Median Salary
$97,550
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$46.90
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$137,470
entry level starts ~$68,940
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 3,380,000 employed
How much does a Registered Nurse make?
A Registered Nurse earns a median annual salary of $97,550 in the United States, which works out to roughly $46.90 per hour for full-time work. Most Registered Nurses earn between $68,940 at the entry level and $137,470 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $80,330 and $112,350 a year.
That is $36,160 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Registered Nurse salary range by percentile
Half of all Registered Nurses earn between $80,330 and $112,350 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,940 | $33.14 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $80,330 | $38.62 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $97,550 | $46.90 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $112,350 | $54.01 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,470 | $66.09 |
|
Highest-paying states for Registered Nurse
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Registered Nurse pay at $140,270 a year, followed by Hawaii ($136,320) and Oregon ($129,010). At the other end, Alabama posts the lowest median at $77,080 — a gap of $63,190 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Registered Nurse salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
California $140,270Hawaii $136,320Oregon $129,010Washington $124,200Alaska $109,480New York $109,440New Jersey $106,500Massachusetts $104,550Nevada $103,670Connecticut $102,740District of Columbia $102,540Minnesota $101,510Rhode Island $100,640Colorado $100,260Maryland $99,790New Hampshire $99,700Delaware $99,520Arizona $99,500Vermont $97,460Pennsylvania $96,430Illinois $95,990Texas $95,970Wisconsin $95,530New Mexico $94,340Michigan $94,300Virginia $93,600Georgia $93,550Idaho $92,460Maine $86,990Montana $85,280Nebraska $84,730Utah $84,600North Carolina $84,350Florida $84,190Wyoming $83,760Indiana $83,500Oklahoma $82,920Ohio $82,510South Carolina $82,360Missouri $81,780Tennessee $81,500Kentucky $81,040North Dakota $80,730Louisiana $80,230West Virginia $80,130Kansas $79,320Arkansas $78,940Iowa $78,630South Dakota $78,060Mississippi $77,090Alabama $77,080
Workforce and education
About 3,380,000 people work as Registered Nurses in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $101,420 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Registered Nurse make in the United States?
The median Registered Nurse salary in the United States is $97,550 per year, or about $46.90 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $68,940, while the top 10% of earners make $137,470 or more.
How does Registered Nurse pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Registered Nurse median of $97,550 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Registered Nurses the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Registered Nurses, with a median salary of $140,270 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Registered Nurse?
Becoming a Registered Nurse typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Registered Nurses work in the United States?
About 3,380,000 people were employed as Registered Nurses in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other healthcare roles with similar pay.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.