To improve the performance of fiber lasers, a Q-switched fiber laser based on iron oxide nanomaterials was developed. The pump power was gradually increased, and the corresponding data of the Q-switched pulse frequency and spectral width were recorded. When a pump power of 170 mW was reached, the Q-switched pulse frequency of 48.45 kHz, pulse width of 2.3 μs, center wavelength of 1530.4 nm, and spectral width of 3.8 nm were observed and recorded. The Q-switched pulse frequency was increased from 30.53 kHz to 58.74 kHz, along with an increase in the pump power from 45 mW to 250 mW. The spectral width was decreased from 7.31 nm to 2.04 nm, and this change was duly recorded. The Q-switched fiber laser demonstrated has good output characteristics and can be applied to scientific research, medical treatment, industrial processing and other fields. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.