What does a Licensed Practical Nurse salary really buy you in Iowa?
Iowa is 11.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Iowa's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.4, meaning prices are 11.6% lower the national average. A Licensed Practical Nurse earning $59,460 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $67,262 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $48,510 | $54,875 | +$6,365 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,560 | $58,325 | +$6,765 |
| Median (P50) | $59,460 | $67,262 | +$7,802 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $64,110 | $72,522 | +$8,412 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $75,320 | $85,203 | +$9,883 |
A Licensed Practical Nurse in Iowa earns $59,460 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $67,262 in an average-cost state. This makes Iowa one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Licensed Practical Nurse salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #17 out of 50 states for Licensed Practical Nurse after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Licensed Practical Nurse in Iowa earns a median salary of $59,460 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $67,262 — a +13.1% difference.
Iowa's cost of living is 11.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Iowa is 88.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Licensed Practical Nurse in Iowa: $59,460 x (100 / 88.4) = $67,262. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Licensed Practical Nurse in Iowa enjoys 13.1% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.