Registered Nurse Salary by State (2024)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 50 states compared · Updated: 2026-03-31
Registered Nurse Salary in All 50 States
Compare Registered Nurse pay across the country. Click any state for the full salary breakdown including percentiles, employment numbers, and related jobs.
| State | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Entry Level | Top Earners | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $140,330 | $148,330 | $100,120 | $208,880 | 326,720 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | $123,720 | $82,380 | $146,480 | 13,100 |
| Oregon | $123,990 | $120,470 | $95,040 | $143,410 | 39,900 |
| Washington | $112,180 | $115,740 | $86,490 | $149,370 | 64,690 |
| Alaska | $110,690 | $112,040 | $82,400 | $137,400 | 7,040 |
| New York | $105,600 | $110,490 | $77,930 | $153,420 | 204,120 |
| New Jersey | $102,730 | $106,990 | $81,670 | $130,540 | 95,150 |
| Nevada | $101,990 | $102,280 | $77,960 | $132,990 | 27,570 |
| Massachusetts | $101,970 | $112,610 | $76,950 | $173,590 | 90,190 |
| Connecticut | $101,590 | $103,670 | $78,660 | $132,840 | 39,020 |
| Minnesota | $100,870 | $99,460 | $75,830 | $128,200 | 64,740 |
| Rhode Island | $99,960 | $99,770 | $72,090 | $128,520 | 10,760 |
| Arizona | $96,890 | $95,230 | $69,930 | $123,480 | 64,430 |
| Maryland | $96,830 | $96,650 | $75,470 | $121,150 | 48,980 |
| New Hampshire | $96,830 | $94,620 | $69,250 | $120,120 | 16,580 |
| Colorado | $96,520 | $95,470 | $76,050 | $121,710 | 54,510 |
| Delaware | $92,610 | $95,450 | $72,850 | $127,340 | 13,260 |
| Texas | $90,010 | $91,690 | $64,660 | $122,060 | 261,050 |
| Virginia | $88,820 | $90,930 | $64,370 | $124,040 | 77,420 |
| New Mexico | $88,260 | $94,360 | $70,630 | $121,200 | 17,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,610 | $90,830 | $67,410 | $116,590 | 146,840 |
| Georgia | $86,560 | $91,960 | $66,110 | $124,810 | 97,410 |
| Illinois | $86,410 | $91,130 | $64,930 | $112,320 | 139,900 |
| Idaho | $86,100 | $89,770 | $65,690 | $118,460 | 14,540 |
| Wisconsin | $86,070 | $90,450 | $74,970 | $109,270 | 64,960 |
| Michigan | $85,670 | $90,580 | $70,150 | $106,770 | 104,210 |
| Vermont | $85,150 | $92,710 | $70,840 | $117,310 | 7,240 |
| Maine | $82,860 | $87,440 | $66,330 | $104,870 | 16,280 |
| Florida | $82,850 | $88,200 | $66,670 | $110,530 | 218,100 |
| Utah | $82,270 | $88,240 | $67,980 | $106,960 | 25,780 |
| North Carolina | $81,860 | $86,270 | $64,180 | $107,110 | 108,510 |
| Wyoming | $81,790 | $88,020 | $64,660 | $108,350 | 5,180 |
| Montana | $81,560 | $88,480 | $67,720 | $109,450 | 10,540 |
| Ohio | $81,250 | $86,110 | $66,060 | $103,650 | 138,360 |
| Oklahoma | $81,160 | $85,800 | $64,110 | $105,320 | 32,870 |
| Nebraska | $81,020 | $82,890 | $63,290 | $101,500 | 24,180 |
| Indiana | $80,740 | $85,850 | $63,720 | $103,820 | 68,950 |
| West Virginia | $79,990 | $80,650 | $53,060 | $106,830 | 21,740 |
| Kentucky | $79,910 | $83,900 | $63,180 | $104,430 | 48,170 |
| South Carolina | $79,900 | $84,930 | $64,200 | $102,040 | 50,300 |
| Missouri | $79,770 | $81,950 | $58,510 | $103,140 | 74,270 |
| Tennessee | $79,030 | $82,010 | $59,540 | $102,040 | 67,990 |
| Louisiana | $78,880 | $84,110 | $62,830 | $111,810 | 46,790 |
| North Dakota | $78,260 | $81,900 | $65,770 | $99,540 | 11,000 |
| Kansas | $78,060 | $79,430 | $60,630 | $97,870 | 32,640 |
| Arkansas | $77,130 | $77,720 | $57,380 | $99,960 | 28,320 |
| Iowa | $76,960 | $77,780 | $62,210 | $98,280 | 33,480 |
| Mississippi | $74,470 | $79,470 | $58,130 | $104,040 | 29,400 |
| Alabama | $71,040 | $74,970 | $53,360 | $98,840 | 53,340 |
| South Dakota | $69,510 | $72,210 | $51,980 | $92,570 | 14,500 |
Data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024. Sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Entry Level = 10th percentile, Top Earners = 90th percentile.
Registered Nurse Salary FAQs
Which state pays Registered Nurses the most?
California pays the highest median salary for Registered Nurses at $140,330 per year, according to 2024 BLS data. The top 5 highest paying states are: California ($140,330), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($123,990), Washington ($112,180), Alaska ($110,690).
What is the average Registered Nurse salary nationally?
The average median Registered Nurse salary across all 50 states is $90,176 per year. The salary ranges from $69,510 in South Dakota to $140,330 in California — a difference of $70,820.
Which state pays Registered Nurses the least?
South Dakota has the lowest median Registered Nurse salary at $69,510 per year. However, cost of living in South Dakota may be lower, so purchasing power could be comparable.