Travel Therapy Jobs in Iowa
ProTherapy Staffing has 20 active travel therapy assignments in Iowa — including 5 PT, 3 OT, 7 PTA positions. All positions include tax-free housing stipends, CEU reimbursement, and 24/7 recruiter support.
Travel Therapy in Iowa
Iowa is a deep rural SNF market with consistent PTA and COTA demand across the state's small cities. Our active inventory spans the state from Davenport to Sac City, with recurring openings in critical-access hospital settings that pay well above typical SNF rates.
Current pay snapshot
Across our active Iowa inventory, median weekly rates run roughly $2,365 for PT, $2,630 for OT, and $1,460 for PTAs and COTAs. Critical-access inpatient contracts in places like Mount Ayr and Ottumwa push to $2,630 for PT and OT, well above standard SNF rates.
License compact status
Iowa is an actively issuing PT Compact member — PTs and PTAs whose home state is a compact member can typically activate Iowa privilege in 2–4 weeks. Iowa has enacted both the OT Compact and the ASLP-IC, but neither is actively issuing privileges yet — OTs and SLPs currently need a full Iowa state license through the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy or the Speech Pathology and Audiology Board.
Top markets right now
Active openings are spread across Bloomfield, Waukon, Sac City, Mount Ayr, Marshalltown, Wellman, Ottumwa, and Davenport. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City typically see the most consistent broader demand across disciplines.
Tax and stipend considerations
Iowa has a state income tax topping out at 5.7% (transitioning toward a flat 3.8% by 2027). Housing costs are among the lowest in the country, and the rural counties where most travel inventory sits are particularly affordable. Tax-free stipends stretch significantly further than in coastal markets.
What makes this state distinctive
Iowa rewards travelers willing to work rural facilities — critical-access hospitals pay premium rates relative to setting, and PT Compact membership keeps licensing fast for compact-state PTs. The University of Iowa medical complex in Iowa City adds an academic-medical-center option for travelers who want higher-acuity work. For PTAs and COTAs especially, Iowa offers consistent inventory.
Browse all travel therapy jobs nationwide or learn more about working with ProTherapy.