Nurse Anesthetist Salary in Dubuque, IA: $227,676 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse anesthetist in Dubuque, IA earns a median $227,676/year (≈ $109.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1151). Once you factor in Dubuque's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.4), that paycheck buys what $251,854 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.2% above the Iowa state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Dubuque, Iowa, the 2026 projected median annual salary for nurse anesthetists stands at $227,676, reflecting localized analyses that account for regional cost-of-living adjustments. Professionals in this field can expect a salary range between $148,948 at the 10th percentile to $327,674 at the 90th percentile, illustrating the potential earnings disparity influenced by various factors such as call coverage responsibilities and the type of employer. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS data, offering insights that reveal not only the compensation landscape but also the overall job market dynamic for nurse anesthetists in Dubuque.
About the Dubuque Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($216,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $148,948 | $71.61 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $197,072 | $94.74 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $227,676 | $109.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $285,369 | $137.19 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $327,674 | $157.54 |
Median Salary Position
8.52% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Dubuque
In Dubuque, IA, the nurse anesthetist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $178,726 (2026 est.). At $227,676, the local median is 8.52% below the national median of $248,893.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Dubuque: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Dubuque Nurse Anesthetist Pay Compares
Dubuque median: $227,676/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Dubuque Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $224,976 | +1.20% more |
| National Average | $248,893 | -8.52% less |
Nurse Anesthetists in Dubuque, IA earn a median of $227,676 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.52% lower than the national median of $248,893 and 1.20% above the Iowa state average of $224,976.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Dubuque has a cost of living 9.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Dubuque, IA has a cost-of-living index of 90.4 (below the national average of 100). A nurse anesthetist earning $227,676 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $251,854 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.62% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$159,890
2025 BLS Actual
$216,422
2026 Current Est.
$227,676
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Anesthetists in Dubuque (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $159,890 | Actual |
| 2020 | $167,931 | Actual |
| 2021 | $178,935 | Actual |
| 2022 | $185,778 | Actual |
| 2023 | $194,523 | Actual |
| 2024 | $197,587 | Actual |
| 2025 | $216,422 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $227,676 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $239,515 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Dubuque metropolitan area, the median nurse anesthetist salary grew 35.4% from $159,890 (2019) to $216,422 (2025). At a 5.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $239,515 by 2027 — a total increase of $79,625 (49.80%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Dubuque metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.20% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $148,948 – $197,072 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $197,072 – $227,676 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $227,676 – $285,369 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $285,369 – $327,674 |
CRNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse anesthetist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Market in Dubuque
Analyzing the practical employment environment, Dubuque's healthcare system employs 12 nurse anesthetists, indicating a modest but specialized job market. With a cost-of-living index of 90.4, take-home pay tends to stretch further, allowing for a better quality of life relative to higher-cost regions. Among the top payers are hospital systems and CRNA-owned practices, where compensation structures can vary greatly depending on factors such as call rotation, holiday differentials, and partnership opportunities. High earners often maximize their pay through more favorable work arrangements in cases of locum tenens assignments or taking on more demanding shifts in trauma centers. A strategic approach involves exploring diverse employment options while understanding that negotiation skills may yield better compensation packages, particularly in relation to workload and productivity metrics specific to Dubuque's healthcare offerings.
More salary data for Dubuque, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA
Career Analyst
Alexandra Johnson has 10 years of experience as a nurse anesthetist. She specializes in anesthesia for orthopedic surgeries. She works in a regional medical center.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $216,422 for nurse anesthetistsin the Dubuque metropolitan area. A 5.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Dubuque is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.20%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nurse anesthetists (SOC 29-1151).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA, a licensed nurse anesthetist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov