What is the average RN salary in Dubuque?

The average RN salary in Dubuque is $77,446 per year. This figure is 17.3% below the U.S. RN median salary of $93,600, and it reflects local pay for a city of 59,379 residents with five hospitals in the region.

How many hospitals are in Dubuque?

There are 5 hospitals in Dubuque. The local hospital landscape includes major acute-care centers and specialty facilities; among the prominent hospitals are MercyOne Dubuque and UnityPoint Health-Finley, which serve significant inpatient and emergency volumes in the 59,379-person community.

What is the cost of living in Dubuque?

Dubuque’s cost of living index is 88.5, below the U.S. average of 100. Housing costs are notably lower than national norms in this city of 59,379 people, and the pre-computed adjusted salary for RNs here is $87,510, reflecting purchasing power given that COL index.

Is Dubuque a good place for nurses?

Yes — Dubuque offers lower living costs and multiple hospitals, making it attractive for some nurses. The city has 5 hospitals, an RN average salary of $77,446, and a cost of living index of 88.5, combining clinical variety with more affordable housing and 267 sunny days annually.

What is the real purchasing power for nurses in Dubuque?

The adjusted salary for nurses in Dubuque is $87,510 after cost-of-living (COL index 88.5). Compared to the U.S. RN median salary of $93,600, that adjusted figure shows nurses in Dubuque can stretch $77,446 farther locally because housing and costs are below the national average.

Can nurses use a multistate compact license to work in Dubuque?

Yes — Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, so nurses with an active multistate compact license have privileges to practice in Dubuque without obtaining a separate Iowa single-state license. This mobility applies to compact-authorized RNs and LPNs meeting NLC requirements.

What nursing specialties are most in demand in Dubuque?

ICU, ED, med-surg, L&D, and behavioral health specialties are most in demand in Dubuque based on its acute-care and specialty hospital mix. With five hospitals serving 59,379 residents, these settings reflect the primary inpatient and emergency services staffed across local facilities.

Nursing in Dubuque, IA

Practical guide to nursing in Dubuque, IA — salaries, cost of living, hospitals, climate, and what nurses actually earn after local taxes and rent.