Registered nurses salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Mean (average) | $101,420 | $48.76 |
| 90th percentile | $137,470 | $66.09 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Registered nurses pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $77,080 | $58,150 | $98,910 | 54,340 | 1.18 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | $85,030 | $149,070 | 7,510 | 1.06 |
| Arizona | $99,500 | $70,540 | $130,930 | 73,150 | 1.04 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | $60,780 | $103,660 | 29,400 | 1.04 |
| California | $140,270 | $101,260 | $213,320 | 338,940 | 0.86 |
| Colorado | $100,260 | $79,500 | $124,940 | 54,490 | 0.87 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | $80,350 | $134,870 | 40,110 | 1.09 |
| Delaware | $99,520 | $78,340 | $123,860 | 14,290 | 1.36 |
| District of Columbia | $102,540 | $79,390 | $151,170 | 11,440 | 0.75 |
| Florida | $84,190 | $67,970 | $120,330 | 229,940 | 1.07 |
| Georgia | $93,550 | $68,920 | $128,640 | 100,950 | 0.95 |
| Guam | Data unavailable | 690 | 0.47 | ||
| Hawaii | $136,320 | $82,500 | $147,830 | 12,940 | 0.95 |
| Idaho | $92,460 | $71,210 | $121,230 | 16,880 | 0.91 |
| Illinois | $95,990 | $69,170 | $118,190 | 138,910 | 1.05 |
| Indiana | $83,500 | $66,750 | $105,750 | 68,980 | 0.99 |
| Iowa | $78,630 | $63,840 | $100,500 | 34,420 | 1.02 |
| Kansas | $79,320 | $63,180 | $100,840 | 33,800 | 1.08 |
| Kentucky | $81,040 | $64,170 | $111,750 | 50,300 | 1.16 |
| Louisiana | $80,230 | $63,800 | $104,740 | 48,970 | 1.16 |
| Maine | $86,990 | $74,160 | $106,950 | 16,540 | 1.19 |
| Maryland | $99,790 | $76,780 | $124,790 | 52,910 | 0.88 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | $80,310 | $174,510 | 88,200 | 1.12 |
| Michigan | $94,300 | $77,260 | $116,710 | 104,950 | 1.1 |
| Minnesota | $101,510 | $79,960 | $132,430 | 70,110 | 1.09 |
| Mississippi | $77,090 | $60,610 | $100,350 | 29,060 | 1.15 |
| Missouri | $81,780 | $63,230 | $104,390 | 76,310 | 1.2 |
| Montana | $85,280 | $70,120 | $113,920 | 10,950 | 0.99 |
| Nebraska | $84,730 | $66,020 | $106,190 | 24,720 | 1.11 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | $79,500 | $133,270 | 27,070 | 0.8 |
| New Hampshire | $99,700 | $75,610 | $123,190 | 15,390 | 1.04 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | $83,060 | $135,170 | 92,680 | 0.99 |
| New Mexico | $94,340 | $74,300 | $123,540 | 17,980 | 0.95 |
| New York | $109,440 | $79,760 | $157,090 | 205,810 | 0.98 |
| North Carolina | $84,350 | $67,660 | $110,220 | 111,120 | 1.03 |
| North Dakota | $80,730 | $65,520 | $103,480 | 11,340 | 1.21 |
| Ohio | $82,510 | $66,980 | $105,290 | 143,730 | 1.19 |
| Oklahoma | $82,920 | $60,530 | $106,390 | 38,270 | 1.03 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | $95,280 | $155,010 | 39,730 | 0.93 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,430 | $70,800 | $117,900 | 146,520 | 1.11 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,880 | $35,120 | $60,180 | 21,270 | 1.04 |
| Rhode Island | $100,640 | $77,410 | $129,840 | 10,090 | 0.93 |
| South Carolina | $82,360 | $66,860 | $106,520 | 49,750 | 0.99 |
| South Dakota | $78,060 | $54,040 | $98,220 | 14,710 | 1.48 |
| Tennessee | $81,500 | $63,970 | $104,920 | 72,200 | 1.01 |
| Texas | $95,970 | $67,120 | $127,950 | 271,380 | 0.89 |
| Utah | $84,600 | $68,920 | $109,050 | 27,420 | 0.73 |
| Vermont | $97,460 | $77,670 | $126,100 | 7,410 | 1.12 |
| Virgin Islands | $84,120 | $63,250 | $102,250 | 470 | 0.67 |
| Virginia | $93,600 | $67,830 | $125,580 | 77,490 | 0.87 |
| Washington | $124,200 | $89,630 | $161,910 | 69,260 | 0.9 |
| West Virginia | $80,130 | $57,210 | $131,760 | 23,430 | 1.54 |
| Wisconsin | $95,530 | $77,470 | $119,860 | 68,060 | 1.06 |
| Wyoming | $83,760 | $65,770 | $107,350 | 5,330 | 0.87 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for registered nurses
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 180,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for registered nurses
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse CIP 51.3801
- Nursing Administration CIP 51.3802
- Adult Health Nurse/Nursing CIP 51.3803
- Family Practice Nurse/Nursing CIP 51.3805
- Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing CIP 51.3806
- Nursing Science CIP 51.3808
- Pediatric Nurse/Nursing CIP 51.3809
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing CIP 51.3810
- Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing CIP 51.3811
- Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing CIP 51.3812
- Clinical Nurse Specialist CIP 51.3813
- Critical Care Nursing CIP 51.3814
- Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing CIP 51.3815
- Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing CIP 51.3816
- Nursing Practice CIP 51.3818
- Palliative Care Nursing CIP 51.3819
- Clinical Nurse Leader CIP 51.3820
- Geriatric Nurse/Nursing CIP 51.3821
- Women's Health Nurse/Nursing CIP 51.3822
- Forensic Nursing CIP 51.3824
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other CIP 51.3899
Licenses and certifications
Registered Nurse License (Connecticut)
Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations
NCLEX-RN Examination
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
Requirements for regulated professions are set by each state. Always confirm with the state regulator.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
Technology skills
- Apache Spark (hot technology)
- Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Henry Schein Dentrix (hot technology)
- Kronos Workforce Timekeeper (hot technology)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Instructing.
Common job titles: Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR), Charge Nurse, Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse), Oncology RN (Oncology Registered Nurse), Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN), Psychiatric RN (Psychiatric Registered Nurse), Relief Charge Nurse, School Nurse, Staff Nurse, Staff RN (Staff Registered Nurse).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do registered nurses make?
The national median annual wage for registered nurses was $97,550 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $68,940 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $137,470. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do registered nurses need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is registered nurses a growing career?
BLS projects employment of registered nurses to change +5.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 180,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay registered nurses the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($140,270), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($129,010). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.