Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has conducted thorough research to present the latest insights on registered nurse salaries across the United States for 2026:
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California boasts the highest registered nurse salary at $104,725.
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Iowa has the lowest registered nurse salary at $58,751.
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The national average salary for registered nurses is $73,349.
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The national hourly pay for registered nurses stands at $35.26.
For a detailed explanation, refer to the specific methodology.
Background
In various surveys, salary remains the top priority for workers when considering job opportunities, especially for registered nurses. Understanding how much registered nurses earn in your area is crucial for career planning.
While many factors influence your potential earnings, comprehensive data on average salaries for registered nurses by state and seniority level can provide valuable insights. Though your local salary may vary slightly from the state average, these figures can help set realistic expectations for your career.
The state with the highest salary for registered nurses remains California.
Below is a snapshot of the top ten states for registered nurse salaries:
Let’s explore how we reached these conclusions by reviewing the full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Registered Nurses By State
| Rank | State | Average Registered Nurse Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $104,725 | $65,000 | $167,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $100,541 | $68,000 | $148,000 |
| 3 | Alaska | $97,253 | $58,000 | $161,000 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $93,942 | $57,000 | $152,000 |
| 5 | Oregon | $92,453 | $57,000 | $148,000 |
| 6 | New York | $91,110 | $56,000 | $147,000 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $89,733 | $55,000 | $144,000 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $89,434 | $54,000 | $145,000 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $89,275 | $55,000 | $144,000 |
| 10 | Washington | $86,379 | $54,000 | $137,000 |
| 11 | Maryland | $85,067 | $52,000 | $137,000 |
| 12 | Nevada | $84,132 | $52,000 | $134,000 |
| 13 | Delaware | $83,554 | $51,000 | $135,000 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $81,019 | $49,000 | $132,000 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $79,593 | $49,000 | $127,000 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $78,851 | $48,000 | $127,000 |
| 17 | Arizona | $77,800 | $48,000 | $124,000 |
| 18 | Virginia | $77,217 | $47,000 | $125,000 |
| 19 | Michigan | $76,403 | $48,000 | $120,000 |
| 20 | Texas | $75,612 | $46,000 | $122,000 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $74,799 | $46,000 | $120,000 |
| 22 | Vermont | $74,249 | $45,000 | $121,000 |
| 23 | Maine | $73,820 | $44,000 | $121,000 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $73,785 | $48,000 | $111,000 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $72,241 | $46,000 | $111,000 |
| 26 | Illinois | $72,168 | $46,000 | $112,000 |
| 27 | Georgia | $72,144 | $44,000 | $118,000 |
| 28 | Colorado | $71,881 | $45,000 | $113,000 |
| 29 | Idaho | $70,898 | $45,000 | $111,000 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $70,665 | $43,000 | $115,000 |
| 31 | Ohio | $69,670 | $43,000 | $110,000 |
| 32 | Utah | $69,540 | $44,000 | $109,000 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $69,137 | $43,000 | $110,000 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $68,899 | $42,000 | $112,000 |
| 35 | Indiana | $68,459 | $43,000 | $107,000 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $68,356 | $42,000 | $109,000 |
| 37 | Florida | $67,649 | $41,000 | $109,000 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $67,541 | $41,000 | $110,000 |
| 39 | Alabama | $67,186 | $41,000 | $109,000 |
| 40 | Montana | $67,062 | $43,000 | $102,000 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $66,415 | $41,000 | $105,000 |
| 42 | Missouri | $66,392 | $42,000 | $104,000 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $66,313 | $40,000 | $108,000 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $66,097 | $42,000 | $102,000 |
| 45 | Kansas | $66,092 | $42,000 | $103,000 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $64,143 | $39,000 | $102,000 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $63,703 | $41,000 | $98,000 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $63,132 | $42,000 | $94,000 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $59,818 | $39,000 | $91,000 |
| 50 | Iowa | $58,751 | $38,000 | $90,000 |
Methodology: Registered Nurse Salary By State
To provide an accurate overview of registered nurse salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reliable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is further enhanced by salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to derive the average pay for registered nurses by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary derived from these estimates, with the highest salary representing the top-ranking state for registered nurses.
Registered Nurse Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for registered nurses?
The highest-paid state for registered nurses is California, with an average salary of $104,725 per year.
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What city pays registered nurses the most?
San Francisco, CA, offers the highest average salary for registered nurses at $108,619 annually.
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What is the worst state for registered nurses?
The state with the lowest average salary for registered nurses is Iowa, at $58,751 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
