Registered nurse salary by state
The national median for registered nurses is $97,550 a year. By state it runs from $77,080 in Alabama to $140,270 in California, a gap of $63,190.18 of 51 states pay above the national median.
The ten highest-paying states
Every state, highest first
| Rank | State | Median pay | Average pay | Employed | Against national median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $140,270 | $150,280 | 338,940 | +$42,720 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $136,320 | $124,340 | 12,940 | +$38,770 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,010 | $123,140 | 39,730 | +$31,460 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,200 | $121,540 | 69,260 | +$26,650 |
| 5 | Alaska | $109,480 | $114,870 | 7,510 | +$11,930 |
| 6 | New York | $109,440 | $113,440 | 205,810 | +$11,890 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $106,500 | $110,100 | 92,680 | +$8,950 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $104,550 | $117,960 | 88,200 | +$7,000 |
| 9 | Nevada | $103,670 | $105,710 | 27,070 | +$6,120 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $102,740 | $105,250 | 40,110 | +$5,190 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $102,540 | $106,980 | 11,440 | +$4,990 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $101,510 | $103,420 | 70,110 | +$3,960 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $100,640 | $101,260 | 10,090 | +$3,090 |
| 14 | Colorado | $100,260 | $99,370 | 54,490 | +$2,710 |
| 15 | Maryland | $99,790 | $99,010 | 52,910 | +$2,240 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $99,700 | $97,900 | 15,390 | +$2,150 |
| 17 | Delaware | $99,520 | $99,460 | 14,290 | +$1,970 |
| 18 | Arizona | $99,500 | $99,730 | 73,150 | +$1,950 |
| 19 | Vermont | $97,460 | $96,650 | 7,410 | −$90 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $96,430 | $94,020 | 146,520 | −$1,120 |
| 21 | Illinois | $95,990 | $94,360 | 138,910 | −$1,560 |
| 22 | Texas | $95,970 | $95,380 | 271,380 | −$1,580 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $95,530 | $94,690 | 68,060 | −$2,020 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $94,340 | $95,290 | 17,980 | −$3,210 |
| 25 | Michigan | $94,300 | $94,300 | 104,950 | −$3,250 |
| 26 | Virginia | $93,600 | $93,850 | 77,490 | −$3,950 |
| 27 | Georgia | $93,550 | $95,080 | 100,950 | −$4,000 |
| 28 | Idaho | $92,460 | $92,710 | 16,880 | −$5,090 |
| 29 | Maine | $86,990 | $91,700 | 16,540 | −$10,560 |
| 30 | Montana | $85,280 | $91,510 | 10,950 | −$12,270 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $84,730 | $88,330 | 24,720 | −$12,820 |
| 32 | Utah | $84,600 | $90,950 | 27,420 | −$12,950 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $84,350 | $90,470 | 111,120 | −$13,200 |
| 34 | Florida | $84,190 | $90,650 | 229,940 | −$13,360 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $83,760 | $88,600 | 5,330 | −$13,790 |
| 36 | Indiana | $83,500 | $89,150 | 68,980 | −$14,050 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $82,920 | $85,060 | 38,270 | −$14,630 |
| 38 | Ohio | $82,510 | $87,730 | 143,730 | −$15,040 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $82,360 | $87,670 | 49,750 | −$15,190 |
| 40 | Missouri | $81,780 | $85,900 | 76,310 | −$15,770 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $81,500 | $85,390 | 72,200 | −$16,050 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $81,040 | $86,140 | 50,300 | −$16,510 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $80,730 | $83,600 | 11,340 | −$16,820 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $80,230 | $84,190 | 48,970 | −$17,320 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $80,130 | $86,970 | 23,430 | −$17,420 |
| 46 | Kansas | $79,320 | $82,360 | 33,800 | −$18,230 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $78,940 | $81,520 | 29,400 | −$18,610 |
| 48 | Iowa | $78,630 | $80,540 | 34,420 | −$18,920 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $78,060 | $77,140 | 14,710 | −$19,490 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $77,090 | $78,950 | 29,060 | −$20,460 |
| 51 | Alabama | $77,080 | $77,020 | 54,340 | −$20,470 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 29-1141. Pay is before tax and not adjusted for cost of living.