SOC 29-1141 · BLS occupation: Registered Nurse (RN) · May 2025
Registered Nurse Salary
Registered Nurse (RN)s in the US earn a median of $97,550 a year ($48.76 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Registered Nurse (RN) pay climbed from $77,460 in 2019 to $101,420 in 2025, a +30.9% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$97,550
Half of all Registered Nurse (RN)s in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+30.9% since 2019 · +3.0% YoY
Hourly
$48.76
Job growth 2025-35
+5.6%
US workers
3,379,720
BLS series
Annual median wage for Registered Nurses in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Registered Nurse (RN)s is $68,940 – $137,470.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$68,940
25th
$80,330
Median
$97,550
75th
$112,350
90th
$137,470
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Registered Nurse (RN)s. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $68,940 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $80,330 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $97,550 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $112,350 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $137,470 |
Geography
Registered Nurse (RN) pay by state
Registered Nurse (RN)s earn the most in California ($140,270, +44% against the national median) and the least in Alabama ($77,080). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$97,550
Highest-paying states for registered nurse (rn)s
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $140,270 | +44% | 338,940 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | +40% | 12,940 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | +32% | 39,730 |
| Washington | $124,200 | +27% | 69,260 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | +12% | 7,510 |
| New York | $109,440 | +12% | 205,810 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | +9% | 92,680 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | +7% | 88,200 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | +6% | 27,070 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | +5% | 40,110 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $140,270 | 338,940 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | 12,940 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | 39,730 |
| Washington | $124,200 | 69,260 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | 7,510 |
| New York | $109,440 | 205,810 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | 92,680 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | 88,200 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | 27,070 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | 40,110 |
| D.C. | $102,540 | 11,440 |
| Minnesota | $101,510 | 70,110 |
| Rhode Island | $100,640 | 10,090 |
| Colorado | $100,260 | 54,490 |
| Maryland | $99,790 | 52,910 |
| New Hampshire | $99,700 | 15,390 |
| Delaware | $99,520 | 14,290 |
| Arizona | $99,500 | 73,150 |
| Vermont | $97,460 | 7,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,430 | 146,520 |
| Illinois | $95,990 | 138,910 |
| Texas | $95,970 | 271,380 |
| Wisconsin | $95,530 | 68,060 |
| New Mexico | $94,340 | 17,980 |
| Michigan | $94,300 | 104,950 |
| Virginia | $93,600 | 77,490 |
| Georgia | $93,550 | 100,950 |
| Idaho | $92,460 | 16,880 |
| Maine | $86,990 | 16,540 |
| Montana | $85,280 | 10,950 |
| Nebraska | $84,730 | 24,720 |
| Utah | $84,600 | 27,420 |
| North Carolina | $84,350 | 111,120 |
| Florida | $84,190 | 229,940 |
| Wyoming | $83,760 | 5,330 |
| Indiana | $83,500 | 68,980 |
| Oklahoma | $82,920 | 38,270 |
| Ohio | $82,510 | 143,730 |
| South Carolina | $82,360 | 49,750 |
| Missouri | $81,780 | 76,310 |
| Tennessee | $81,500 | 72,200 |
| Kentucky | $81,040 | 50,300 |
| North Dakota | $80,730 | 11,340 |
| Louisiana | $80,230 | 48,970 |
| West Virginia | $80,130 | 23,430 |
| Kansas | $79,320 | 33,800 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | 29,400 |
| Iowa | $78,630 | 34,420 |
| South Dakota | $78,060 | 14,710 |
| Mississippi | $77,090 | 29,060 |
| Alabama | $77,080 | 54,340 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Registered Nurse (RN)s
Registered nurses provide direct patient care, administer medication, coordinate care plans, and educate patients and families. RNs work in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care, and community settings. Entry requires an ADN or BSN plus passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $68,940 – $137,470. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are California, Hawaii and Oregon. Pay in California runs 1.8 times the level in Alabama, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 180,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Registered Nurse (RN) salary in the US?
How much does a Registered Nurse (RN) make an hour?
How much do Registered Nurse (RN)s make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Registered Nurse (RN)s the most?
Is the average Registered Nurse (RN) salary higher than the median?
Is Registered Nurse (RN) a growing career?
Open positions
Open Registered Nurse (RN) roles hiring now
Browse current Registered Nurse (RN) listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1141. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.