Research Summary. In our latest analysis conducted by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled comprehensive data regarding the staff nurse salaries across the United States for 2026:
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California continues to offer the highest average staff nurse salary at $105,142.
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Maine has the lowest average staff nurse salary at $25,119.
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The national average salary for staff nurses is $68,342.
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The national hourly wage for staff nurses is $32.86.
For more details, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
For many individuals, salary remains the top priority when considering a job, particularly in the healthcare sector where staff nurses play a critical role. Understanding how much you can expect to earn in your region is essential.
While individual salaries can vary based on various factors, we provide reliable data on average salaries for staff nurses by state, categorized by experience level. Even though your local salary may differ slightly from the state average, these figures give you a valuable benchmark.
As we explore the states offering the best salaries for staff nurses, California remains at the forefront.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for staff nurse salaries in 2026:
Now, let’s delve into the details of staff nurse salaries across all states.
Highest-Paid Staff Nurses By State
| Rank | State | Average Staff Nurse Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,142 | $66,000 | $166,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $96,215 | $67,000 | $137,000 |
| 3 | Oregon | $88,323 | $56,000 | $139,000 |
| 4 | Washington | $83,834 | $54,000 | $129,000 |
| 5 | Nevada | $83,743 | $53,000 | $131,000 |
| 6 | Alaska | $73,071 | $61,000 | $86,000 |
| 7 | Arizona | $69,639 | $44,000 | $108,000 |
| 8 | Colorado | $66,940 | $44,000 | $101,000 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $65,442 | $41,000 | $102,000 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $65,041 | $40,000 | $104,000 |
| 11 | Texas | $64,914 | $39,000 | $106,000 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $64,859 | $40,000 | $103,000 |
| 13 | Idaho | $62,287 | $41,000 | $94,000 |
| 14 | Arkansas | $61,070 | $37,000 | $100,000 |
| 15 | Utah | $60,967 | $40,000 | $92,000 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $60,867 | $35,000 | $102,000 |
| 17 | Montana | $58,846 | $40,000 | $85,000 |
| 18 | Georgia | $57,317 | $31,000 | $102,000 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $57,045 | $38,000 | $85,000 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $56,347 | $33,000 | $95,000 |
| 21 | Florida | $56,139 | $31,000 | $101,000 |
| 22 | Alabama | $54,401 | $31,000 | $94,000 |
| 23 | Kansas | $51,918 | $32,000 | $83,000 |
| 24 | Missouri | $50,531 | $30,000 | $83,000 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $50,041 | $26,000 | $92,000 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $49,007 | $28,000 | $85,000 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $48,310 | $26,000 | $89,000 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $48,036 | $28,000 | $80,000 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $47,653 | $29,000 | $76,000 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $44,784 | $22,000 | $89,000 |
| 31 | Illinois | $44,719 | $22,000 | $86,000 |
| 32 | Iowa | $44,597 | $25,000 | $76,000 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $44,362 | $21,000 | $90,000 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $43,790 | $23,000 | $82,000 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $42,424 | $19,000 | $91,000 |
| 36 | Michigan | $41,739 | $17,000 | $96,000 |
| 37 | Indiana | $41,644 | $21,000 | $80,000 |
| 38 | Virginia | $40,813 | $17,000 | $94,000 |
| 39 | New Jersey | $39,796 | $14,000 | $107,000 |
| 40 | New York | $38,281 | $13,000 | $105,000 |
| 41 | Ohio | $35,556 | $16,000 | $78,000 |
| 42 | Delaware | $34,140 | $13,000 | $89,000 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $33,393 | $11,000 | $100,000 |
| 44 | Maryland | $33,155 | $13,000 | $83,000 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | $32,928 | $10,000 | $98,000 |
| 46 | Connecticut | $30,340 | $10,000 | $88,000 |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $29,300 | $11,000 | $77,000 |
| 48 | New Hampshire | $28,534 | $9,000 | $87,000 |
| 49 | Vermont | $26,857 | $8,000 | $81,000 |
| 50 | Maine | $25,119 | $8,000 | $78,000 |
Methodology: Staff Nurse Salary By State
To provide a clearer picture of staff nurse salaries by state, Zippia has aggregated data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We complement this data with actual salaries reported in job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average of these findings to establish the average salaries for staff nurses by state.
This analysis ranks each state based on its average annual salary for staff nurses, with the highest salary determining the rank.
Staff Nurse Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for staff nurses?
The highest-paid state for staff nurses is California, with an average salary of $105,142 per year.
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What city pays staff nurses the most?
Burlingame, CA offers the highest salary for staff nurses, averaging $109,688 per year.
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What is the worst state for staff nurses?
The lowest-paying state for staff nurses is Maine, with an average salary of $25,119 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.
