So how much does a Registered Nurse make, what is the average RN salary, the highest paid cities, states, and industries? Below you will find all of the answers laid out clearly in easy-to-read tables and charts.
Finding all of the relevant figures can be a bit of a task – so I have put everything in one place – easy to find and easy to navigate!
You can also check out the Nurse Salary by State page for a deeper look at Registered Nursing salaries in each individual state in the U.S. – it breaks the information down into Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan areas and employment by industry.
Easily find the important details for Your town, city, and state – when someone asks how much do nurses make – you have all the answers.
Contents
Don’t forget we have a detailed Registered Nurse Guide – covering everything you need to know about being an RN – and now we have a full guide to Registered Nurse Training Programs.
The U.S. Average Registered Nurse RN Salary is $73,550
In the United States, the average annual salary for a Registered Nurse is currently $73,550 which breaks down to an average of $35.36 per hour, $1,414 per week, and a monthly salary of $6,129.
Of course, nurse salaries vary from state to state, and employers within the medical field often use solutions such as a compensation tool to calculate a fair salary for their nurses. Anyone considering a nursing career should take into consideration the average salary as outlined above, and also the variations between different states. An Hourly to salary calculator can transform nursing wages for accurate, fair pay across various states, serving as an essential tool for both employers and nurses to ensure competitive and equitable compensation.
Have a look at how this compares to the national average wage figures.
| Hourly Wage | Weekly Wage | Monthly Salary | Annual Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse RN Average Salary | $35.36 | $1,414 | $6,129 | $73,550 |
| U.S. National Average Salary | $24.34 | $973 | $4,218 | $50,620 |
Highest Paid States for Registered Nurse
California comes out as the highest paying state for a Registered Nurse with an average annual salary of $102,700 – closely followed by Hawaii $96,990, Washington DC $90,110, and Massachusetts $89,330.
A general split can be seen – the highest-paid states tend to be the West Coast and North East centers of population (also with high cost of living).
At the other end of the pay scale for nurses – Puerto Rico is the lowest-paid state with an average RN salary of $34,630 – not so great if you live there!
For the mainland USA – Arkansas $58,810, Iowa $57,930, Alabama $57,890, Mississippi $57,700, and South Dakota comes bottom with $57,010.
The large variation can in part be explained by simple supply and demand influences – but also the cost of living variations. We look at several factors …. if you keep on reading!
You can click on the map above to find Registered Nurse salary information in all states – here you can select your own state and see all the relevant data – highest paying areas, employment figures, and more.
| State | Employment Numbers | Hourly Wage | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 49,290 | $27.83 | $57,890 |
| Alaska | 5,570 | $42.07 | $87,510 |
| Arizona | 54,630 | $36.11 | $75,110 |
| Arkansas | 24,380 | $28.28 | $58,810 |
| California | 282,290 | $49.37 | $102,700 |
| Colorado | 49,340 | $34.89 | $72,570 |
| Connecticut | 34,310 | $38.56 | $80,200 |
| Delaware | 11,620 | $35.18 | $73,180 |
| District of Columbia | 11,000 | $43.32 | $90,110 |
| Florida | 178,330 | $31.20 | $64,890 |
| Georgia | 75,000 | $32.09 | $66,750 |
| Hawaii | 10,800 | $46.63 | $96,990 |
| Idaho | 13,320 | $31.02 | $64,520 |
| Illinois | 123,100 | $34.66 | $72,090 |
| Indiana | 68,530 | $30.02 | $62,450 |
| Iowa | 33,280 | $27.85 | $57,930 |
| Kansas | 28,900 | $28.82 | $59,940 |
| Kentucky | 44,410 | $29.58 | $61,530 |
| Louisiana | 45,970 | $30.56 | $63,560 |
| Maine | 14,200 | $31.68 | $65,890 |
| Maryland | 53,700 | $36.18 | $75,250 |
| Massachusetts | 82,870 | $42.95 | $89,330 |
| Michigan | 94,090 | $33.23 | $69,120 |
| Minnesota | 64,540 | $37.28 | $77,540 |
| Mississippi | 28,760 | $27.74 | $57,700 |
| Missouri | 72,090 | $30.43 | $63,300 |
| Montana | 10,110 | $31.87 | $66,280 |
| Nebraska | 22,870 | $29.91 | $62,210 |
| Nevada | 21,060 | $40.86 | $84,980 |
| New Hampshire | 13,190 | $33.67 | $70,040 |
| New Jersey | 80,560 | $39.43 | $82,010 |
| New Mexico | 16,290 | $33.58 | $69,840 |
| New York | 180,170 | $40.12 | $83,450 |
| North Carolina | 99,210 | $30.08 | $62,560 |
| North Dakota | 9,020 | $30.35 | $63,140 |
| Ohio | 124,620 | $31.49 | $65,500 |
| Oklahoma | 28,000 | $29.63 | $61,640 |
| Oregon | 35,140 | $42.68 | $88,770 |
| Pennsylvania | 143,130 | $33.57 | $69,820 |
| Puerto Rico | 19,090 | $16.65 | $34,630 |
| Rhode Island | 11,820 | $36.85 | $76,650 |
| South Carolina | 43,200 | $30.59 | $63,630 |
| South Dakota | 12,530 | $27.41 | $57,010 |
| Tennessee | 59,350 | $28.87 | $60,050 |
| Texas | 212,230 | $34.65 | $72,070 |
| Utah | 21,340 | $30.31 | $63,050 |
| Vermont | 6,270 | $33.44 | $69,560 |
| Virgin Islands | - | $28.26 | $58,770 |
| Virginia | 64,260 | $32.69 | $67,990 |
| Washington | 56,880 | $38.37 | $79,810 |
| West Virginia | 20,410 | $29.03 | $60,380 |
| Wisconsin | 55,940 | $33.27 | $69,200 |
| Wyoming | 4,910 | $31.20 | $64,900 |
Highest Paying Cities or Metropolitan Areas for RN’s
California’s metropolitan areas are topping the tables again here. San Francisco, Salinas, San Jose, and Oakland are amongst the highest-paying cities for Registered nurses in the country – well above the average salary rates nationwide.
Other cities with higher than average RN salaries include Honolulu $98,190, Los Angeles LA $95,650, Boston $92,180, NYC New York $90,840, and Anchorage $87,200.
| Metropolitan Area | Employment Numbers | Hourly Wage | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco CA | 14,170 | $67.16 | $139,700 |
| Salinas CA | 2,470 | $62.47 | $129,940 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 15,990 | $62.09 | $129,140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward CA | 35,480 | $60.08 | $124,970 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville CA | 1,520 | $59.84 | $124,470 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield CA | 3,170 | $57.61 | $119,830 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley CA | 19,550 | $56.09 | $116,660 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade CA | 18,240 | $55.85 | $116,170 |
| Napa CA | 1,430 | $54.68 | $113,740 |
| Santa Rosa CA | 3,170 | $53.62 | $111,530 |
Highest Paid Non-Metropolitan Areas – Registered Nurse
Again similar wage trends show even for rural areas. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington, and Alaska provide the top-earning non-metropolitan areas for nurses.
| Non Metropolitan Area | Employment Numbers | Hourly Wage | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 730 | $48.89 | $101,700 |
| Eastern Sierra California nonmetropolitan area | 190 | $45.04 | $93,690 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 1,610 | $44.78 | $93,130 |
| N Central Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | - | $44.12 | $91,770 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 760 | $43.98 | $91,480 |
| E Washington nonmetropolitan area | 810 | $43.46 | $90,400 |
| North Coast of California nonmetropolitan area | 2,360 | $43.46 | $90,390 |
| Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 460 | $43.12 | $89,680 |
| North Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 630 | $42.19 | $87,750 |
| N Mountains Region California nonmetropolitan area | 1,040 | $40.43 | $84,100 |
Number of Registered Nurses Employed in the United States
The total employed figures across all states stand at 2,906,840. The chart below shows the top 10 states by total number of RNs employed. California employs the most RNs – which helps explain the high wages for nurses in that state. Texas, New York, and Florida all have high numbers of RNs.
Highest Paying Industries for Registered Nurses
RNs can find employment across a fairly wide range of industries – not just in hospitals. Have a look at the top-paying industries below – you can see some of the highest-paid nursing jobs.
| Industry | Hourly Wage | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Federal government, including USPS | $41.83 | $87,010 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - State owned | $38.35 | $79,770 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $37.16 | $77,290 |
| Specialty hospitals - Privately owned | $36.78 | $76,510 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned | $36.55 | $76,020 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $36.39 | $75,680 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $36.18 | $75,240 |
| Insurance Carriers | $35.84 | $74,540 |
| Educational Services - State government owned | $35.76 | $74,380 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals - State owned | $35.18 | $73,180 |
Career Outlook
The career outlook for Registered Nurses is very strong with expected growth of 19% (all careers growth is estimated at 11%) between 2012 – 2022. According to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics by 2022, there will be an increase in the number of Registered nurses of 526,800 – yes, over half a million! That’s a lot of new nursing jobs for the near future – definitely a career with good prospects.
RN Salary Range
Obviously, not all RNs earn the same. Wage levels vary quite a bit depending on experience, years in the job, level of training, industry, location, etc. In this next section, we will look in more detail at some reasons for such a wide salary range.
The table below will give you an idea of the range to expect. The figures show the average wage earned by the top earning 10% and the lowest paid 10% of registered nurses. It is a useful way to see the potential earnings overall.
Starting Salaries for an RN
Although there are no official statistics for starting salaries for registered nurses it stands to reason that they are among the lower-paid ranks. Using the salary scales in the table above you can safely say that they will earn in the bottom 10% depending on location and healthcare industry.
Most newly qualified RNs will earn between $45,000 and $60,000. These estimates should be adjusted based on the average salaries in your state.
Factors Affecting RN Salary?
The main factors that affect RN salaries are education, experience, location, position, and industry.
Nursing Education Level
The level of education obtained by an RN will directly influence their earning potential. Of course, this makes sense when you consider the different qualifications held by working nurses.
ADN – Associate Degree in Nursing – takes 3 years to complete on average. Although still accepted in many nursing jobs, it will be viewed as inferior to other qualifications and pay will usually be less especially when starting your career.
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing – takes 4 years to qualify normally. Now seen as the standard entry qualification for RNs by most employers. Over 50% insist on at least a BSN and over 80% prefer this level of degree. BSN-educated nurses are in the top 25% of earning registered nurses today.
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing – can take 6 years although usually taken as a bridge program. This degree is usually taken to further your career towards an Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN). Needed to become Nurse Practitioners, CRNAs, Nurse Midwives, and Nursing Informatics.
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice – this is a relatively new program also leading to APRN careers and management and leadership roles in nursing.
For students starting out who want to become registered nurses it makes sense to aim for a good BSN course – giving you the best opportunities for earning and career progression in the future.
Experience
In such a varied career as nursing, experience will always be a factor in salary scales. Many hospitals have time in post factored into their salary scales. You can expect an RN with years of experience to earn substantially more than a new recruit! Let’s hope it stays that way.
Location
It is pretty obvious from the figures that the state, city, or region you work in will have an impact on your earnings potential. Even when taken with experience and education – some states just earn more than others. Outside factors are at play here too such as the cost of living, which we go into later on.
Position and Industry
Not all RNs are equal and not all work directly with patients in hospitals. To the uneducated, it can be surprising to learn some of the jobs registered nurses can do outside a hospital environment. They are employed across a wide range of jobs and industries – and this can be reflected in their salaries.
Male vs Female Registered Nurse Salaries
Shockingly, studies have shown that there is a gender pay gap between male and female RNs. Male nurses do earn more than female nurses – but is that the whole story?
It isn’t easy to quantify accurately due to the wide range of salaries across the career. It has been noticed that male RNs tend to have higher degree qualifications, tend to work in specialist roles, and of course, are less numerous than their female co-workers.
Some like-for-like comparisons have shown that men are earning more than women in the same positions – it looks like the wage difference between the sexes is a thing!
Registered Nurse Salary Video
Cost of Living Influence on RN Salaries
When you drill down into the salary data across the United States it probably shocks most people to see the wide variation of figures. We have looked at other influences such as experience and education and the effect they have on nurses’ wages.
To understand why one state or city is so different from another we need to consider another major factor – Cost of Living. Most cost of living indexes look at a range of costs – usually covering rent/housing, transportation, consumer goods, utilities, and healthcare.
These costs vary across the country and also between cities and rural areas. I think we are all aware that rent in Manhattan will cost a lot more than in rural Iowa! This is extremely important to consider when judging where RNs have the best earning potential.
It isn’t enough to know that nurses in California have the highest salaries – you need to consider how much of that extra income they need to spend in order to live there.
I have included a cost of living index figure in the list below. These figures have a baseline average cost of living of 100 – figures around 100 are the average cost of living – above 100 have a higher cost of living and below 100 are the cheapest states to live. They give a good indication at a glance – but do some research!
There are numerous different indexes available online but most show the same general trends with minimal variations. ref: http://coli.org/
State Salaries With Cost of Living Index
Alabama
Average RN salary: $57,890
Hourly wage : $27.83
Highest paid city : Montgomery
Number of RNs employed: 49,290
Cost of living index : 89.5
Alaska
Average salary: $87,510
Hourly wage : $42.07
Highest paid city : Anchorage
Number of RNs employed: 5,570
Cost of living index : 130.6
Arizona
Average salary: $75,110
Hourly wage : $36.11
Highest paid city : Phoenix
Number of RNs employed: 54,630
Cost of living index : 97.7
Arkansas
Average salary: $58,810
Hourly wage : $28.28
Highest paid city : Little Rock
Number of RNs employed: 24,380
Cost of living index : 88.4
California
Average salary: $102,700
Hourly wage : $49.37
Highest paid city : San Francisco
Number of RNs employed: 282,290
Cost of living index : 138.7
Colorado
Average salary: $72,570
Hourly wage : $34.89
Highest paid city : Boulder
Number of RNs employed: 49,340
Cost of living index : 105.5
Connecticut
Average salary: $80,200
Hourly wage : $38.56
Highest paid city : Danbury
Number of RNs employed: 34,310
Cost of living index : 128.8
Delaware
Average salary: $73,180
Hourly wage : $35.18
Highest paid city : Wilmington
Number of RNs employed: 11,620
Cost of living index : 106
District of Columbia
Average salary: $90,110
Hourly wage : $43.32
Highest paid city : Washington
Number of RNs employed: 11,000
Cost of living index : 162.9
Florida
Average salary: $64,890
Hourly wage : $31.20
Highest paid city : Naples
Number of RNs employed: 178,330
Cost of living index : 98.9
Georgia
Average salary: $66,750
Hourly wage : $32.09
Highest paid city : Atlanta
Number of RNs employed: 75,000
Cost of living index : 91.2
Hawaii
Average salary: $96,990
Hourly wage : $46.63
Highest paid city : Honolulu
Number of RNs employed: 10,800
Cost of living index : 190.1
Idaho
Average salary: $64,520
Hourly wage : $31.02
Highest paid city : Coeur d’Alene
Number of RNs employed: 13,320
Cost of living index : 94.2
Illinois
Average salary: $72,090
Hourly wage : $34.66
Highest paid city : Chicago
Number of RNs employed: 123,100
Cost of living index : 95.7
Indiana
Average salary: $62,450
Hourly wage : $30.02
Highest paid city : Gary
Number of RNs employed: 68,530
Cost of living index : 90.1
Iowa
Average salary: $57,930
Hourly wage : $27.85
Highest paid city : Iowa City
Number of RNs employed: 33,280
Cost of living index : 91.8
Kansas
Average salary: $59,940
Hourly wage : $28.82
Highest paid city : Topeka
Number of RNs employed: 28,900
Cost of living index : 89.7
Kentucky
Average salary: $61,530
Hourly wage : $29.58
Highest paid city : Louisville
Number of RNs employed: 44,410
Cost of living index : 91.8
Louisiana
Average salary: $63,560
Hourly wage : $30.56
Highest paid city : New Orleans
Number of RNs employed: 45,970
Cost of living index : 93.6
Maine
Average salary: $65,890
Hourly wage : $31.68
Highest paid city : Bangor
Number of RNs employed: 14,200
Cost of living index : 117.2
Maryland
Average salary: $75,250
Hourly wage : $36.18
Highest paid city : Portland
Number of RNs employed: 53,700
Cost of living index : 131.3
Massachusetts
Average salary: $89,330
Hourly wage : $42.95
Highest paid city : Boston
Number of RNs employed: 82,870
Cost of living index : 133.8
Michigan
Average salary: $69,120
Hourly wage : $33.23
Highest paid city : Bay City
Number of RNs employed: 94,090
Cost of living index : 89.3
Minnesota
Average salary: $77,540
Hourly wage : $37.28
Highest paid city : Minneapolis
Number of RNs employed: 64,540
Cost of living index : 101.5
Mississippi
Average salary: $57,700
Hourly wage : $27.74
Highest paid city : Jackson
Number of RNs employed: 28,760
Cost of living index : 85.7
Missouri
Average salary: $63,300
Hourly wage : $30.43
Highest paid city : Columbia
Number of RNs employed: 72,090
Cost of living index : 88.8
Montana
Average RN salary: $66,280
Hourly wage : $31.87
Highest paid city : Billings
Number of RNs employed: 10,110
Cost of living index : 104
Nebraska
Average salary: $62,210
Hourly wage : $29.91
Highest paid city : Omaha
Number of RNs employed: 22,870
Cost of living index : 93.3
Nevada
Average salary: $84,980
Hourly wage : $40.86
Highest paid city : Las Vegas
Number of RNs employed: 21,060
Cost of living index : 108.3
New Hampshire
Average salary: $70,040
Hourly wage : $33.67
Highest paid city : Manchester
Number of RNs employed: 13,190
Cost of living index : 109.3
New Jersey
Average salary: $82,010
Hourly wage : $39.43
Highest paid city : Newark
Number of RNs employed: 80,560
Cost of living index : 122.5
New Mexico
Average salary: $69,840
Hourly wage : $33.58
Highest paid city : Albuquerque
Number of RNs employed: 16,290
Cost of living index : 92.8
New York
Average salary: $83,450
Hourly wage : $40.12
Highest paid city : New York NYC
Number of RNs employed: 180,170
Cost of living index : 135.7
North Carolina
Average salary: $62,560
Hourly wage : $30.08
Highest paid city : Durham
Number of RNs employed: 99,210
Cost of living index : 94
North Dakota
Average salary: $63,140
Hourly wage : $30.35
Highest paid city : Fargo
Number of RNs employed: 9,020
Cost of living index : 98.7
Ohio
Average salary: $65,500
Hourly wage : $31.49
Highest paid city : Lima
Number of RNs employed: 124,620
Cost of living index : 92.8
Oklahoma
Average salary: $61,640
Hourly wage : $29.63
Highest paid city : Oklahoma City
Number of RNs employed: 28,000
Cost of living index : 88.1
Oregon
Average salary: $88,770
Hourly wage : $42.68
Highest paid city : Hillsboro
Number of RNs employed: 35,140
Cost of living index : 131.2
Pennsylvania
Average salary: $69,820
Hourly wage : $33.57
Highest paid city : Philadelphia
Number of RNs employed: 143,130
Cost of living index : 98.6
Puerto Rico
Average salary: $34,630
Hourly wage : $16.65
Highest paid city : San Juan
Number of RNs employed: 19,090
Cost of living index : n/a
Rhode Island
Average salary: $76,650
Hourly wage : $36.85
Highest paid city : Providence
Number of RNs employed: 11,820
Cost of living index : 122.5
South Carolina
Average salary: $63,630
Hourly wage : $30.59
Highest paid city : Charleston
Number of RNs employed: 43,200
Cost of living index : 98.3
South Dakota
Average salary: $57,010
Hourly wage : $27.41
Highest paid city : Rapid City
Number of RNs employed: 12,530
Cost of living index : 98.5
Tennessee
Average salary: $60,050
Hourly wage : $28.87
Highest paid city : Memphis
Number of RNs employed: 59,350
Cost of living index : 89.5
Texas
Average salary: $72,070
Hourly wage : $34.65
Highest paid city : Houston
Number of RNs employed: 212,230
Cost of living index : 91.3
Utah
Average salary: $63,050
Hourly wage : $30.31
Highest paid city : Salt Lake City
Number of RNs employed: 21,340
Cost of living index : 98.2
Vermont
Average salary: $69,560
Hourly wage : $33.44
Highest paid city : Burlington
Number of RNs employed: 6,270
Cost of living index : 118.7
Virginia
Average salary: $67,990
Hourly wage : $32.69
Highest paid city : Charlottesville
Number of RNs employed: 64,260
Cost of living index : 102
Washington
Average salary: $79,810
Hourly wage : $38.37
Highest paid city : Tacoma
Number of RNs employed: 56,880
Cost of living index : 109.5
West Virginia
Average salary: $60,380
Hourly wage : $29.03
Highest paid city : Morgantown
Number of RNs employed: 20,410
Cost of living index : 94.7
Wisconsin
Average salary: $69,200
Hourly wage : $33.27
Highest paid city : Madison
Number of RNs employed: 55,940
Cost of living index : 95.8
Wyoming
Average salary: $64,900
Hourly wage : $31.20
Highest paid city : Cheyenne
Number of RNs employed: 4,910
Cost of living index : 90.5
Don’t forget to check out our pages for Nurse Practitioners, LVN or LPN salary, and general nursing careers salary information – have a good look around.
