Registered Nurse Salary by State (May 2025)
Registered nurses in the U.S. earned a median of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies widely by state: California leads at $140,270, while Alabama is lowest at $77,080. 18 of the 50 states and D.C. are above the national median.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), retrieved 2026-10-22. Staff jobs in all settings; travel-contract stipends are not included.
RN salary in every state, ranked by median
Select a state for its pay range by percentile, a median paycheck with federal taxes, neighboring states and travel vs staff pay.
| # | State | Median salary | Median hourly | Top 10% earn | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $140,270 | $67.44 | $213,320+ | 338,940 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $136,320 | $65.54 | $147,830+ | 12,940 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,010 | $62.02 | $155,010+ | 39,730 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,200 | $59.71 | $161,910+ | 69,260 |
| 5 | Alaska | $109,480 | $52.64 | $149,070+ | 7,510 |
| 6 | New York | $109,440 | $52.62 | $157,090+ | 205,810 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $106,500 | $51.20 | $135,170+ | 92,680 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $104,550 | $50.27 | $174,510+ | 88,200 |
| 9 | Nevada | $103,670 | $49.84 | $133,270+ | 27,070 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $102,740 | $49.39 | $134,870+ | 40,110 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $102,540 | $49.30 | $151,170+ | 11,440 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $101,510 | $48.80 | $132,430+ | 70,110 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $100,640 | $48.39 | $129,840+ | 10,090 |
| 14 | Colorado | $100,260 | $48.20 | $124,940+ | 54,490 |
| 15 | Maryland | $99,790 | $47.98 | $124,790+ | 52,910 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $99,700 | $47.93 | $123,190+ | 15,390 |
| 17 | Delaware | $99,520 | $47.85 | $123,860+ | 14,290 |
| 18 | Arizona | $99,500 | $47.84 | $130,930+ | 73,150 |
| 19 | Vermont | $97,460 | $46.86 | $126,100+ | 7,410 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $96,430 | $46.36 | $117,900+ | 146,520 |
| 21 | Illinois | $95,990 | $46.15 | $118,190+ | 138,910 |
| 22 | Texas | $95,970 | $46.14 | $127,950+ | 271,380 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $95,530 | $45.93 | $119,860+ | 68,060 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $94,340 | $45.36 | $123,540+ | 17,980 |
| 25 | Michigan | $94,300 | $45.34 | $116,710+ | 104,950 |
| 26 | Virginia | $93,600 | $45.00 | $125,580+ | 77,490 |
| 27 | Georgia | $93,550 | $44.98 | $128,640+ | 100,950 |
| 28 | Idaho | $92,460 | $44.45 | $121,230+ | 16,880 |
| 29 | Maine | $86,990 | $41.82 | $106,950+ | 16,540 |
| 30 | Montana | $85,280 | $41.00 | $113,920+ | 10,950 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $84,730 | $40.74 | $106,190+ | 24,720 |
| 32 | Utah | $84,600 | $40.67 | $109,050+ | 27,420 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $84,350 | $40.56 | $110,220+ | 111,120 |
| 34 | Florida | $84,190 | $40.48 | $120,330+ | 229,940 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $83,760 | $40.27 | $107,350+ | 5,330 |
| 36 | Indiana | $83,500 | $40.14 | $105,750+ | 68,980 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $82,920 | $39.87 | $106,390+ | 38,270 |
| 38 | Ohio | $82,510 | $39.67 | $105,290+ | 143,730 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $82,360 | $39.60 | $106,520+ | 49,750 |
| 40 | Missouri | $81,780 | $39.32 | $104,390+ | 76,310 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $81,500 | $39.18 | $104,920+ | 72,200 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $81,040 | $38.96 | $111,750+ | 50,300 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $80,730 | $38.81 | $103,480+ | 11,340 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $80,230 | $38.57 | $104,740+ | 48,970 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $80,130 | $38.52 | $131,760+ | 23,430 |
| 46 | Kansas | $79,320 | $38.14 | $100,840+ | 33,800 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $78,940 | $37.95 | $103,660+ | 29,400 |
| 48 | Iowa | $78,630 | $37.80 | $100,500+ | 34,420 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $78,060 | $37.53 | $98,220+ | 14,710 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $77,090 | $37.06 | $100,350+ | 29,060 |
| 51 | Alabama | $77,080 | $37.06 | $98,910+ | 54,340 |
| United States | $97,550 | $46.90 | $137,470+ | 3,379,720 |
Median vs average nurse pay
The national average (mean) RN wage was $101,420, $3,870 above the median. A few very high earners — often in California, other West Coast states and large metro hospitals — pull the average up, so the median is the better guide to what a typical nurse earns. Half of U.S. registered nurses earned between $80,330 and $112,350.
Higher pay is not always more take-home
High-paying states usually have high rents and, in many cases, state income tax. Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — levy no state income tax on wages, which each state page accounts for in its paycheck table. Elsewhere we show federal tax and FICA and say plainly that state tax is not included, rather than guess a rate.
Staff pay vs travel nurse pay
BLS covers staff nurses. Travel nurses are typically paid a lower taxable rate plus tax-free housing and meal stipends, capped by the GSA per diem for the assignment location and only allowed with a qualifying tax home. To compare a travel offer with a staff job, use the staff vs travel break-even calculator, or see how much travel nurses make and per diem rates by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in the U.S.?
The median annual wage for registered nurses was $97,550 ($46.90 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average was $101,420. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $68,940 and the highest-paid 10% over $137,470.
Which state pays registered nurses the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest-paying states and D.C. were California ($140,270), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($129,010), Washington ($124,200), Alaska ($109,480).
Which state pays registered nurses the least?
The lowest RN medians in May 2025 were in Alabama ($77,080), Mississippi ($77,090), South Dakota ($78,060), Iowa ($78,630), Arkansas ($78,940). Lower pay often comes with a lower cost of living, so compare take-home pay against local rent before moving.
Which states employ the most registered nurses?
The largest RN workforces in May 2025 were California (338,940), Texas (271,380), Florida (229,940), New York (205,810), Pennsylvania (146,520).
Is this the same as travel nurse pay?
No. BLS measures staff (wage-and-salary) nurses. Travel nurses are usually paid a lower taxable hourly rate plus tax-free housing and meal stipends capped by GSA per diem rates, which only apply with a qualifying tax home. See our travel nurse pay pages and calculators for that side.