Registered Nurse (RN) Salary Directory by State
Evaluating the financial return on investment (ROI) of nursing education requires analyzing regional compensation data alongside estimated program tuitions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, Registered Nurses earn a national mean wage of $97,550 annually, or approximately $46.90 per hour.
State-by-State Compensation Rankings
Ranked from highest to lowest mean annual RN compensation based on federal labor statistics.
| Rank & State | Annual Mean | Hourly Mean | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 California | $140,270 | $67.44/hr | 656 Schools |
| #2 Hawaii | $136,320 | $65.54/hr | 23 Schools |
| #3 Oregon | $129,010 | $62.02/hr | 67 Schools |
| #4 Washington | $124,200 | $59.71/hr | 92 Schools |
| #5 Alaska | $109,480 | $52.63/hr | 11 Schools |
| #6 New York | $109,440 | $52.62/hr | 402 Schools |
| #7 New Jersey | $106,500 | $51.20/hr | 147 Schools |
| #8 Massachusetts | $104,550 | $50.26/hr | 140 Schools |
| #9 Nevada | $103,670 | $49.84/hr | 39 Schools |
| #10 Connecticut | $102,740 | $49.39/hr | 52 Schools |
| #11 Minnesota | $101,510 | $48.80/hr | 93 Schools |
| #12 Rhode Island | $100,640 | $48.38/hr | 20 Schools |
| #13 Colorado | $100,260 | $48.20/hr | 84 Schools |
| #14 Maryland | $99,790 | $47.98/hr | 76 Schools |
| #15 New Hampshire | $99,700 | $47.93/hr | 31 Schools |
| #16 Delaware | $99,520 | $47.85/hr | 15 Schools |
| #17 Arizona | $99,500 | $47.84/hr | 112 Schools |
| #18 Vermont | $97,460 | $46.86/hr | 15 Schools |
| #19 Pennsylvania | $96,430 | $46.36/hr | 302 Schools |
| #20 Illinois | $95,990 | $46.15/hr | 222 Schools |
| #21 Texas | $95,970 | $46.14/hr | 396 Schools |
| #22 Wisconsin | $95,530 | $45.93/hr | 79 Schools |
| #23 New Mexico | $94,340 | $45.36/hr | 45 Schools |
| #24 Michigan | $94,300 | $45.34/hr | 161 Schools |
| #25 Virginia | $93,600 | $45.00/hr | 140 Schools |
| #26 Georgia | $93,550 | $44.98/hr | 142 Schools |
| #27 Idaho | $92,460 | $44.45/hr | 35 Schools |
| #28 Maine | $86,990 | $41.82/hr | 34 Schools |
| #29 Montana | $85,280 | $41.00/hr | 28 Schools |
| #30 Nebraska | $84,730 | $40.74/hr | 41 Schools |
| #31 Utah | $84,600 | $40.67/hr | 61 Schools |
| #32 North Carolina | $84,350 | $40.55/hr | 158 Schools |
| #33 Florida | $84,190 | $40.48/hr | 311 Schools |
| #34 Wyoming | $83,760 | $40.27/hr | 11 Schools |
| #35 Indiana | $83,500 | $40.14/hr | 105 Schools |
| #36 Oklahoma | $82,920 | $39.87/hr | 95 Schools |
| #37 Ohio | $82,510 | $39.67/hr | 269 Schools |
| #38 South Carolina | $82,360 | $39.60/hr | 86 Schools |
| #39 Missouri | $81,780 | $39.32/hr | 134 Schools |
| #40 Tennessee | $81,500 | $39.18/hr | 138 Schools |
| #41 Kentucky | $81,040 | $38.96/hr | 85 Schools |
| #42 North Dakota | $80,730 | $38.81/hr | 25 Schools |
| #43 Louisiana | $80,230 | $38.57/hr | 108 Schools |
| #44 West Virginia | $80,130 | $38.52/hr | 66 Schools |
| #45 Kansas | $79,320 | $38.13/hr | 74 Schools |
| #46 Arkansas | $78,940 | $37.95/hr | 77 Schools |
| #47 Iowa | $78,630 | $37.80/hr | 75 Schools |
| #48 South Dakota | $78,060 | $37.53/hr | 25 Schools |
| #49 Mississippi | $77,090 | $37.06/hr | 54 Schools |
| #50 Alabama | $77,080 | $37.06/hr | 76 Schools |
Key Variables Determining RN Compensation
While state averages establish baseline expectations, actual compensation is driven by clinical, institutional, and geographic factors:
Academic Preparation (ADN vs. BSN)
While both Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates take the identical NCLEX-RN exam, BSN graduates frequently access higher starting wage steps, clinical ladder incentives, and specialized units. Hospitals pursuing Magnet status often tie promotions directly to baccalaureate credentials. Explore bridging through an RN-to-BSN program.
Inpatient Clinical Specialty
High-acuity environments—such as Intensive Care Units (ICU), Emergency Departments (ED), Operating Rooms (OR), and Labor & Delivery—offer differential pay rates, critical care certification bonuses (e.g., CCRN, CEN), and enhanced on-call stipends compared to ambulatory outpatient settings.
Shift Differentials & Overtime
Hospitals provide significant percentage-based shift differentials for night shifts (often 10%–18% above base pay), weekend rotations, and charge nurse assignments. These differentials can meaningfully increase an entry-level nurse's total annual earnings.
Geographic Cost of Living & Unions
States like California, Oregon, and Washington feature higher wages alongside mandatory nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and collective bargaining agreements. These factors protect working conditions and establish structured wage ladders tied directly to years of service.
Evaluating Tuition Cost Against Career Earnings
Tuition across nursing education varies widely, from low-cost community college ADN programs ($6,000–$14,000 total) to private accelerated bachelor's tracks exceeding $60,000. Prior to taking on substantial educational debt, verify that your prospective program holds programmatic accreditation from either CCNE or ACEN, as discussed in our Nursing Accreditation Guide. Graduation from an accredited institution remains the foundational prerequisite for licensure, federal employment, and military healthcare systems.