How Much Do Registered Nurses Make?
No matter how much passion drives someone to become a nurse, knowing how much pay to expect is an important aspect of that choice. Registered nursing salaries fall into a wide range depending on experience, workplace, specialty, education level, and geographic location.
Registered nurses (RNs) earn more than the average U.S. salary, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). RN salaries are also expected to grow as the baby boomer generation ages and demand increases. This guide will walk any prospective nurse through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on how to maximize earning potential in this field.
Just the Highlights: Registered Nurse Salaries
Registered nurses can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:
New York State
$134,000
San Francisco, CA
$149,200
Critical Care (ICU) Nurse
$118,725
CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist)
$259,707
These numbers are averages, and when you combine factors, they can vary enormously. For example, an ICU RN working in New York City may make $134,000 a year, but the same role in Florida can expect closer to $77,751.
How Much Do Registered Nurses Make?
Registered nurses make an average of $89,010 in the U.S., according to the BLS. Compared to other occupations, RNs make about $20,000 more annually than the national average of $59,428, according to a report from Forbes.
Hourly pay for RNs averages $42.79, but wages can vary depending on the situation.
Registered nurse average annual salary
$89,010
Registered nurse average hourly wage
$42.79
Many registered nurses work in 12-hour shifts, and during “normal working hours,” they earn their base salary. Any hours worked in the evening, night, or weekends come with an hourly pay increase. Hospitals may also offer extra shifts with bonuses attached.
Based on the details laid out in this guide, an RN’s salary can range from the lower average of $53,410 to an above average $116,230 according to BLS data. According to Zip Recruiter, RNs may earn as little as $36,000 a year to as much as $136,000.
Here’s how the registered nurse pay bell curve plays out according to the BLS:
Registered Nurse Salary, by Percentile
How Education Affects Registered Nurse Salaries
Aspiring nurses can get their registered nurse designation a few different ways. An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) offers a shorter option, typically finished in two years. To get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), students attend four years of nursing school. Some BSN programs offer an accelerated option, which can be finished in as little as a year.
When nurses graduate with an ADN and pass their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), they receive an RN designation, similar to a nurse who achieves a BSN. However, RNs with a BSN will receive higher pay than those with an ADN, and some employers require their nurses to have a BSN degree.
Further levels of education, like a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), raise a registered nurse’s salary incrementally.
Registered Nurse Salary, by Education
Sources: Maryville University, BLS, Zip Recruiter
*Figure represents CRNA salary average, which requires a DNP
How Specialty Certification Affects Registered Nurse Salaries
A nurse with specialty experience offers more value to a medical facility than a new nurse with no experience, and nursing pay reflects that value. Once a nurse has some experience in their field, they can apply to test for certification in that specialty.
Nurses can test for specialty certification through various governing organizations, like the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification. A nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can cause a pay raise.
Some certifications offer higher pay than others, and the highest include occupational health, primary care, nephrology, and psychiatry.
Average Salary by Occupation
Source: The National Nursing Workforce Survey
Location and Registered Nurse Salaries
When it comes to location, employers base their salary offerings on cost of living in the area and their current demand for registered nurses. The West Coast and northeastern states pay registered nurses the most and some Midwest and southeast states pay the least. Some locations have more nurse unionization, which can also mean higher salaries.
| Average Salary by State |
|---|
| State | Average Salary |
| Alabama | $70,000 |
| Alaska | $85,000 |
| Arizona | $81,000 |
| Arkansas | $70,765 |
| California | $104,000 |
| Colorado | $79,000 |
| Connecticut | $86,500 |
| Delaware | $80,000 |
| Florida | $77,751 |
| Georgia | $80,000 |
| Hawaii | $100,000 |
| Idaho | $73,000 |
| Illinois | $79,000 |
| Indiana | $75,000 |
| Iowa | $68,000 |
| Kansas | $73,000 |
| Kentucky | $74,000 |
| Louisiana | $78,000 |
| Maine | $75,000 |
| Maryland | $80,000 |
| Massachusetts | $83,000 |
| Michigan | $78,000 |
| Minnesota | $77,000 |
| Mississippi | $73,000 |
| Missouri | $81,000 |
| Montana | $74,800 |
| Nebraska | $70,441 |
| Nevada | $83,750 |
| New Hampshire | $75,000 |
| New Jersey | $88,000 |
| New Mexico | $81,125 |
| New York | $90,000 |
| North Carolina | $78,316 |
| North Dakota | $70,000 |
| Ohio | $74,000 |
| Oklahoma | $75,000 |
| Oregon | $91,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,000 |
| Rhode Island | $82,000 |
| South Carolina | $78,000 |
| South Dakota | $71,025 |
| Tennessee | $70,000 |
| Texas | $80,000 |
| Utah | $73,000 |
| Vermont | $76,000 |
| Virginia | $79,000 |
| Washington | $86,000 |
| Washington DC | $90,000 |
| West Virginia | $72,000 |
| Wisconsin | $75,000 |
| Wyoming | $81,000 |
Source: The National Nursing Workforce Survey
Top-Paying Registered Nurse Salaries by City
Registered nursing salaries follow the same pattern as other occupations around the country. Nurses, retail workers, and mail carriers all make more working in New York City than they would in a small rural town in the southeast.
Cities have more hospitals, a higher cost of living, and more demand for health services. Because of these factors, larger hospitals in big cities can usually pay more than smaller community hospitals.
| Highest Paying Cities in the US |
|---|
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $54.38 | $113,120 |
| Modesto, CA | $58.22 | $121,090 |
| Redding, CA | $53.78 | $111,860 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $64.59 | $134,350 |
| Salinas, CA | $63.54 | $132,160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $71.73 | $149,200 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $60.02 | $124,840 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $55.70 | $115,860 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $68.34 | $142,140 |
Source: BLS
Workplace Type and Registered Nurse Salaries
Registered nurses who work in acute care can earn more than nurses who work in settings like long-term care. In acute settings, patients are sicker and more is required of nurses assigned to their care. Nurses can also make more money in the business world, consulting and serving as executives.
| Average Salary by Industry |
|---|
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $51.62 | $107,360 |
| Employment Services | $52.43 | $109,050 |
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation | $52.48 | $109,160 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $53.01 | $110,270 |
Source: BLS
How Fast Can a Registered Nurse’s Salary Grow?
A registered nurse’s salary can grow fast, depending on professional development. In certain workplaces, management offers incentives to get certifications, lead or take part in committees, and get on a management track.
Registered nursing pay also rises with each year of experience. Most medical facilities offer an hourly rate to new hires based on years of experience. So, even if a nurse changes positions or facilities, their pay should remain the same if the facilities are comparable.
According to Salary.com, here’s how much registered nurses can make based on position:
| Average Salary by Occupation |
|---|
| Position | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Staff Nurse RN II | $39.39 | $81,928 |
| Staff Nurse RN -- Occupational Health | $43.60 | $90,685 |
| Telemedicine Registered Nurse | $44.34 | $92,228 |
| Charge Nurse | $46.59 | $96,914 |
| Staff Nurse RN III | $46.65 | $97,033 |
How to Increase Your Earnings as a Registered Nurse
Any nurse can improve their salary by taking certain steps toward elevating their professional status. The nursing field in the U.S. is on the rise and the BLS reports an expected growth rate of 6% through 2032. We’ve laid out some simple tips below to supercharge any nursing career.
1
Get Certified
Professional certifications add a level of confidence and desirability for any employer. A current employer may increase pay to keep a certified RN, and a prospective employer will choose an RN with certification over another without.
2
Go Back to School
For registered nurses with an ADN, many universities offer bridge programs to obtain a BSN. Nurses may also pursue higher degrees like an MSN or DNP for even higher salaries.
3
Try Management
When registered nurses take on more responsibility, their pay goes up. Nurses can take charge nurse shifts or offer to arrange the staffing schedule. They can join or lead a facility committee to demonstrate leadership qualities and make themselves indispensable.
Once RNs show they can handle extra responsibilities, they can even pursue a management role, like assistant nurse manager, nurse educator, or nursing executive, all of which involve a higher salary.
4
Evaluate Your Work Setting
RNs who work in nursing homes or lower-paying specialties and are unhappy with their compensation can look to more acute care settings for a higher salary. Many nurses make the jump from long-term to acute care and enjoy the pay hike that comes with it.
Registered Nursing (RN) Salaries FAQs
What roles offer the highest pay for nurses?
The highest-paid registered nurses are CRNAs, who make an average of $259,707 a year. Registered nurses without a higher degree may earn the most in occupational health or primary care.
What do registered nurses make per hour?
Registered nurses make an average of $42.79 an hour. This can increase or decrease based on experience, location, role, and specialty.
What can I expect to be paid in my first job as a registered nurse?
According to Salary.com, new graduates can expect to make between $63,838 and $81,348 per year in their first job. As with all other nursing salaries, pay depends on multiple factors.
