Let’s cut to the chase.
You’re here to find the top states for nurse salaries. We’ll see and raise your intention.
You’ll also find:
- Highest nurse salaries adjusted for cost of living
- Best-paying compact states for RNs
- Entry-level RN salary in 2026 (in the highest-paying states)
- Average hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual RN pay—and typical variations
The data on average RN wages in this article is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Weekly estimates are based on 40-hour workweeks, and annual estimates are based on 2,080 work hours. Annual salaries are rounded by the BLS and may slightly deviate from exact hourly-to-annual calculations. Estimates do not include self-employed workers, who typically earn higher hourly wages.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 registered nurse salary rankings by state.
How much do RNs make in the US?
Here are the national average wages for RNs in the United States:
- Hourly: $48.76
- Weekly: $1,950.40
- Monthly: $8,451.67
- Annually: $101,420
However, RN salaries can vary widely due to numerous factors, including location and industry.
For instance, the national average RN wage increases to $129,260 for RNs working in the federal executive branch. Even in more typical healthcare settings, RN wages can vary significantly. For example, RNs make, on average, $112,690 per year in outpatient care centers but only $104,360, on average, in general medical and surgical hospitals.
The most significant factor in determining RN income is, arguably, a nurse’s location. Nurses working in the best-paying states can make about double (over $70,000 more per year) what registered nurses in one of the lowest-paying states, such as Alabama, make.
On that note, learn more about the highest nurse salaries by state.
1. California: $150,280
With an average annual salary of $150,280, the Golden State is the highest-paying state for registered nurses.
How much does an RN make in California?
The average RN in California can expect to earn the following income:
- Average hourly rate: $72.25
- Average weekly rate: $2,890.00
- Average monthly rate: $12,523.33
- Average annual rate: $150,280
How much do the highest-paid RNs make in California?
Evidently, the averages don’t reflect RN entry-level salaries nor the salaries of the highest-paid RNs in the state. With this in mind, RNs can estimate the salary they might make in California by considering the following wage percentiles:
- 10th percentile: $101,260
- 25th percentile: $122,440
- 50th percentile: $140,270
- 75th percentile: $173,170
- 90th percentile: $213,320
Based on these figures, an entry-level RN position in California in one of the lowest-paying cities and industries will typically pay up to $101,260 annually. In contrast, a registered nurse with 5 or more years of specialized work experience in one of the highest-paying cities and industries may earn a salary of over $213,320 annually.
In either case, California offers unparalleled compensation for RNs.
Highest-paying cities for nurses in California
Not surprisingly, the highest-paying cities in the United States are all in California. Here are the top-paying cities in the US for RNs and the average annual wages registered nurses make in these locations:
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: $194,950
- Vallejo: $182,820
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont: $176,900
- Santa Rosa-Petaluma: $170,000
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom: $164,200
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $159,830
- Yuba City: $150,970
- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles: $147,410
- Stockton-Lodi: $145,400
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad: $145,060
2. Hawaii: $124,340
There is more good news for beach lovers: Hawaii is the second-best-paying state for RNs, with an average annual income of $124,340.
How much does an RN make in Hawaii?
The average RN in Hawaii can expect to earn the following wages:
- Average hourly rate: $59.78
- Average weekly rate: $2,391.20
- Average monthly rate: $10,361.67
- Average annual rate: $124,340
Highest- and lowest-paid RNs in Hawaii
Since the average may not match many nurses’ pay, here are typical RN wages in Hawaii broken down into percentiles:
- 10th percentile: $82,500
- 25th percentile: $101,200
- 50th percentile: $136,320
- 75th percentile: $144,140
- 90th percentile: $147,830
Based on this data, new RNs looking for nursing jobs in Hawaii can estimate that they will initially be in the lowest percentile. However, the vast majority of RNs in Hawaii earn 6-figure salaries.
Highest-paying cities for nurses in Hawaii
Here’s how much RNs make on average in the highest-paying cities in Hawaii:
- Kahului-Wailuku: $127,320
- Urban Honolulu: $124,740
3. Oregon: $123,140
With the enviable average RN salary of $123,140, Oregon ranks third on the list of the highest-paid states for registered nurses.
How much do RNs make in Oregon?
The average RN in Oregon can expect to earn the following wages:
- Average hourly rate: $59.20
- Average weekly rate: $2,368.00
- Average monthly rate: $10,261.67
- Average annual rate: $123,140
Typical RN salary range in Oregon
Although the overall average RN salary in Oregon is $123,140, pay can vary significantly across the state. The following percentiles show the typical wage variations in Oregon:
- 10th percentile: $95,280
- 25th percentile: $107,220
- 50th percentile: $129,010
- 75th percentile: $134,420
- 90th percentile: $155,010
Highest-paying cities for nurses in Oregon
Looking for the best-paying RN jobs in Oregon? Here are the cities that offer wages above the state average:
4. Washington: $121,540
Washington is among the top 10 highest-paying states for RNs, with an average annual salary of $121,540.
How much do RNs make in Washington?
The average RN in Washington can expect to earn the following wages:
- Average hourly rate: $58.43
- Average weekly rate: $2,337.20
- Average monthly rate: $10,128.33
- Average annual rate: $121,540
Highest-paid RNs in Washington state
Interestingly, Washington offers higher pay to the lowest-earning RNs than Hawaii does, and higher pay to the highest-earning RNs than Oregon does. All around, Washington is an excellent place to earn a high salary as a registered nurse. Here are the wage percentiles for RNs in Washington:
- 10th percentile: $89,630
- 25th percentile: $103,100
- 50th percentile: $124,200
- 75th percentile: $134,240
- 90th percentile: $161,910
Highest-paying cities for nurses in Washington
The following cities offer the highest average RN wages in the state:
5. Massachusetts: $117,960
The Bay State has the fifth-highest average annual RN salary on this list, at $117,960.
How much do RNs make in Massachusetts?
The average RN in Massachusetts can expect to earn the following wages:
- Average hourly rate: $56.71
- Average weekly rate: $2,268.40
- Average monthly rate: $9,830.00
- Average annual rate: $117,960
Highest- and lowest-paid RNs in Massachusetts
Although not a great place to earn a high entry-level RN salary, Massachusetts ranks second only to California for the highest-earning RNs.
Here are the wage percentiles for RNs in Massachusetts:
- 10th percentile: $80,310
- 25th percentile: $87,460
- 50th percentile: $104,550
- 75th percentile: $136,110
- 90th percentile: $174,510
Highest-paying cities for nurses in Massachusetts
The following cities offer RNs wages significantly above the state average:
6. Alaska: $114,870
Alaska makes the top 6 with an average annual RN salary of $114,870.
How much do RNs make in Alaska?
The average RN in Alaska can expect to earn the following wages:
- Average hourly rate: $55.23
- Average weekly rate: $2,209.20
- Average monthly rate: $9,572.50
- Average annual rate: $114,870
How much do the highest-paid RNs make in Alaska?
Although Alaska is the sixth highest-paying state for RNs, it pays its lowest-earning RNs more than both Massachusetts and Hawaii. In other words, Alaska is a great state to begin your career with a high entry-level salary.
Here are RN wages in Alaska broken down into percentiles:
- 10th percentile: $85,030
- 25th percentile: $97,700
- 50th percentile: $109,480
- 75th percentile: $129,100
- 90th percentile: $149,070
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses in Alaska
The highest-paying city for RNs in Alaska is Anchorage at $116,660 annually.
7. New York: $113,440
With an average annual salary of $113,440, the Empire State also ranks among the top 10 highest-paying states for RNs.
How much do RNs make in NY?
The average RN in New York can expect to earn the following figures:
- Average hourly rate: $54.54
- Average weekly rate: $2,181.60
- Average monthly rate: $9,453.33
- Average annual rate: $113,440
Highest-paid RNs in the state of New York
As with Massachusetts, New York is not the best state for new grad RN salaries. However, nurses with specialized work experience and other salary-increasing cards up their sleeves should consider RN jobs in New York, since the higher-paid half of RNs there earn pretty juicy incomes.
Here are the wage percentiles for RNs in the State of New York:
- 10th percentile: $79,760
- 25th percentile: $94,840
- 50th percentile: $109,440
- 75th percentile: $129,660
- 90th percentile: $157,090
Highest-paying cities for nurses in New York
Not surprisingly, New York City is where registered nurses can earn the most in the state at $119,600 annually.
8. New Jersey: $110,100
With an average RN wage of $110,100 annually, New Jersey offers registered nurses one of the highest salaries nationwide.
How much do RNs make in New Jersey?
The average RN in New Jersey can expect to earn the following wages:
- Average hourly rate: $52.93
- Average weekly rate: $2,117.20
- Average monthly rate: $9,175.00
- Average annual rate: $110,100
Entry-level salary and the highest-paid RNs in New Jersey
Even though New Jersey ranks eighth on the list of highest-paying states for nurses, it offers higher wages to the lowest-earning 10 percent of RNs than many other states ranked higher.
In other words, New Jersey may be a better option for new grad RNs to find high-paying nursing jobs than higher-paying locations such as New York and Massachusetts.
The following are the wage percentiles for RNs in New Jersey:
- 10th percentile: $83,060
- 25th percentile: $99,710
- 50th percentile: $106,500
- 75th percentile: $127,730
- 90th percentile: $135,170
Highest-paying cities for nurses in New Jersey
Newark and Jersey City are the highest-paying for RNs with an average annual wage of $119,600.
9. Washington, D.C.: $106,980
Although not technically a state, Washington, D.C., certainly makes the list of the top-paying locations in the US for RNs.
How much do RNs make in Washington, D.C.?
The average RN in the District of Columbia can expect to earn the following income:
- Average hourly rate: $51.43
- Average weekly rate: $2,057.20
- Average monthly rate: $8,915.00
- Average annual rate: $106,980
How much do the highest-paid RNs make in D.C.?
Interestingly, the highest-paid RNs in D.C. earn more than their counterparts in New Jersey, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Here is the breakdown of RN wages in the nation’s capital:
- 10th percentile: $79,390
- 25th percentile: $85,850
- 50th percentile: $102,540
- 75th percentile: $127,800
- 90th percentile: $151,170
10. Nevada: $105,710
At $105,710, the average RN pay in Nevada is the tenth highest nationwide.
How much do RNs make in Nevada?
The average RN in Nevada can expect to earn the following wages:
- Average hourly rate: $50.82
- Average weekly rate: $2,032.80
- Average monthly rate: $8,809.17
- Average annual rate: $105,710
Lowest- and highest-paid RNs in Nevada
Although Nevada is last on the list, new grad RNs or those working in the lowest-paying cities or industries can still expect to earn slightly more than their counterparts in Washington, D.C.
The following are RN salaries in Nevada, divided into different wage-tier percentiles:
- 10th percentile: $79,500
- 25th percentile: $86,850
- 50th percentile: $103,670
- 75th percentile: $120,270
- 90th percentile: $133,270
Highest-paying cities for nurses in Nevada
Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas are the highest-paying cities for RNs in the state, with an average annual salary of $106,360.
Highest registered nurse salary adjusted for cost of living
RNs looking for the states with the highest nursing salaries should also consider purchasing power. The highest-paying states are often the ones with the highest cost of living.
Are the top 10 highest-paying states for RNs really the best states for nurses to live and work?
Let’s take a look.
How to calculate the adjusted “real” salary
Take the raw average salary data from the BLS and factor in the local cost of living by using Regional Price Parities (RPPs) from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). RPP values in the table are the latest available from the BEA and cover all consumption goods and services, including housing rents by state.
By dividing the state’s salary by the RPP index and multiplying it by 100, the purchasing power of a paycheck for RNs is revealed.
This comparison shows how much the money is worth when compared to a baseline national average.
Compact nursing states with the highest pay
Nurses with multi-state licenses can work in any state that is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). Therefore, if you live in Idaho and earn on average $44.57 per hour, you can pick up shifts in neighboring Washington and make an average of $58.43.
The following are the best-paying compact states for RNs.
*The NLC is enacted, but the state is awaiting full implementation.
How to increase RN hourly pay without a degree
Many factors impact nurse pay. Therefore, there are many ways that nurses can make more money. Yes, nurses can increase their pay by earning a higher nursing degree, but there are other ways to do so as well.
- Move to one of the highest-paying states for RNs.
- Pursue a career in one of the highest-paying nursing specialties.
- Obtain nursing certifications.
- Supplement your income with per diem RN shifts, which typically offer higher rates than the state average.
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