not report Trauma Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (May 2025) and applies a 1.06× specialty adjustment.
Local pay can vary well beyond this by specialty, shift, union status, employer type, overtime, and care setting. Treat it as a starting point — not an official Des Moines, IA wage.
Source year: 2025. Based on the national figure of $103,400 for this role.
Use this metro estimate as a starting point
- It’s a starting point for Des Moines, based on national pay and local pay levels — 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.
Trauma Nurse salary in Des Moines — FAQ
- How much does a trauma nurse make in Des Moines?
- A trauma nurse in the Des Moines, IA area earns an estimated $83,350 a year — about $40.07 an hour, with most between $74,270 and $91,890. That's about 19% 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 trauma nurses?
- On pay, Des Moines runs about 19% below the national average for trauma nurses. Big-city wages are often offset by a higher cost of living, so weigh the estimated $83,350 against local housing and expenses.
- How does Des Moines trauma nurse pay compare to Iowa overall?
- Statewide, Iowa trauma nurses earn an estimated $83,350 a year, versus about $83,350 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 specialty estimate (BLS metro wage × specialty adjustment)
Public wage data does not report Trauma Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (May 2025) and applies a 1.06× specialty adjustment.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figure — national trauma nurse pay adjusted for Des Moines. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.