Registered nurses (RNs) earn a national median of $97,550 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for May 2025. However, that single number hides a huge spread. For example, California pays RNs an average of $150,280, while Alabama averages $77,020. That is a gap of more than $73,260. This registered nurse salary by state guide ranks all 50 states and D.C. In addition, it explains how to read the numbers.
Quick Answer: Registered Nurse Salary in the U.S.
The table below summarizes national RN pay. Notably, the mean is higher than the median because a group of high earners pulls the average up. As a result, the median is the better measure of a typical nurse’s pay.
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $97,550 |
| Mean (average) annual wage | $101,420 |
| Mean hourly wage | $48.76 |
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $68,940 |
| Highest 10% earn more than | $137,470 |
| Employed RNs nationwide | about 3.38 million |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Highest-Paying States for Registered Nurses
California leads by a wide margin. In fact, only 13 of the 51 areas (50 states plus D.C.) average $100,000 or more. Here are the top 10, which include the District of Columbia.
| Rank | State | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $72.25 | $150,280 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $59.78 | $124,340 |
| 3 | Oregon | $59.20 | $123,140 |
| 4 | Washington | $58.43 | $121,540 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $56.71 | $117,960 |
| 6 | Alaska | $55.23 | $114,870 |
| 7 | New York | $54.54 | $113,440 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $52.93 | $110,100 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $51.43 | $106,980 |
| 10 | Nevada | $50.82 | $105,710 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Rankings are by mean annual wage.
Hawaii, Oregon and Washington follow California. Meanwhile, Massachusetts and Alaska complete the top six.
Lowest-Paying States for Registered Nurses
On the other end of the ranking, Alabama and South Dakota pay RNs the least. Still, lower pay often comes with a lower cost of living. Therefore, the real gap is smaller than it looks.
| State | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37.03 | $77,020 |
| South Dakota | $37.09 | $77,140 |
| Mississippi | $37.96 | $78,950 |
| Iowa | $38.72 | $80,540 |
| Arkansas | $39.19 | $81,520 |
Registered Nurse Salary by State: Full Table
Use the tables below to find the registered nurse salary by state you are interested in. Each table follows the national ranking by mean annual wage. In addition, the last column shows how many RNs work in each state.
Top 17 States for RN Pay (Ranks 1–17)
| Rank | State | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $72.25 | $150,280 | 338,940 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $59.78 | $124,340 | 12,940 |
| 3 | Oregon | $59.20 | $123,140 | 39,730 |
| 4 | Washington | $58.43 | $121,540 | 69,260 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $56.71 | $117,960 | 88,200 |
| 6 | Alaska | $55.23 | $114,870 | 7,510 |
| 7 | New York | $54.54 | $113,440 | 205,810 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $52.93 | $110,100 | 92,680 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $51.43 | $106,980 | 11,440 |
| 10 | Nevada | $50.82 | $105,710 | 27,070 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $50.60 | $105,250 | 40,110 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $49.72 | $103,420 | 70,110 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $48.68 | $101,260 | 10,090 |
| 14 | Arizona | $47.95 | $99,730 | 73,150 |
| 15 | Delaware | $47.82 | $99,460 | 14,290 |
| 16 | Colorado | $47.78 | $99,370 | 54,490 |
| 17 | Maryland | $47.60 | $99,010 | 52,910 |
Mid-Range States for RN Pay (Ranks 18–34)
| Rank | State | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | New Hampshire | $47.07 | $97,900 | 15,390 |
| 19 | Vermont | $46.47 | $96,650 | 7,410 |
| 20 | Texas | $45.86 | $95,380 | 271,380 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $45.81 | $95,290 | 17,980 |
| 22 | Georgia | $45.71 | $95,080 | 100,950 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $45.53 | $94,690 | 68,060 |
| 24 | Illinois | $45.36 | $94,360 | 138,910 |
| 25 | Michigan | $45.34 | $94,300 | 104,950 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $45.20 | $94,020 | 146,520 |
| 27 | Virginia | $45.12 | $93,850 | 77,490 |
| 28 | Idaho | $44.57 | $92,710 | 16,880 |
| 29 | Maine | $44.09 | $91,700 | 16,540 |
| 30 | Montana | $43.99 | $91,510 | 10,950 |
| 31 | Utah | $43.72 | $90,950 | 27,420 |
| 32 | Florida | $43.58 | $90,650 | 229,940 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $43.50 | $90,470 | 111,120 |
| 34 | Indiana | $42.86 | $89,150 | 68,980 |
Lower-Paying States for RN Pay (Ranks 35–51)
| Rank | State | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Wyoming | $42.60 | $88,600 | 5,330 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $42.47 | $88,330 | 24,720 |
| 37 | Ohio | $42.18 | $87,730 | 143,730 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $42.15 | $87,670 | 49,750 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $41.81 | $86,970 | 23,430 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $41.41 | $86,140 | 50,300 |
| 41 | Missouri | $41.30 | $85,900 | 76,310 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $41.05 | $85,390 | 72,200 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $40.90 | $85,060 | 38,270 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $40.48 | $84,190 | 48,970 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $40.19 | $83,600 | 11,340 |
| 46 | Kansas | $39.60 | $82,360 | 33,800 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $39.19 | $81,520 | 29,400 |
| 48 | Iowa | $38.72 | $80,540 | 34,420 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $37.96 | $78,950 | 29,060 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $37.09 | $77,140 | 14,710 |
| 51 | Alabama | $37.03 | $77,020 | 54,340 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS State Estimates, May 2025 (SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses). Wages are means and exclude overtime. Territories are not included.
Why Registered Nurse Pay Varies So Much by State
Several factors explain these gaps. First, the cost of living plays a major role. Second, local demand and hospital systems matter as well.
- Cost of living. Because housing is expensive in California, Hawaii and Washington, employers must pay more to attract nurses.
- Demand and shortages. Similarly, regions with more openings than nurses tend to raise wages.
- Unions and hospital systems. In addition, large unionized hospital networks often negotiate higher base pay.
- Industry mix. Hospitals usually pay more than physician offices or home health. For instance, hospital RN pay averaged $104,420 nationally, up 3.3% from $101,100 the year before.
- Experience, specialty and shifts. Finally, state averages don’t capture night differentials, overtime, or specialties like ICU or the operating room.
Cost of Living: Where Nurses’ Paychecks Go Furthest
However, a bigger paycheck doesn’t always mean more purchasing power. According to a Nurse.org analysis of the BLS data, Oregon leads the country on a cost-of-living-adjusted basis at $52.95 per hour. Minnesota and Washington follow. By contrast, California falls from $72.25 to about $50.77 once adjusted.
Hawaii shows the biggest drop. It ranks second on nominal pay, but it ranks last on the adjusted list at $32.31 per hour.
The same analysis offers a useful comparison. For example, a nurse moving from Indiana to California would see a nominal gap of $29.39 per hour. After adjusting for cost of living, however, the gap shrinks to only $3.67. Therefore, compare adjusted wages, not just headline salaries, if you are thinking about relocating.
Where Registered Nurse Wages Are Growing Fastest
Wages are also rising at different speeds. For instance, West Virginia saw the largest year-over-year RN wage increase, 7.8%, from $80,650 to $86,970 annually. South Dakota followed at 6.8%, and Nebraska came next at 6.6%. Overall, the median state increase was 3.4%.
Growth was not universal, though. RN wages fell in the District of Columbia (2.1%) and Oklahoma (0.9%).
Job Outlook for Registered Nurses
BLS projects RN employment to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. In addition, about 180,800 openings are expected each year. Most of those openings come from nurses retiring or moving to other occupations. Meanwhile, about 56% of RNs work in general medical and surgical hospitals.
How to Use This Registered Nurse Salary Data
Follow these steps to get the most from the numbers above.
- Compare medians and means carefully. Job listings usually reflect a specific offer, not a state average.
- Check metro-area data. Pay inside a state can differ a lot between big cities and rural areas.
- Factor in housing and taxes. These costs matter as much as the hourly rate.
- Look at your specialty. Advanced roles pay more. For example, the national mean is $137,300 for nurse practitioners and $248,320 for nurse anesthetists.
Frequently Asked Questions About RN Salaries
What state pays registered nurses the most?
California pays the most. Its mean hourly wage is $72.25, or $150,280 a year, in the May 2025 BLS data.
What state pays registered nurses the least?
Alabama pays the least, with a mean annual wage of $77,020. South Dakota is a close second from the bottom.
What is the average RN salary in the U.S.?
The mean is $101,420 per year. The median, however, is $97,550.
Is nursing a good career financially?
Yes, in most cases. RNs earn well above the median for all U.S. occupations. Besides, employment is projected to grow faster than average through 2035.
Are these figures for new graduates?
No, they cover all RNs. As a result, entry-level pay is typically closer to the lower percentiles.
Methodology and Sources
Wage data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, May 2025 reference period (released May 15, 2026). Cost-of-living and year-over-year comparisons come from a Nurse.org analysis of the same BLS data. Please note that figures are estimates and do not include overtime or bonuses. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute career or financial advice.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses · BLS OEWS State Estimates, May 2025 · Nurse.org: Nurse Salary by State (BLS 2025)