Medical Surgical Nurse Salary Guide: Ames, IA

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Average Medical Surgical Nurse Salary

$29.44/hour

The average salary for a Medical Surgical Nurse in Ames, IA is $29.44 per hour. This is 55% lower than the Iowa average of $45.77.

Estimate based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Medical Surgical Nurse salaries in Ames, IA compared to State and National Averages

$29.44/hour

Ames, IA

61% lower than the US average.

$45.77/hour

Iowa

3% lower than the US average.

$47.37/hour

United States

How Medical Surgical Nurse Salaries in Ames Compare to Other Cities

Select up to 3 cities to compare

Independence, Missouri

$45/hour

This is 34% higher than the Ames average of $29.44.

Rochester, Minnesota

$37/hour

This is 21% higher than the Ames average of $29.44.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

$29/hour

This is 2% lower than the Ames average of $29.44.

What cities in Iowa pay the most for Med Surg Nurses?

Only Iowa City, Iowa reports pay data for Medical Surgical Nurses, averaging $33 per hour. Iowa City, Iowa also has the highest ceiling, with max hourly pay reaching $43. For comparison, the Ames, IA average for Registered Nurses is $29 per hour — Iowa City, Iowa pays 13% more.

City	Average Hourly Salary	Max Hourly Salary
Iowa City, Iowa	$33	$43

Last updated on November 15, 2026. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com and pay data from BLS and around the web.

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