Registered Nurses Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for registered nurses in the United States was $97,550 ($46.90 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| 25th | $80,330 | $38.62 |
| Median | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| 75th | $112,350 | $54.02 |
| 90th | $137,470 | $66.09 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 29-1141
- Total U.S. employment: 3,379,720
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
What the data says
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $68,940, median pay is $97,550, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $137,470.
Across the United States, 3,379,720 registered nurses are employed (— per 1,000 jobs), making this one of the larger occupations in the national economy.
Registered Nurses Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $77,080 | $37.06 | -21.0% | 54,340 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | $52.64 | +12.2% | 7,510 |
| Arizona | $99,500 | $47.84 | +2.0% | 73,150 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | $37.95 | -19.1% | 29,400 |
| California | $140,270 | $67.44 | +43.8% | 338,940 |
| Colorado | $100,260 | $48.20 | +2.8% | 54,490 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | $49.39 | +5.3% | 40,110 |
| Delaware | $99,520 | $47.85 | +2.0% | 14,290 |
| District of Columbia | $102,540 | $49.30 | +5.1% | 11,440 |
| Florida | $84,190 | $40.48 | -13.7% | 229,940 |
| Georgia | $93,550 | $44.98 | -4.1% | 100,950 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | $65.54 | +39.7% | 12,940 |
| Idaho | $92,460 | $44.45 | -5.2% | 16,880 |
| Illinois | $95,990 | $46.15 | -1.6% | 138,910 |
| Indiana | $83,500 | $40.14 | -14.4% | 68,980 |
| Iowa | $78,630 | $37.80 | -19.4% | 34,420 |
| Kansas | $79,320 | $38.14 | -18.7% | 33,800 |
| Kentucky | $81,040 | $38.96 | -16.9% | 50,300 |
| Louisiana | $80,230 | $38.57 | -17.8% | 48,970 |
| Maine | $86,990 | $41.82 | -10.8% | 16,540 |
| Maryland | $99,790 | $47.98 | +2.3% | 52,910 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | $50.27 | +7.2% | 88,200 |
| Michigan | $94,300 | $45.34 | -3.3% | 104,950 |
| Minnesota | $101,510 | $48.80 | +4.1% | 70,110 |
| Mississippi | $77,090 | $37.06 | -21.0% | 29,060 |
| Missouri | $81,780 | $39.32 | -16.2% | 76,310 |
| Montana | $85,280 | $41.00 | -12.6% | 10,950 |
| Nebraska | $84,730 | $40.74 | -13.1% | 24,720 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | $49.84 | +6.3% | 27,070 |
| New Hampshire | $99,700 | $47.93 | +2.2% | 15,390 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | $51.20 | +9.2% | 92,680 |
| New Mexico | $94,340 | $45.36 | -3.3% | 17,980 |
| New York | $109,440 | $52.62 | +12.2% | 205,810 |
| North Carolina | $84,350 | $40.56 | -13.5% | 111,120 |
| North Dakota | $80,730 | $38.81 | -17.2% | 11,340 |
| Ohio | $82,510 | $39.67 | -15.4% | 143,730 |
| Oklahoma | $82,920 | $39.87 | -15.0% | 38,270 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | $62.02 | +32.3% | 39,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,430 | $46.36 | -1.1% | 146,520 |
| Rhode Island | $100,640 | $48.39 | +3.2% | 10,090 |
| South Carolina | $82,360 | $39.60 | -15.6% | 49,750 |
| South Dakota | $78,060 | $37.53 | -20.0% | 14,710 |
| Tennessee | $81,500 | $39.18 | -16.5% | 72,200 |
| Texas | $95,970 | $46.14 | -1.6% | 271,380 |
| Utah | $84,600 | $40.67 | -13.3% | 27,420 |
| Vermont | $97,460 | $46.86 | -0.1% | 7,410 |
| Virginia | $93,600 | $45.00 | -4.0% | 77,490 |
| Washington | $124,200 | $59.71 | +27.3% | 69,260 |
| West Virginia | $80,130 | $38.52 | -17.9% | 23,430 |
| Wisconsin | $95,530 | $45.93 | -2.1% | 68,060 |
| Wyoming | $83,760 | $40.27 | -14.1% | 5,330 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
Related Occupations
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants — $76,590/yr
- Training and Development Specialists — $69,280/yr
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,450/yr
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics — $64,520/yr
- Social and Human Service Assistants — $45,930/yr
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $116,580/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for registered nurses?
The median annual wage for registered nurses is $97,550 ($46.90 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays registered nurses the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many registered nurses are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 3,379,720 registered nurses employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do registered nurses make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $46.90. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.