29 Series · SOC 29-1141
Registered Nurses Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $97,550
- Median / year
- $137,470
- Top 10% earn
- +4.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 3,379,720
- US workers
Registered Nurses earn a median of $97,550 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $97,550, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $68,940 (10th percentile) to $137,470 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 3,379,720 US workers. California pays the most ($140,270), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Registered Nurses earn a median of $97,550, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 82% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #40 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% by 2033.
- $97,550
- Median annual wage
- Top 18%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #40 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 2.0×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $140,270. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141) pays a national median of $97,550 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $68,940 at the 10th percentile to $137,470 at the 90th, with a mean of $101,420 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 3,379,720 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 515 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 189,100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $140,270, which is +44% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $216,740 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 3,379,720 jobs Median $97,550/yr
Median Salary
$97,550
per year
Median Hourly
$46.90/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$101,420
average
Employment
3,379,720
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Registered Nurses pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$97,550 Top 18% higher than 82% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Registered Nurses; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Registered Nurses sits on the slower-growing side at +4.9% growth and $97,550 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.9%
About average
Annual Openings
189,100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Registered Nurses roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Speaking 4.1
Reading Comprehension 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Active Learning 4.0
Monitoring 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 4.0
Service Orientation 4.0
Judgment and Decision Making 4.0
Active Listening 3.9
Writing 3.9
Knowledge Areas
Medicine and Dentistry 4.8
Education and Training 4.4
Psychology 4.3
English Language 4.3
Biology 4.0
Therapy and Counseling 4.0
Customer and Personal Service 3.7
Sociology and Anthropology 3.7
Administration and Management 3.6
Mathematics 3.1
Key Tasks
- ▸ Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.
- ▸ Assess patients' mental and physical status, based on the presenting symptoms and complaints.
- ▸ Discuss illnesses and treatments with patients and family members.
- ▸ Diagnose acute or chronic conditions that could result in rapid physiological deterioration or life-threatening instability.
- ▸ Diagnose psychiatric disorders and mental health conditions.
- ▸ Document patients' medical and psychological histories, physical assessment results, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, or outcomes.
- ▸ Educate patients and family members about mental health and medical conditions, preventive health measures, medications, or treatment plans.
- ▸ Write prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by state regulations and collaborative practice agreements.
- ▸ Monitor patients' medication usage and results.
- ▸ Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$68,940
25th Percentile
$80,330
Median
$97,550
75th Percentile
$112,350
90th Percentile
$137,470
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $140,270 | +44% above national |
| 2 | Hawaii | $136,320 | +40% above national |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,010 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $124,200 | +27% above national |
| 5 | Alaska | $109,480 | +12% above national |
| 6 | New York | $109,440 | +12% above national |
| 7 | New Jersey | $106,500 | +9% above national |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $104,550 | +7% above national |
| 9 | Nevada | $103,670 | +6% above national |
| 10 | Connecticut | $102,740 | +5% above national |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $102,540 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $101,510 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $100,640 | +3% above national |
| 14 | Colorado | $100,260 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Maryland | $99,790 | +2% above national |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $99,700 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Delaware | $99,520 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Arizona | $99,500 | +2% above national |
| 19 | Vermont | $97,460 | same as national |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $96,430 | 1% below national |
| 21 | Illinois | $95,990 | 2% below national |
| 22 | Texas | $95,970 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $95,530 | 2% below national |
| 24 | New Mexico | $94,340 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Michigan | $94,300 | 3% below national |
| 26 | Virginia | $93,600 | 4% below national |
| 27 | Georgia | $93,550 | 4% below national |
| 28 | Idaho | $92,460 | 5% below national |
| 29 | Maine | $86,990 | 11% below national |
| 30 | Montana | $85,280 | 13% below national |
| 31 | Nebraska | $84,730 | 13% below national |
| 32 | Utah | $84,600 | 13% below national |
| 33 | North Carolina | $84,350 | 14% below national |
| 34 | Florida | $84,190 | 14% below national |
| 35 | Virgin Islands | $84,120 | 14% below national |
| 36 | Wyoming | $83,760 | 14% below national |
| 37 | Indiana | $83,500 | 14% below national |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $82,920 | 15% below national |
| 39 | Ohio | $82,510 | 15% below national |
| 40 | South Carolina | $82,360 | 16% below national |
| 41 | Missouri | $81,780 | 16% below national |
| 42 | Tennessee | $81,500 | 16% below national |
| 43 | Kentucky | $81,040 | 17% below national |
| 44 | North Dakota | $80,730 | 17% below national |
| 45 | Louisiana | $80,230 | 18% below national |
| 46 | West Virginia | $80,130 | 18% below national |
| 47 | Kansas | $79,320 | 19% below national |
| 48 | Arkansas | $78,940 | 19% below national |
| 49 | Iowa | $78,630 | 19% below national |
| 50 | South Dakota | $78,060 | 20% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $77,090 | 21% below national |
| 52 | Alabama | $77,080 | 21% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $39,880 | 59% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 515 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $216,740 | +122% above national |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | +108% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,610 | +91% above national |
| 4 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $174,550 | +79% above national |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $171,460 | +76% above national |
| 6 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $170,960 | +75% above national |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | +53% above national |
| 8 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $144,350 | +48% above national |
| 9 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $139,520 | +43% above national |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $139,260 | +43% above national |
| 11 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $138,820 | +42% above national |
| 12 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $137,360 | +41% above national |
| 13 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $135,560 | +39% above national |
| 14 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $135,560 | +39% above national |
| 15 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $135,270 | +39% above national |
| 16 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | +38% above national |
| 17 | Salinas, CA | $134,910 | +38% above national |
| 18 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $134,580 | +38% above national |
| 19 | Redding, CA | $134,350 | +38% above national |
| 20 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $133,940 | +37% above national |
| 21 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $133,830 | +37% above national |
| 22 | Modesto, CA | $132,590 | +36% above national |
| 23 | Salem, OR | $131,750 | +35% above national |
| 24 | Merced, CA | $131,620 | +35% above national |
| 25 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $131,160 | +34% above national |
| 26 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $130,310 | +34% above national |
| 27 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $128,810 | +32% above national |
| 28 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $128,260 | +31% above national |
| 29 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $128,160 | +31% above national |
| 30 | Chico, CA | $127,360 | +31% above national |
| 31 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $127,060 | +30% above national |
| 32 | Medford, OR | $127,030 | +30% above national |
| 33 | Fresno, CA | $125,420 | +29% above national |
| 34 | Visalia, CA | $125,180 | +28% above national |
| 35 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $125,020 | +28% above national |
| 36 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $123,350 | +26% above national |
| 37 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $119,720 | +23% above national |
| 38 | Walla Walla, WA | $116,970 | +20% above national |
| 39 | Anchorage, AK | $115,290 | +18% above national |
| 40 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $114,060 | +17% above national |
| 41 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $113,720 | +17% above national |
| 42 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $112,280 | +15% above national |
| 43 | Albany, OR | $111,920 | +15% above national |
| 44 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $111,750 | +15% above national |
| 45 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $110,690 | +13% above national |
| 46 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $107,870 | +11% above national |
| 47 | Reno, NV | $107,520 | +10% above national |
| 48 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $107,450 | +10% above national |
| 49 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $107,220 | +10% above national |
| 50 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $106,730 | +9% above national |
| 51 | Grants Pass, OR | $106,710 | +9% above national |
| 52 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $106,410 | +9% above national |
| 53 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $106,180 | +9% above national |
| 54 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $105,960 | +9% above national |
| 55 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $105,660 | +8% above national |
| 56 | St. Cloud, MN | $105,290 | +8% above national |
| 57 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $104,980 | +8% above national |
| 58 | Pittsfield, MA | $104,950 | +8% above national |
| 59 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $104,860 | +7% above national |
| 60 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $104,780 | +7% above national |
| 61 | New Haven, CT | $104,490 | +7% above national |
| 62 | Glens Falls, NY | $104,000 | +7% above national |
| 63 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $103,940 | +7% above national |
| 64 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $103,610 | +6% above national |
| 65 | Ann Arbor, MI | $103,450 | +6% above national |
| 66 | El Centro, CA | $103,450 | +6% above national |
| 67 | Mankato, MN | $103,400 | +6% above national |
| 68 | Barnstable Town, MA | $103,380 | +6% above national |
| 69 | Vineland, NJ | $103,380 | +6% above national |
| 70 | Boulder, CO | $103,290 | +6% above national |
| 71 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $103,040 | +6% above national |
| 72 | Yakima, WA | $102,950 | +6% above national |
| 73 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $102,890 | +5% above national |
| 74 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $102,710 | +5% above national |
| 75 | Binghamton, NY | $101,720 | +4% above national |
| 76 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $101,690 | +4% above national |
| 77 | Rochester, MN | $101,660 | +4% above national |
| 78 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $101,470 | +4% above national |
| 79 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $101,440 | +4% above national |
| 80 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $101,420 | +4% above national |
| 81 | Carson City, NV | $101,370 | +4% above national |
| 82 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $101,330 | +4% above national |
| 83 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $101,270 | +4% above national |
| 84 | Madison, WI | $101,190 | +4% above national |
| 85 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,180 | +4% above national |
| 86 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $101,130 | +4% above national |
| 87 | Kingston, NY | $101,030 | +4% above national |
| 88 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $100,830 | +3% above national |
| 89 | Santa Fe, NM | $100,790 | +3% above national |
| 90 | Flagstaff, AZ | $100,780 | +3% above national |
| 91 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $100,490 | +3% above national |
| 92 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,490 | +3% above national |
| 93 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $100,380 | +3% above national |
| 94 | Ithaca, NY | $100,320 | +3% above national |
| 95 | Worcester, MA | $100,240 | +3% above national |
| 96 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $100,210 | +3% above national |
| 97 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $99,990 | +3% above national |
| 98 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $99,970 | +2% above national |
| 99 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $99,880 | +2% above national |
| 100 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $99,830 | +2% above national |
| 101 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $99,550 | +2% above national |
| 102 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $99,320 | +2% above national |
| 103 | Charlottesville, VA | $99,320 | +2% above national |
| 104 | Bozeman, MT | $99,310 | +2% above national |
| 105 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $99,060 | +2% above national |
| 106 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $98,910 | +1% above national |
| 107 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $98,900 | +1% above national |
| 108 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $98,790 | +1% above national |
| 109 | Helena, MT | $98,690 | +1% above national |
| 110 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $98,620 | +1% above national |
| 111 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $98,600 | +1% above national |
| 112 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $98,560 | +1% above national |
| 113 | Reading, PA | $98,470 | +1% above national |
| 114 | Springfield, MA | $98,410 | +1% above national |
| 115 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $98,370 | +1% above national |
| 116 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $98,330 | +1% above national |
| 117 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $98,000 | same as national |
| 118 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $97,890 | same as national |
| 119 | Boise City, ID | $97,880 | same as national |
| 120 | Flint, MI | $97,780 | same as national |
| 121 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $97,600 | same as national |
| 122 | Battle Creek, MI | $97,520 | same as national |
| 123 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $97,360 | same as national |
| 124 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $97,280 | same as national |
| 125 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $97,280 | same as national |
| 126 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $97,270 | same as national |
| 127 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $97,230 | same as national |
| 128 | Duluth, MN-WI | $96,940 | 1% below national |
| 129 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $96,770 | 1% below national |
| 130 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $96,530 | 1% below national |
| 131 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $96,340 | 1% below national |
| 132 | Greeley, CO | $96,300 | 1% below national |
| 133 | Lebanon, PA | $96,270 | 1% below national |
| 134 | York-Hanover, PA | $96,210 | 1% below national |
| 135 | Colorado Springs, CO | $96,140 | 1% below national |
| 136 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $96,070 | 2% below national |
| 137 | Albuquerque, NM | $96,040 | 2% below national |
| 138 | Grand Junction, CO | $95,990 | 2% below national |
| 139 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $95,740 | 2% below national |
| 140 | Pueblo, CO | $95,720 | 2% below national |
| 141 | Winchester, VA-WV | $95,650 | 2% below national |
| 142 | Saginaw, MI | $95,160 | 2% below national |
| 143 | Salisbury, MD | $94,880 | 3% below national |
| 144 | Lexington Park, MD | $94,780 | 3% below national |
| 145 | Cheyenne, WY | $94,540 | 3% below national |
| 146 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $94,370 | 3% below national |
| 147 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $94,370 | 3% below national |
| 148 | Yuma, AZ | $94,320 | 3% below national |
| 149 | Utica-Rome, NY | $94,300 | 3% below national |
| 150 | Williamsport, PA | $94,300 | 3% below national |
| 151 | Tucson, AZ | $94,110 | 4% below national |
| 152 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $93,990 | 4% below national |
| 153 | Bangor, ME | $93,940 | 4% below national |
| 154 | Fond du Lac, WI | $93,890 | 4% below national |
| 155 | Richmond, VA | $93,580 | 4% below national |
| 156 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $93,540 | 4% below national |
| 157 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $93,440 | 4% below national |
| 158 | Eau Claire, WI | $93,410 | 4% below national |
| 159 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $93,330 | 4% below national |
| 160 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $93,040 | 5% below national |
| 161 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $93,030 | 5% below national |
| 162 | Waco, TX | $92,890 | 5% below national |
| 163 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $92,800 | 5% below national |
| 164 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $92,770 | 5% below national |
| 165 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $92,390 | 5% below national |
| 166 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $92,080 | 6% below national |
| 167 | Dover, DE | $91,620 | 6% below national |
| 168 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $91,380 | 6% below national |
| 169 | Lake Charles, LA | $90,690 | 7% below national |
| 170 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $90,630 | 7% below national |
| 171 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $90,620 | 7% below national |
| 172 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $90,230 | 8% below national |
| 173 | Lancaster, PA | $89,620 | 8% below national |
| 174 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $89,450 | 8% below national |
| 175 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $89,420 | 8% below national |
| 176 | Wausau, WI | $89,190 | 9% below national |
| 177 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $89,100 | 9% below national |
| 178 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $89,090 | 9% below national |
| 179 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $88,760 | 9% below national |
| 180 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $88,580 | 9% below national |
| 181 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $88,470 | 9% below national |
| 182 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $88,400 | 9% below national |
| 183 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $88,310 | 9% below national |
| 184 | Gettysburg, PA | $88,260 | 10% below national |
| 185 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $88,200 | 10% below national |
| 186 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $88,100 | 10% below national |
| 187 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $87,760 | 10% below national |
| 188 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $87,650 | 10% below national |
| 189 | Lincoln, NE | $87,530 | 10% below national |
| 190 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $87,340 | 10% below national |
| 191 | Decatur, IL | $87,170 | 11% below national |
| 192 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $86,980 | 11% below national |
| 193 | Syracuse, NY | $86,960 | 11% below national |
| 194 | Amarillo, TX | $86,850 | 11% below national |
| 195 | Savannah, GA | $86,760 | 11% below national |
| 196 | Appleton, WI | $86,680 | 11% below national |
| 197 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $86,650 | 11% below national |
| 198 | Rochester, NY | $86,570 | 11% below national |
| 199 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $86,470 | 11% below national |
| 200 | St. George, UT | $86,380 | 11% below national |
| 201 | Midland, MI | $86,360 | 11% below national |
| 202 | Sumter, SC | $86,260 | 12% below national |
| 203 | Kankakee, IL | $86,220 | 12% below national |
| 204 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $86,130 | 12% below national |
| 205 | Logan, UT-ID | $86,120 | 12% below national |
| 206 | Winston-Salem, NC | $86,120 | 12% below national |
| 207 | El Paso, TX | $86,100 | 12% below national |
| 208 | Iowa City, IA | $85,940 | 12% below national |
| 209 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $85,890 | 12% below national |
| 210 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $85,870 | 12% below national |
| 211 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $85,810 | 12% below national |
| 212 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $85,700 | 12% below national |
| 213 | Sebring, FL | $85,690 | 12% below national |
| 214 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $85,470 | 12% below national |
| 215 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $85,380 | 12% below national |
| 216 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $85,340 | 13% below national |
| 217 | Chambersburg, PA | $85,270 | 13% below national |
| 218 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $85,070 | 13% below national |
| 219 | Jefferson City, MO | $85,010 | 13% below national |
| 220 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $84,850 | 13% below national |
| 221 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $84,830 | 13% below national |
| 222 | Tulsa, OK | $84,790 | 13% below national |
| 223 | Jacksonville, NC | $84,750 | 13% below national |
| 224 | Green Bay, WI | $84,700 | 13% below national |
| 225 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $84,670 | 13% below national |
| 226 | Omaha, NE-IA | $84,600 | 13% below national |
| 227 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $84,550 | 13% below national |
| 228 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $84,500 | 13% below national |
| 229 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $84,400 | 13% below national |
| 230 | Johnstown, PA | $84,390 | 13% below national |
| 231 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $84,340 | 14% below national |
| 232 | Columbia, MO | $84,330 | 14% below national |
| 233 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $84,320 | 14% below national |
| 234 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $84,320 | 14% below national |
| 235 | Sheboygan, WI | $84,240 | 14% below national |
| 236 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $84,230 | 14% below national |
| 237 | Springfield, IL | $84,220 | 14% below national |
| 238 | Burlington, NC | $84,180 | 14% below national |
| 239 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $84,180 | 14% below national |
| 240 | Idaho Falls, ID | $84,110 | 14% below national |
| 241 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $84,050 | 14% below national |
| 242 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $84,040 | 14% below national |
| 243 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $84,030 | 14% below national |
| 244 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $83,960 | 14% below national |
| 245 | Cleveland, OH | $83,940 | 14% below national |
| 246 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $83,920 | 14% below national |
| 247 | Columbus, OH | $83,900 | 14% below national |
| 248 | Rome, GA | $83,880 | 14% below national |
| 249 | Evansville, IN | $83,820 | 14% below national |
| 250 | Casper, WY | $83,760 | 14% below national |
| 251 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $83,700 | 14% below national |
| 252 | Traverse City, MI | $83,690 | 14% below national |
| 253 | Victoria, TX | $83,680 | 14% below national |
| 254 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $83,660 | 14% below national |
| 255 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $83,650 | 14% below national |
| 256 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $83,550 | 14% below national |
| 257 | Jacksonville, FL | $83,520 | 14% below national |
| 258 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $83,460 | 14% below national |
| 259 | Kokomo, IN | $83,370 | 15% below national |
| 260 | Las Cruces, NM | $83,310 | 15% below national |
| 261 | Dalton, GA | $83,290 | 15% below national |
| 262 | Wichita Falls, TX | $83,280 | 15% below national |
| 263 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $83,230 | 15% below national |
| 264 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $83,180 | 15% below national |
| 265 | Kenosha, WI | $83,110 | 15% below national |
| 266 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $83,090 | 15% below national |
| 267 | Farmington, NM | $83,070 | 15% below national |
| 268 | Fayetteville, NC | $83,060 | 15% below national |
| 269 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $83,050 | 15% below national |
| 270 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $83,040 | 15% below national |
| 271 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $82,950 | 15% below national |
| 272 | Oklahoma City, OK | $82,920 | 15% below national |
| 273 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $82,900 | 15% below national |
| 274 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $82,860 | 15% below national |
| 275 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $82,860 | 15% below national |
| 276 | Elmira, NY | $82,820 | 15% below national |
| 277 | Goldsboro, NC | $82,740 | 15% below national |
| 278 | Corpus Christi, TX | $82,690 | 15% below national |
| 279 | Twin Falls, ID | $82,680 | 15% below national |
| 280 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $82,650 | 15% below national |
| 281 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $82,640 | 15% below national |
| 282 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $82,630 | 15% below national |
| 283 | Jackson, MS | $82,630 | 15% below national |
| 284 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $82,620 | 15% below national |
| 285 | Grand Island, NE | $82,590 | 15% below national |
| 286 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $82,510 | 15% below national |
| 287 | Columbus, GA-AL | $82,500 | 15% below national |
| 288 | Hinesville, GA | $82,490 | 15% below national |
| 289 | Altoona, PA | $82,410 | 16% below national |
| 290 | Pittsburgh, PA | $82,370 | 16% below national |
| 291 | Spartanburg, SC | $82,360 | 16% below national |
| 292 | Billings, MT | $82,300 | 16% below national |
| 293 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $82,300 | 16% below national |
| 294 | Rocky Mount, NC | $82,300 | 16% below national |
| 295 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $82,200 | 16% below national |
| 296 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $82,200 | 16% below national |
| 297 | Monroe, MI | $82,170 | 16% below national |
| 298 | Missoula, MT | $82,160 | 16% below national |
| 299 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $82,140 | 16% below national |
| 300 | Fargo, ND-MN | $82,120 | 16% below national |
| 301 | Midland, TX | $82,120 | 16% below national |
| 302 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $82,100 | 16% below national |
| 303 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $82,090 | 16% below national |
| 304 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $81,970 | 16% below national |
| 305 | Lafayette, LA | $81,960 | 16% below national |
| 306 | Columbia, SC | $81,920 | 16% below national |
| 307 | Gainesville, FL | $81,870 | 16% below national |
| 308 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $81,850 | 16% below national |
| 309 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $81,850 | 16% below national |
| 310 | Ogden, UT | $81,840 | 16% below national |
| 311 | Topeka, KS | $81,820 | 16% below national |
| 312 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $81,800 | 16% below national |
| 313 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $81,800 | 16% below national |
| 314 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $81,780 | 16% below national |
| 315 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $81,750 | 16% below national |
| 316 | Alexandria, LA | $81,680 | 16% below national |
| 317 | Greenville, NC | $81,670 | 16% below national |
| 318 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $81,630 | 16% below national |
| 319 | Asheville, NC | $81,590 | 16% below national |
| 320 | Terre Haute, IN | $81,550 | 16% below national |
| 321 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $81,540 | 16% below national |
| 322 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $81,520 | 16% below national |
| 323 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $81,500 | 16% below national |
| 324 | Lubbock, TX | $81,480 | 16% below national |
| 325 | State College, PA | $81,480 | 16% below national |
| 326 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $81,480 | 16% below national |
| 327 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $81,470 | 16% below national |
| 328 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $81,450 | 17% below national |
| 329 | Lima, OH | $81,440 | 17% below national |
| 330 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $81,410 | 17% below national |
| 331 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $81,400 | 17% below national |
| 332 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $81,400 | 17% below national |
| 333 | Odessa, TX | $81,370 | 17% below national |
| 334 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $81,370 | 17% below national |
| 335 | Sandusky, OH | $81,310 | 17% below national |
| 336 | Mansfield, OH | $81,300 | 17% below national |
| 337 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $81,300 | 17% below national |
| 338 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $81,300 | 17% below national |
| 339 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $81,260 | 17% below national |
| 340 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $81,230 | 17% below national |
| 341 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $81,180 | 17% below national |
| 342 | Florence, SC | $81,170 | 17% below national |
| 343 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $81,160 | 17% below national |
| 344 | Baton Rouge, LA | $81,130 | 17% below national |
| 345 | Bismarck, ND | $81,120 | 17% below national |
| 346 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $81,090 | 17% below national |
| 347 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $81,070 | 17% below national |
| 348 | Toledo, OH | $81,050 | 17% below national |
| 349 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $81,010 | 17% below national |
| 350 | Peoria, IL | $81,010 | 17% below national |
| 351 | Wilmington, NC | $80,970 | 17% below national |
| 352 | Rockford, IL | $80,930 | 17% below national |
| 353 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $80,900 | 17% below national |
| 354 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $80,890 | 17% below national |
| 355 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $80,850 | 17% below national |
| 356 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $80,790 | 17% below national |
| 357 | Akron, OH | $80,770 | 17% below national |
| 358 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $80,760 | 17% below national |
| 359 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $80,640 | 17% below national |
| 360 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $80,640 | 17% below national |
| 361 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $80,630 | 17% below national |
| 362 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $80,610 | 17% below national |
| 363 | Lawton, OK | $80,570 | 17% below national |
| 364 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $80,540 | 17% below national |
| 365 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $80,510 | 17% below national |
| 366 | Minot, ND | $80,490 | 17% below national |
| 367 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $80,460 | 18% below national |
| 368 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $80,460 | 18% below national |
| 369 | Lynchburg, VA | $80,450 | 18% below national |
| 370 | Punta Gorda, FL | $80,410 | 18% below national |
| 371 | Albany, GA | $80,390 | 18% below national |
| 372 | Bloomington, IN | $80,370 | 18% below national |
| 373 | Tyler, TX | $80,340 | 18% below national |
| 374 | Longview, TX | $80,330 | 18% below national |
| 375 | Abilene, TX | $80,240 | 18% below national |
| 376 | Charleston, WV | $80,230 | 18% below national |
| 377 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $80,200 | 18% below national |
| 378 | Morgantown, WV | $80,130 | 18% below national |
| 379 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $80,120 | 18% below national |
| 380 | Roanoke, VA | $80,090 | 18% below national |
| 381 | San Angelo, TX | $80,080 | 18% below national |
| 382 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $80,080 | 18% below national |
| 383 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $80,070 | 18% below national |
| 384 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $80,060 | 18% below national |
| 385 | Springfield, OH | $80,060 | 18% below national |
| 386 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $80,010 | 18% below national |
| 387 | Erie, PA | $80,000 | 18% below national |
| 388 | Bloomington, IL | $79,970 | 18% below national |
| 389 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $79,930 | 18% below national |
| 390 | Paducah, KY-IL | $79,920 | 18% below national |
| 391 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $79,920 | 18% below national |
| 392 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $79,880 | 18% below national |
| 393 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $79,870 | 18% below national |
| 394 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $79,800 | 18% below national |
| 395 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $79,770 | 18% below national |
| 396 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $79,660 | 18% below national |
| 397 | Fort Wayne, IN | $79,630 | 18% below national |
| 398 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $79,610 | 18% below national |
| 399 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $79,580 | 18% below national |
| 400 | Montgomery, AL | $79,570 | 18% below national |
| 401 | Muncie, IN | $79,500 | 19% below national |
| 402 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $79,500 | 19% below national |
| 403 | Mobile, AL | $79,490 | 19% below national |
| 404 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $79,460 | 19% below national |
| 405 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $79,460 | 19% below national |
| 406 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $79,450 | 19% below national |
| 407 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $79,450 | 19% below national |
| 408 | Tallahassee, FL | $79,430 | 19% below national |
| 409 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $79,430 | 19% below national |
| 410 | Rapid City, SD | $79,380 | 19% below national |
| 411 | Springfield, MO | $79,370 | 19% below national |
| 412 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $79,280 | 19% below national |
| 413 | Ocala, FL | $79,230 | 19% below national |
| 414 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $79,220 | 19% below national |
| 415 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $79,200 | 19% below national |
| 416 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $79,150 | 19% below national |
| 417 | Bowling Green, KY | $79,120 | 19% below national |
| 418 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $79,110 | 19% below national |
| 419 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $79,070 | 19% below national |
| 420 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $79,050 | 19% below national |
| 421 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $79,040 | 19% below national |
| 422 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $79,000 | 19% below national |
| 423 | Warner Robins, GA | $78,980 | 19% below national |
| 424 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $78,960 | 19% below national |
| 425 | Manhattan, KS | $78,960 | 19% below national |
| 426 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $78,960 | 19% below national |
| 427 | Jonesboro, AR | $78,940 | 19% below national |
| 428 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $78,810 | 19% below national |
| 429 | Pocatello, ID | $78,780 | 19% below national |
| 430 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $78,730 | 19% below national |
| 431 | Beckley, WV | $78,680 | 19% below national |
| 432 | Birmingham, AL | $78,680 | 19% below national |
| 433 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $78,680 | 19% below national |
| 434 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $78,630 | 19% below national |
| 435 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $78,630 | 19% below national |
| 436 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $78,610 | 19% below national |
| 437 | Hot Springs, AR | $78,590 | 19% below national |
| 438 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $78,370 | 20% below national |
| 439 | Great Falls, MT | $78,290 | 20% below national |
| 440 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $78,280 | 20% below national |
| 441 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $78,280 | 20% below national |
| 442 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $78,280 | 20% below national |
| 443 | Monroe, LA | $78,270 | 20% below national |
| 444 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $78,230 | 20% below national |
| 445 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $78,080 | 20% below national |
| 446 | Enid, OK | $78,060 | 20% below national |
| 447 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $78,040 | 20% below national |
| 448 | Lawrence, KS | $78,020 | 20% below national |
| 449 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $77,980 | 20% below national |
| 450 | Elizabethtown, KY | $77,930 | 20% below national |
| 451 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $77,910 | 20% below national |
| 452 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $77,890 | 20% below national |
| 453 | Gadsden, AL | $77,810 | 20% below national |
| 454 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $77,720 | 20% below national |
| 455 | Johnson City, TN | $77,660 | 20% below national |
| 456 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $77,600 | 20% below national |
| 457 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $77,570 | 20% below national |
| 458 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $77,470 | 21% below national |
| 459 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $77,400 | 21% below national |
| 460 | Knoxville, TN | $77,240 | 21% below national |
| 461 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $77,240 | 21% below national |
| 462 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $77,220 | 21% below national |
| 463 | Ames, IA | $77,160 | 21% below national |
| 464 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $77,150 | 21% below national |
| 465 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $77,110 | 21% below national |
| 466 | Huntsville, AL | $77,090 | 21% below national |
| 467 | Laredo, TX | $77,050 | 21% below national |
| 468 | Columbus, IN | $77,030 | 21% below national |
| 469 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $76,960 | 21% below national |
| 470 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $76,920 | 21% below national |
| 471 | Dubuque, IA | $76,790 | 21% below national |
| 472 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $76,730 | 21% below national |
| 473 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $76,580 | 21% below national |
| 474 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $76,560 | 22% below national |
| 475 | Wichita, KS | $76,540 | 22% below national |
| 476 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $76,390 | 22% below national |
| 477 | Hattiesburg, MS | $76,270 | 22% below national |
| 478 | Hammond, LA | $76,200 | 22% below national |
| 479 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $76,080 | 22% below national |
| 480 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $75,960 | 22% below national |
| 481 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $75,850 | 22% below national |
| 482 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $75,840 | 22% below national |
| 483 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $75,740 | 22% below national |
| 484 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $75,720 | 22% below national |
| 485 | Morristown, TN | $75,680 | 22% below national |
| 486 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $75,640 | 22% below national |
| 487 | Jackson, TN | $75,610 | 22% below national |
| 488 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $75,580 | 23% below national |
| 489 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $75,410 | 23% below national |
| 490 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $75,350 | 23% below national |
| 491 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $75,310 | 23% below national |
| 492 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $75,260 | 23% below national |
| 493 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $75,250 | 23% below national |
| 494 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $75,070 | 23% below national |
| 495 | Joplin, MO-KS | $74,930 | 23% below national |
| 496 | Valdosta, GA | $74,360 | 24% below national |
| 497 | Eagle Pass, TX | $73,660 | 24% below national |
| 498 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $73,520 | 25% below national |
| 499 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $73,410 | 25% below national |
| 500 | Cleveland, TN | $72,800 | 25% below national |
| 501 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $72,730 | 25% below national |
| 502 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $69,130 | 29% below national |
| 503 | Decatur, AL | $68,320 | 30% below national |
| 504 | Dothan, AL | $67,430 | 31% below national |
| 505 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $67,280 | 31% below national |
| 506 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $66,360 | 32% below national |
| 507 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $65,040 | 33% below national |
| 508 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $64,540 | 34% below national |
| 509 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $41,980 | 57% below national |
| 510 | Mayaguez, PR | $39,280 | 60% below national |
| 511 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $39,130 | 60% below national |
| 512 | Guayama, PR | $38,800 | 60% below national |
| 513 | Ponce, PR | $38,570 | 60% below national |
| 514 | Aguadilla, PR | $38,000 | 61% below national |
| 515 | Arecibo, PR | $37,460 | 62% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Registered Nurses make? ▼
The median annual salary for Registered Nurses is $97,550 ($46.90/hour). The salary range spans from $68,940 at the 10th percentile to $137,470 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Registered Nurses the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Registered Nurses at $140,270/year, which is +44% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Registered Nurses? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Registered Nurses is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Registered Nurses? ▼
Registered Nurses has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.7 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 1.5 per 100 workers.
Is Registered Nurses a good career? ▼
Employment for Registered Nurses is projected to grow 4.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 189,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Registered Nurses pay vary by state? ▼
Registered Nurses salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $140,270/year, while Iowa pays the least at $78,630/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Registered Nurses? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Registered Nurses is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $216,740/year. BLS reports wage data for 515 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Registered Nurses pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $112,350/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $140,270/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.