The state of New York offers registered nurses (RNs) competitive wages in top-notch healthcare facilities. Keep reading to learn about average registered nurse salary in New York per hour and year, high-paying jobs and locations, how to become an RN in New York, and more.
Table 1: Information on Hourly Mean Wage throughout New York
This resource provides publicly available information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the MIT Living Wage Calculator about average RN salaries, employment, location quotient, and living wage in New York (most recent information as of February 2024). While Nursa currently offers independent contractor RNs in New York the opportunity to access per diem jobs that pay on an hourly basis rather than access to salaried or wage-based employment opportunities, this information may be a helpful frame of reference for you as you assess the market landscape both in regard to per diem jobs and employment opportunities.
How Much Do Nurses Make in New York
Wages vary significantly within the state of New York depending on different factors:
- Location: Pay depends on the location where RNs work. For example, wages are typically higher in a big city like New York City than in a small town, depending on the cost of living and other factors.
- Setting: Pay depends on the type of healthcare facility where RNs work. For instance, hospitals typically offer RNs higher wages than home healthcare services, physician’s offices, and nursing care facilities.
- Type of Shift: Working a ‘regular’ staff shift as a registered nurse typically pays less per hour than working PRN or per diem nursing shifts.
In fact, working PRN shifts allows RNs to find high-paying jobs in New York regardless of location or setting.
What Is the Average RN Salary in New York?
In New York State, RNs make an annual mean wage of $100,130, which typically ranges from $64,840 to $132,950, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The following are RN to mean wages by percentiles:
- 90th percentile: $132,950
- 75th percentile: $107,670
- 50th percentile: $100,370
- 25th percentile: $80,600
- 10th percentile: $64,840
These wage percentiles indicate that 10 percent of RNs in New York typically earn less than $64,840, and 90 percent earn more. On the other hand, 10 percent of RNs earn more than $132,950, while 90 percent of RNs earn less than this figure. These percentiles help RNs consider their current compensation and understand their potential income.
New York has significantly higher pay for RNs than the national average of $89,010. In fact, New York is one of the top-paying states for RNs.
How Much Do RNs Make per Hour in New York?
The national average hourly wage for RNs is $42.80. Registered nurses in New York make an average hourly wage of $48.14.
As explained above, nurses in New York make different wages depending on the location, setting, and type of shift. This variation ranges from $31.17 to $63.92 in approximately 80 percent of RN employment in New York. However, remember that PRN nursing jobs pay significantly higher hourly wages.
Below is a list of cities with high-paying PRN nursing jobs for RNs in New York:
Picking up PRN nursing jobs with Nursa is an excellent option to make higher hourly pay not only for RNs but also for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
Cost of Living Considerations in New York
The cost of living in the Empire State is around $26.86 for one single adult (with no dependents). For a single parent with two children, it is around $62.46, according to the MIT Living Wage Calculator.
The average hourly pay for an RN doesn’t fully cover the cost of supporting two children, so finding ways to increase hourly earnings as an RN in New York is crucial.
Employment and Location Quotient in New York
Knowing how much you can earn in New York may help you choose the best option when considering independent contractor work or applying for salaried or wage-based employment. However, compensation is only one aspect to consider. It is also essential to understand how many RNs work in your area and whether the amount is more or less than the national average.
The following table presents the number of RNs employed in New York and the location quotient for each region:
Table 2: Number of Employed RNs and Location Quotient throughout New York
Approximately 190,470 RNs are currently employed in the state of New York, with a location quotient of 1.01.
But what is a location quotient? The location quotient compares the concentration of a profession in an area with the national average, which has a value of one. Consequently, since New York’s location quotient is 1.01, the concentration of RNs in New York is slightly higher than the national average.
How Can I Become an RN in New York?
Although there are specific considerations and exceptions when obtaining a license, an individual typically must complete an approved RN program in New York and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). After completing these steps, the individual can apply for a New York RN license and become certified with the New York Board of Nursing.
Many nursing schools in New York offer accredited programs for RNs. Here are some excellent RN schools in New York:
- Columbia University
- New York University
- Hunter College of the City University of New York
- The Graduate Center of the City of New York
Are you already an RN? Do you need to look up the status of your New York RN license? You can search Nursys, the national nurse licensure and disciplinary database for New York RN license verification.
How Can I Earn More as a Registered Nurse in New York?
As mentioned above, the average registered nurse salary in New York might not be enough for families when an RN works as the only breadwinner. Luckily, earning more as a registered nurse is a possibility. One of the easiest ways to do so is with per diem or PRN jobs, for which healthcare facilities pay significantly higher wages. RNs can earn much more working in specialty areas such as Med Surg, ICU, ER, and Telemetry
Pick Up Per Diem Independent Contractor Jobs
With the comprehensive pay information in this guide, RNs can better understand their earning potential. Remember that, as independent contractors, RNs can earn significantly higher hourly pay. Per diem RN jobs in New York are easy to find with the correct tools. With Nursa, picking up registered nursing jobs in New York is easy. You just need to create an account, upload your credentials for verification, and start requesting shifts.
