Nurse salary guide 2025: Understand how much you can make
One of the top questions people have when they are considering entering a field—and even more so if they are already in it—is “How much can I earn?” Of course, there is no simple answer to this question since salary depends on a number of factors, such as education, certifications, work experience, special skills, and location.
On that note, are there any resources that provide detailed nurse salary data?
Yes! Right here.
This ultimate guide covers everything you need to know about nursing salaries at all levels of licensure, education, experience, and more to help you make informed decisions to become a nurse or to advance in the nursing field—and earn the highest possible salary.
Detailed nurse salary data for this guide comes mainly from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, arguably the best online resource for researching nurse salaries. Additional salary information comes from various Medscape Compensation Reports.
Registered nurse (RN) salary
Aside from advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), RNs are the nurses who earn the highest wages throughout the U.S.
What is the average salary for a registered nurse in the United States?
After studying for two to four years, RNs can expect to earn an average of $47.32 per hour or $98,430 per year based on the latest data from the BLS. Again, your salary as an RN will greatly depend on the state you call home.
Where can an RN make the most money?
According to the BLS, the following are the best states for registered nurse salaries in 2025.
Spoiler alert: The average registered nurse salary in California continues to be the highest.
Learn more about the top 10 best-paying states for RNs in 2025.
RN salary by state: The bottom five
Here are the five states with the lowest pay rates for registered nurses:
Cost-adjusted registered nurse salary by state
Now, it’s easy to be misled by high hourly rates because these alone do not paint the whole picture. For example, Hawaii has the country’s second-highest annual wage (after California), but it’s lower than Oregon’s average after adjusting for cost of living. Therefore, the cost of living is one of the most important factors in helping you understand what a nurse’s salary is really worth in each state.
Based on data from both the BLS and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, here is the average annual RN wage and the cost-adjusted salary by state:
*Method notes: Calculations use full-precision 2023 Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Parities Pricing displayed to one decimal. RPP values are the latest available from the BEA and cover all consumption goods and services, including housing rents by state. Cost-adjusted wages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
What other factors influence registered nurses’ salaries?
As you have probably guessed, location is not the only factor affecting RN salary. Discover how industry and work setting influence a registered nurse’s salary, among other aspects, including different pay scales for nurses based on experience and education.
Type of facility or industry
One important consideration is the industry in which RNs work. Here are the national average RN salaries for the industries that employ the most RNs:
Gender
While male RNs earn an average salary of $104,000, female RNs earn an average of $94,000 annually.
Education
Aspiring nurses can choose different programs to become licensed RNs. However, ending up with the same license does not guarantee the same salary.
- How much do registered nurses with Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees make a year?
- What’s the average salary for a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) vs. an RN with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN)?
The following figures represent average RN income by educational degree, based on Needed Pay Increases Arrive: Medscape RN/LPN Compensation Report 2023. Although these figures are now slightly outdated, they illustrate the impact of education on RN salary and how a BSN or an MSN degree typically affects a nurse's salary:
- Associate’s degree: $82,000
- Bachelor’s degree: $88,000
- Master’s degree: $100,000
ADN vs. LPN/LVN salary
Nurses with ADNs may earn less than nurses with higher degrees. However, they typically earn much more than practical/vocational nurses. For reference, LPNs made on average $55,000 in 2023, whereas RNs with ADNs made $82,000.
Starting salary for a BSN RN
As with all salary data, there are a number of factors that can impact the starting salary of a BSN RN, including state and industry. That said, the following breakdown of RN salary ranges can give new grads an idea of how much they can aspire to make in entry-level positions:
- The lowest-paid 10 percent of RNs nationwide make up to $66,030 annually.
- The lowest-paid quarter makes up to $78,610.
- Half of all RNs make up to $93,600—and half make more.
- The highest-paid 25 percent make over $107,960.
- The highest-paid 10 percent make over $135,320.
Read on to understand other factors impacting RN pay.
How do certifications affect registered nurse income?
Aside from nursing programs, RNs can also decide to pursue nursing certifications.
Do nursing certifications have an impact on salary?
According to the Medscape RN/LPN Compensation Report 2022, they do. The following are average RN salaries based on this factor:
- Certified RNs: $92,000
- Noncertified RNs: $81,000
While these figures are from 2022, they illustrate the impact of certification on RN salaries.
The difference in salaries supports the fact that RNs with certifications make more money on average. However, the same study found that 60 percent of RNs did not get a pay increase after obtaining certifications. Only 26 percent received a higher pay rate; 9 percent received a one-time bonus; and 6 percent received an annual bonus.
Years of work experience
How do years of experience affect a registered nurse's salary?
As with most professions, a nurse’s years of experience will significantly influence their salary. Here is the average RN income by years of practice:
- Twenty-one years or longer: $98,000
- Eleven to 20 years: $95,000
- Six to 10 years: $88,000
Community type: Nurse salary in rural vs. urban areas
Even with certifications and many years of experience, RNs working in rural communities typically earn less than RNs in urban settings. The following are average RN salaries by community type (based on 2023 data):
- Urban: $93,000
- Suburban: $91,000
- Rural: $77,000
Supplemental income
Of course, an RN who works full time earns more than an RN who works part time. Therefore, it is also logical that nurses who take advantage of supplemental income opportunities make more than those who don’t.
The following percentages can give nurses an idea of how common it is for RNs to increase their earnings with supplemental income and how they do it:
- Working extra shifts/overtime, weekends, and/or extra holidays: 30%
- Acting as preceptors: 15%
- Working “on call” shifts: 13%
- Taking on charge nurse responsibilities: 13%
- Working a second job or another income-producing activity (non-nursing): 12%
- Teaching classes: 7%
- Other: 8%
How do union contracts influence registered nurses’ salaries?
Finally, membership in a nurses’ union may also significantly affect a nurse’s income. The following are average RN salaries based on union membership:
- Union members: $106,000
- Non-union RNs: $93,000
Certified nursing assistant (CNA) salary
Many people in the nursing field are not, technically speaking, nurses but are certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
It is possible to train as a CNA in as little as four weeks, which makes this type of work ideal for people interested in starting a nursing career or for those who are already in nursing school. Of course, working as a CNA is an excellent career choice in itself since CNAs are in high demand and their work is incredibly valuable.
Where can a CNA make the most money?
Although the national average rate is $19.84 per hour or $41,270 annually, CNA pay varies significantly by location. For example, CNAs make an average of $24.03 per hour in Oregon but only about $15.24 per hour in Louisiana.
However, location is not all; whereas CNAs nationwide earn on average $15.38 working for pharmacies and drug retailers, they make on average $28.03 per hour in junior colleges.
Let’s take a look at average CNA salaries in different states and industries to help you get an idea of how much you could earn as a CNA.
Highest-paying states for CNAs
Learn more about the top 10 best-paying states for CNAs in 2025.
Lowest-paying states for CNAs
Average CNA salary in different industries
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following are average CNA salaries in the industries that employ the largest number of CNAs:
Average CNA salary by state and cost-adjusted wages
The previous statistics can help CNAs pinpoint the highest-paying states and the industries with the most job opportunities; however, not everyone will have seen their state mentioned in the previous lists. Therefore, the following table covers the average CNA salaries in all fifty states alphabetically.
The table displays each state’s average annual CNA wage, the latest Regional Price Parity (RPP) index from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (where 100 equals the national average), and the cost-adjusted annual wage. The adjusted figure demonstrates what the average CNA wage would be if the cost of living were the same everywhere in the U.S.
*Method notes: Calculations use full-precision 2023 Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Parities Pricing displayed to one decimal. RPP values are the latest available from the BEA and cover all consumption goods and services, including housing rents by state. Cost-adjusted wages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) salary
Moving up the salary ladder, with approximately one year of studies under their scrubs, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), also known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in Texas and California, receive significantly larger paychecks than CNAs do, with a national average hourly rate of $30.84 and an annual average salary of $64,150.
Which states offer the highest practical nurse salaries?
Based on the latest data from the BLS, here are the five states where LPNs/LVNs can make the most money:
Learn more about the top 10 best-paying states for LPNs in 2025.
How does location impact practical nurses’ salaries? The bottom five
The following are the five lowest-paying states for LPNs:
*Arkansas and West Virginia are tied in fourth place with an average annual salary of $52,540.
Average LPN/LVN salary in different industries
As is the case with CNA salaries, LPN/LVN salaries vary greatly depending on the industry these nurses work in. According to the most recent BLS data, these are the industries that employ the most LPNs and the average salaries these industries offer.
Average LPN/LVN salary by state and cost-adjusted wages
If you’re lucky, you might have already found your state among the highest-paying locations for LPNs/LVNs. However, for those of you who don’t live in the highest- or lowest-paying states, here are the average LPN/LVN salaries and the cost-adjusted practical nurse wages in all fifty states in alphabetical order.
Discover how the cost of living affects practical nurse salaries:
*Method notes: Calculations use full-precision 2023 Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Parities Pricing displayed to one decimal. RPP values are the latest available from the BEA and cover all consumption goods and services, including housing rents by state. Cost-adjusted wages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Other factors influencing LPN/LVN salary
Aside from the state of residence and type of facility, many other factors can influence an LPN’s salary. According to Medscape’s 2024 RN/LPN Compensation Report, here are some of those factors.
Gender
While the average male LPN makes $66,000 annually, the average female LPN makes $58,000.
Years of work experience
How do years of experience affect a nurse's salary?
Naturally, LPNs with more years of experience earn more than newly graduated LPNs. The following are average LPN salaries based on years of nursing experience:
- Twenty-one years or more: $60,000
- Eleven to 20 years: $59,000
- Six to 10 years: $57,000
As you advance in your career, you may also want to pursue nursing certifications. Learn about the top LPN specialty certifications here.
Supplemental income
Another significant factor influencing LPN earnings is supplemental income. The following figures show the percentage of practical nurses who increase their earnings with supplemental income and where this extra income comes from:
- Worked extra shifts/overtime, weekends, and/or extra holidays: 28%
- Acted as a preceptor: 6%
- Worked “on call” shifts: 8%
- Took on charge nurse responsibilities: 5%
- Worked a second job or another income-producing activity (non-nursing): 16%
- Taught classes: 3%
- Other: 7%
Union membership
Finally, a factor that can influence LPN salary is union membership. Here are average LPN salaries based on union membership:
- Average union-member LPN salary: $61,000
- Average non-union-member LPN salary: $59,000
Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) salary
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are the nursing professionals with the highest level of education who, consequently, rake in the highest salaries. According to Ramping Up Take-Home Pay: Medscape APRN Compensation Report 2024, the following are the salary expectations that each type of APRN can aspire to on average. Remember that these figures represent an average, not the full range of potential salary.
- Clinical nurse specialist: $128,000
- Nurse midwife: $128,000
- Nurse practitioner: $135,000
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist: $256,000
Where can an APRN make the most money?
As is the case with all nurse salaries, location is one of the most significant factors influencing APRN income. The following are average APRN earnings by region:
- Pacific (including Alaska and Hawaii): $170,000
- New England: $157,000
- West South Central: $153,000
- South Atlantic: $148,000
- East North Central: $148,000
- Mountain: $148,000
- Mid-Atlantic (including Washington, DC): $147,000
- West North Central: $146,000
- East South Central: $143,000
Other factors affecting APRN salary
Medscape’s 2022 APRN Compensation Report helps explain the great variation that can be seen among APRN salaries. Aside from the region, the following are some of the factors that can affect APRN salary.
Gender
As is the case with RNs and LPNs, male APRNs earn more on average than female APRNs. The following are average APRN salaries by gender:
- Male: $203,000
- Female: $141,000
Among CRNAs, the difference is also great:
- Male: $278,000
- Female: $248,000
The same bias can be observed among NPs, although not as pronounced as with APRNs as a whole:
- Male: $143,000
- Female: $131,000
Education
By definition, APRNs have pursued higher studies after the initial ADN or BSN required for RN licensure, meaning that they hold either an MSN or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Although the vast majority of APRNs hold MSNs, a nurse’s level of education must still be noted when it comes to the average APRN salary. The following are average APRN salaries based on the level of education nurses have reached:
- Doctoral degree: $160,000
- Master’s degree: $148,000
Discover the 10 highest-paying APRN specialties here.
Years of experience
As is generally true across professions, APRN income is influenced by years of experience. The following figures represent the average APRN salary by years of experience:
- Twenty-one years or longer: $154,000
- Eleven to 20 years: $152,000
- Six to 10 years: $138,000
Union membership
Unlike its effect on RN salary, union membership has very little effect on APRN salary. Most APRNs are not members of a union (91 percent), and those who are (9 percent) actually make about $2,000 less annually than non-members.
Supplemental income
Evidently, advanced practice registered nurses who go beyond the bare minimum required by their jobs earn higher incomes than those who don’t. The following percentages indicate the prevalence of supplemental income among APRNs and the ways that APRNs obtain this supplemental income:
- Worked extra shifts/overtime, weekends, and/or extra holidays: 23%
- Worked a second job or another income-producing activity (non-nursing): 15%
- Worked “on call” shifts: 10%
- Acted as a preceptor: 10%
- Taught classes: 9%
- Took on charge nurse responsibilities: 2%
- Other: 9%
- None of these; no supplemental income: 48%
Nurse practitioner (NP) salary
Since nurse practitioners (NPs) hold approximately 320,400 of the total 382,700 APRN jobs, it makes sense to dedicate an entire section to NP salaries.
Where can an NP make the most money?
Here are the top five highest-paying states for NPs:
Where do NPs make the least?
Unfortunately, there is a $65,000 difference between the highest-paying and lowest-paying states for NPs. Here are the bottom five states for NP salaries:
Average NP salary adjusted by cost of living
The cost of living in each state helps put the average NP salary in context. With this in mind, here is the annual mean wage and cost-adjusted annual average NP pay per state:
*Method notes: Calculations use full-precision 2023 Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Parities Pricing displayed to one decimal. RPP values are the latest available from the BEA and cover all consumption goods and services, including housing rents by state. Cost-adjusted wages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
NP salary by industry
As we have seen, location is not all when it comes to salary. NP salary varies significantly from one work setting to another. The following figures represent average NP salaries in different work settings:
NP salary by specialty
Besides location and industry, a nurse practitioner's salary largely depends on specialty.
How does a nursing specialty impact an NP’s salary?
According to survey data shared with Becker's Hospital Review, the following are the NP specialties with the highest median total cash compensation, which is equal to base salaries plus annual incentive awards:
- Anesthesiology – pain medicine: $152,697
- Radiology – diagnostic: $149,981
- Psychiatry – outpatient: $148,650
- Emergency medicine: $148,506
- Psychiatry – inpatient: $148,474
- Pediatrics – neonatal-perinatal medicine: $147,680
- Psychiatry – general: $147,138
- Orthopedic surgery – medical: $146,571
- General surgery: $143,478
- Oncology – hematology and oncology: $142,720
- Cardiovascular surgery: $142,456
- Pediatrics – hospitalist: $142,155
- Cardiology – invasive – interventional: $141,794
- Thoracic surgery: $141,434
- Occupational and environmental medicine: $140,972
- Pediatrics – emergency medicine: $140,950
- Cardiology – electrophysiology: $140,872
- Family medicine with obstetrics: $140,837
- Pediatrics – critical care medicine: $140,784
- Medical critical care: $140,427
How to increase your nursing income
Now, we know a nurse’s salary increases steadily with their years of work experience, plus additional education and certifications. We also know you don’t want to wait years before you start making good money, so let’s look at some simple ways to earn the income you want today:
- Work nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Work overtime.
- Try travel nursing.
- Pick up occasional PRN shifts or work PRN full time.
- Maximize your income potential with a combination of the above.
The average nurse salaries covered extensively in previous sections do not include two growing and very lucrative types of nursing jobs: travel nursing and per diem or PRN nursing.
These jobs pay significantly more than regular staff positions do because they arise from unexpected or temporary needs at healthcare facilities. Therefore, facilities must make these jobs more attractive for nurses to guarantee that those positions will be filled.
How much do travel nurses make?
Travel nurse pay generally tends to be higher than that of in-house staff nurses, but several factors affect the salary range for travel nurses.
Key influences include geographic location, nursing specialty, and the urgency or type of assignment. For example, crisis assignments or hard-to-fill positions may offer especially lucrative pay packages.
In addition to base pay, travel nurses often receive housing stipends, meal allowances, travel reimbursements, and other benefits, all of which add to their total compensation.
While flexibility and adventure are appealing aspects of travel nursing, the highest earnings are usually found in the most challenging or underserved assignments. For these reasons, the salary range for travel nurses can vary significantly based on where, when, and how they choose to work.
How much can PRN nurses earn?
PRN nurses actually don’t earn a “salary” because they work as needed—or as they want. They earn an hourly rate that varies based on location, facility type, day, and time of shift, etc.
On Nursa’s PRN staffing platform, pay rates are listed with each shift so you can choose which you want to fill.
As with travel nursing jobs, PRN jobs typically pay higher hourly rates. Unlike travel nursing, PRN work allows nurses to decide when and where they want to work on a shift-by-shift basis. In short, PRN nurses enjoy both higher pay and greater flexibility than in-house nursing staff.
How often do nurses get paid?
Nurses are typically paid on a biweekly basis in most settings. However, nurses who pick up PRN shifts with Nursa can get paid instantly for eligible shifts as soon as their shift report is approved.
Has PRN work caught your interest?
Download Nursa’s healthcare staffing app for free and give PRN work a try.
Sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners)
- Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Parities Pricing
- Gains Made but a Ways to Go: Medscape RN/LPN Compensation Report 2024
- Needed Pay Increases Arrive: Medscape RN/LPN Compensation Report 2023
- Medscape RN/LPN Compensation Report 2022
- Becker's Hospital Review: Highest-paid specialties for nurse practitioners, physician assistants
