2023-07-13 07:00:00
Wondering where you can make the most money as a nurse in 2024? Turns out, the average registered nurse salary varies widely from state to state. The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the difference between the highest and lowest RN salaries is nearly $100,000 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Read on to find out the highest paying states for registered nurses and check out the average RN salary by state.
In This Article
Average Registered Nurse Salary in the United States
Average RN Salary by State Table
Factors That Impact Registered Nurse Salary
Other Considerations
RN Salary FAQs
Conclusion
Many factors impact how much registered nurses make in each state. But how do they stack up against one another? We pulled the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to rank all 50 states, Wahington D.C., and Puerto Rico registered nurse salaries to see where you can make the most as an RN.
Average RN Salary: $37,360
Average Hourly: $17.96
Number of RNs in Puerto Rico: 21,270
Average RN Salary: $64,500
Average Hourly: $31.01
Number of RNs in South Dakota: 14,360
Average RN Salary: $66,530
Average Hourly: $31.98
Number of RNs in Arkansas: 28,490
Average RN Salary: $66,910
Average Hourly: $32.17
Number of RNs in Alabama: 49,370
Average RN Salary: $67,930
Average Hourly: $32.66
Number of RNs in Mississippi: 29,370
Average RN Salary: $69,370
Average Hourly: $33.35
Number of RNs in Iowa: 34,050
Average RN Salary: $71,860
Average Hourly: $34.55
Number of RNs in Missouri: 70,440
Average RN Salary: $71,990
Average Hourly: $34.61
Number of RNs in Kansas: 30,520
Average RN Salary: $72,230
Average Hourly: $34.73
Number of RNs in West Virginia: 21,110
Average RN Salary: $72,480
Average Hourly: $34.85
Number of RNs in Tennessee: 60,840
Average RN Salary: $73,510
Average Hourly: $35.34
Number of RNs in Nebraska: 19,870
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Average RN Salary: $74,330
Average Hourly: $35.74
Number of RNs in South Carolina: 44,030
Average RN Salary: $75,000
Average Hourly: $36.06
Number of RNs in North Dakota: 11,300
Average RN Salary: $75,580
Average Hourly: $36.34
Number of RNs in Indiana: 67,350
Average RN Salary: $75,920
Average Hourly: $36.50
Number of RNs in Louisiana: 43,790
Average RN Salary: $76,400
Average Hourly: $36.73
Number of RNs in Utah: 22,830
Average RN Salary: $76,920
Average Hourly: $36.98
Number of RNs in Oklahoma: 30,320
Average RN Salary: $77,410
Average Hourly: $37.22
Number of RNs in Maine: 14,610
Average RN Salary: $77,420
Average Hourly: $37.22
Number of RNs in North Carolina: 104,300
Average RN Salary: $77,620
Average Hourly: $37.32
Number of RNs in Kentucky: 44,970
Average RN Salary: $78,350
Average Hourly: $37.67
Number of RNs in Montana: 10,020
Average RN Salary: $78,450
Average Hourly: $37.72
Number of RNs in Ohio: 130,370
Average RN Salary: $78,610
Average Hourly: $37.79
Number of RNs in Idaho: 13,680
Average RN Salary: $79,910
Average Hourly: $38.42
Number of RNs in Florida: 197,630
Average RN Salary: $79,990
Average Hourly: $38.46
Number of RNs in Vermont: 6,930
Average RN Salary: $80,630
Average Hourly: $38.76
Number of RNs in Pennsylvania: 137,970
Average RN Salary: $80,660
Average Hourly: $38.78
Number of RNs in Michigan: 101,470
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Average RN Salary: $81,000
Average Hourly: $38.94
Number of RNs in Wisconsin: 61,100
Average RN Salary: $81,010
Average Hourly: $38.95
Number of RNs in Wyoming: 5,070
Average RN Salary: $81,860
Average Hourly: $39.36
Number of RNs in Virginia: 69,510
Average RN Salary: $82,220
Average Hourly: $39.53
Number of RNs in Illinois: 129,390
Average RN Salary: $83,420
Average Hourly: $40.11
Number of RNs in New Hampshire: 13,510
Average RN Salary: $84,320
Average Hourly: $40.54
Number of RNs in Texas: 231,060
Average RN Salary: $85,020
Average Hourly: $40.88
Number of RNs in Delaware: 11,490
Average RN Salary: $85,180
Average Hourly: $40.95
Number of RNs in Georgia: 82,970
Average RN Salary: $85,580
Average Hourly: $41.15
Number of RNs in New Mexico: 15,910
Average RN Salary: $86,590
Average Hourly: $41.63
Number of RNs in Colorado: 52,390
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Average RN Salary: $86,740
Average Hourly: $41.70
Number of RNs in Arizona: 56,040
Average RN Salary: $87,990
Average Hourly: $42.30
Number of RNs in Maryland: 49,790
Average RN Salary: $88,250
Average Hourly: $42.43
Number of RNs in Rhode Island: 11,190
Average RN Salary: $88,860
Average Hourly: $42.72
Number of RNs in Minnesota: 63,800
Average RN Salary: $94,260
Average Hourly: $45.32
Number of RNs in Connecticut: 34,290
Average RN Salary: $96,310
Average Hourly: $46.30
Number of RNs in Nevada: 23,970
Average RN Salary: $96,670
Average Hourly: $46.48
Number of RNs in New Jersey: 78,340
Average RN Salary: $98,230
Average Hourly: $47.23
Number of RNs in DC: 11,820
Average RN Salary: $100,130
Average Hourly: $48.14
Number of RNs in New York: 190,470
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Average RN Salary: $101,670
Average Hourly: $48.88
Number of RNs in Washington: 64,920
Average RN Salary: $103,310
Average Hourly: $49.67
Number of RNs in Alaska: 6,730
Average RN Salary: $104,150
Average Hourly: $50.07
Number of RNs in Massachusetts: 94,100
Average RN Salary: $106,610
Average Hourly: $51.26
Number of RNs in Oregon: 37,400
Average RN Salary: $113,220
Average Hourly: $54.43
Number of RNs in Hawaii: 11,800
Average RN Salary: $133,340
Average Hourly: $64.10
Number of RNs in California: 325,620
*Extracted From BLS July 13, 2023
Here is a table of the average registered nurse salary in all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico:
State
Annual Salary
Hourly Wage
Alabama
$66,910
$32.17
Alaska
$103,310
$49.67
Arizona
$86,740
$41.70
Arkansas
$66,530
$31.98
California
$133,340
$64.10
Colorado
$86,590
$41.63
Connecticut
$94,260
$45.32
Delaware
$85,020
$40.88
District of Columbia
$98,230
$47.23
Florida
$79,910
$38.42
Georgia
$85,180
$40.95
Hawaii
$113,220
$54.43
Idaho
$78,610
$37.79
Illinois
$82,220
$39.53
Indiana
$75,580
$36.34
Iowa
$69,370
$33.35
Kansas
$71,990
$34.61
Kentucky
$77,620
$37.32
Louisiana
$75,920
$36.50
Maine
$77,410
$37.22
Maryland
$87,990
$42.30
Massachusetts
$104,150
$50.07
Michigan
$80,660
$38.78
Minnesota
$88,860
$42.72
Mississippi
$67,930
$32.66
Missouri
$71,860
$34.55
Montana
$78,350
$37.67
Nebraska
$73,510
$35.34
Nevada
$96,310
$46.30
New Hampshire
$83,420
$40.11
New Jersey
$96,670
$46.48
New Mexico
$85,580
$41.15
New York
$100,130
$48.14
North Carolina
$77,420
$37.22
North Dakota
$75,000
$36.06
Ohio
$78,450
$37.72
Oklahoma
$76,920
$36.98
Oregon
$106,610
$51.26
Pennsylvania
$80,630
$38.76
Puerto Rico
$37,360
$17.96
Rhode Island
$88,250
$42.43
South Carolina
$74,330
$35.74
South Dakota
$64,500
$31.01
Tennessee
$72,480
$34.85
Texas
$84,320
$40.54
Utah
$76,400
$36.73
Vermont
$79,990
$38.46
Virginia
$81,860
$39.36
Washington
$101,670
$48.88
West Virginia
$72,230
$34.73
Wisconsin
$81,000
$38.94
Wyoming
$81,010
$38.95
*Extracted From BLS July 13, 2023
The salaries by state listed above represent an average across all types of nurses. So, depending on your specialty, place of work, level of experience, degree, and many other factors, you’ll see some variances in how much you can expect to earn. Here are some of the things you should keep in mind that can impact how much you make:
1. Types of Nurses
Salaries will vary widely depending on your specialty and the nursing job you work in.
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) like nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives can all expect to earn higher salaries than a nurse without a graduate degree.
How you work also plays a big role in the annual salary you can expect to earn. Travel nurses and per diem nurses, for example, tend to earn far more than their traditional nurse counterparts.
2. Years of Experience
Registered nurses, at the start of their careers, will usually make less than nurses with more years of experience under their belts. As you improve your skills and progress in your career, you can expect to see your wages improve as well.
3. Degree Type
Nurses will typically see salary increases when they further their education. Nurses who have earned their Bachelor’s degree (BSN) tend to earn more than nurses who have only earned their Associate’s degree in Nursing (ADN). While a master’s in nursing or a doctorate degree will usually earn nurses even higher salaries.
As a nurse, your salary shouldn’t be the only thing you consider when deciding what field to go into or what job to take.
How far that salary will go will greatly depend on the cost of living in the area. Some of the highest-paying states also cost a lot to live in, meaning that 6 figure salary isn’t going to go nearly as far as it would in a less expensive area. Your registered nurse salary in California might get you a comparable standard of living to a lower salary in Iowa.
You’ll also want to look at things like the job benefits, the hours, what the work-life balance will be, and what their training and education policies are like. Don’t overlook your quality of life!
There are a lot of things at play in the nursing salaries you can expect to earn. And even if you practice in a state with a lower RN salary average, there are always ways to increase your salary and reach your career goals. As you’re planning out your career path, don’t forget to keep all these factors in mind to set yourself up for success!
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