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Nurse extern salary
Average nurse extern salary
$37,156
Understanding Nurse Extern Salaries
The average salary for Nurse Externs stands at $37,156 annually, equating to approximately $18 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific healthcare settings. In some states, Nurse Externs earn significantly more. For instance, top-paying states include California, New York, and Massachusetts. In these regions, salaries can reach upwards of $45,000 annually.
Experience also plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with more experience can command higher wages. For example, Nurse Externs with over five years of experience may earn 15-20% more than their less experienced counterparts. Understanding these dynamics helps prospective Nurse Externs make informed career choices and negotiate salaries effectively.
Job Opportunities and Growth
The demand for skilled Nurse Externs continues to grow, offering numerous job opportunities across hospitals, clinics, and outpatient facilities. Gaining experience as a Nurse Extern not only enhances practical skills but also opens doors to full-time nursing positions post-graduation. Consider exploring roles in critical care, pediatrics, and geriatrics for specialized career paths.
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Where can a Nurse Extern earn more?
Nurse extern salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level nurse extern | $29,500 | $14.17 |
| Mid-level nurse extern | $37,100 | $17.82 |
| Senior-level nurse extern | $50,800 | $24.44 |
Nurse extern salary estimates from across the web
Average nurse extern salary by state
The average nurse extern salary in Hawaii, California, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average nurse extern salary states are Kentucky, North Carolina, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for nurse externs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $49,941 | $24.01 |
| 2 | Washington | $54,184 | $26.05 |
| 3 | Maine | $43,154 | $20.75 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $45,822 | $22.03 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $45,268 | $21.76 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $41,963 | $20.17 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $58,471 | $28.11 |
| 8 | Delaware | $43,467 | $20.90 |
| 9 | California | $54,350 | $26.13 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $49,138 | $23.62 |
| 11 | Oregon | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| 12 | New York | $47,277 | $22.73 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $38,757 | $18.63 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $40,071 | $19.26 |
| 15 | Michigan | $39,942 | $19.20 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $45,815 | $22.03 |
| 17 | Nevada | $42,869 | $20.61 |
| 18 | Vermont | $37,257 | $17.91 |
| 19 | Arizona | $39,192 | $18.84 |
| 20 | Montana | $35,465 | $17.05 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $34,178 | $16.43 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $33,359 | $16.04 |
| 23 | Maryland | $40,965 | $19.69 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $40,100 | $19.28 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $44,593 | $21.44 |
| 26 | Idaho | $38,423 | $18.47 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $36,798 | $17.69 |
| 28 | Indiana | $32,184 | $15.47 |
| 29 | Colorado | $37,546 | $18.05 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $34,135 | $16.41 |
| 31 | Ohio | $34,458 | $16.57 |
| 32 | Missouri | $34,392 | $16.53 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $31,544 | $15.17 |
| 34 | Illinois | $35,936 | $17.28 |
| 35 | Texas | $32,975 | $15.85 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $31,855 | $15.31 |
| 37 | Iowa | $32,056 | $15.41 |
| 38 | Florida | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| 39 | Utah | $34,529 | $16.60 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $30,569 | $14.70 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $31,932 | $15.35 |
| 42 | Georgia | $31,514 | $15.15 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $30,457 | $14.64 |
| 44 | Kansas | $30,512 | $14.67 |
| 45 | Virginia | $33,310 | $16.01 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $29,741 | $14.30 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $30,349 | $14.59 |
| 48 | Alabama | $30,311 | $14.57 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $30,526 | $14.68 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $28,667 | $13.78 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $27,689 | $13.31 |
Highest paying cities for nurse externs
The highest-paying cities for nurse externs are Huntington Park, CA, Salem, OR, and Framingham, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntington Park, CA | $54,168 | $26.04 |
| 2 | Salem, OR | $48,600 | $23.37 |
| 3 | Framingham, MA | $45,242 | $21.75 |
| 4 | Pontiac, MI | $40,122 | $19.29 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,286 | $18.89 |
| 6 | Thornton, CO | $37,575 | $18.06 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $36,683 | $17.64 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $35,298 | $16.97 |
| 9 | El Paso, TX | $34,623 | $16.65 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $34,597 | $16.63 |
| 11 | Reston, VA | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| 12 | Charleston, WV | $32,914 | $15.82 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $32,004 | $15.39 |
| 14 | Tallahassee, FL | $31,564 | $15.18 |
| 15 | Macon, GA | $31,431 | $15.11 |
| 16 | Alexandria, LA | $30,660 | $14.74 |
| 17 | Kansas City, KS | $30,565 | $14.69 |
| 18 | Frankfort, KY | $30,514 | $14.67 |
| 19 | Hendersonville, TN | $29,815 | $14.33 |
| 20 | Charleston, SC | $27,422 | $13.18 |
Nurse extern salary details
A nurse extern's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $47,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a nurse extern's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $37,156 | $3,096 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying nurse extern jobs
The highest paying types of nurse externs are registered nurse med/surg, traveling nurse, and emergency department registered nurse.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Department Registered Nurse | $81,260 | $6,772 | $39.07 | 661,518 |
| Oncology Registered Nurse | $74,716 | $6,226 | $35.92 | 636,524 |
| Clinical Research Nurse | $60,347 | $5,029 | $29.01 | 703,983 |
| Clinic Registered Nurse | $70,075 | $5,840 | $33.69 | 520,812 |
| Emergency Room Nurse | $79,886 | $6,657 | $38.41 | 610,768 |
| Private Duty Nurse | $55,518 | $4,627 | $26.69 | 256,740 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for nurse externs, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sophia Thomas
President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
-Starting salaries for NPs are exceptional, and usually hover between $80,000-100,000, but that can vary significantly based on geographic location, work setting, and certification/specialty. Some salaries are higher.
-The bureau of labor statistics (BLS) offers an excellent breakdown of salaries by region and state as well: link
-(Note: some stats on the BLS website are reflective of the Mean or Average salary and others represent the Median or midpoint. AANP data are all reported in Median)
-As NPs advance in their careers, there is a clear and positive relationship between number of years' experience and salary growth.
Which companies pay nurse externs the most?
Nurse extern salaries at Menorah Medical Center and Baptist Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average nurse extern salary at companies like Blessing Hospital Emergency Room and Memorial Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menorah Medical Center | $57,737 | $27.76 |
| 2 | Baptist Health | $56,257 | $27.05 |
| 3 | Blessing Hospital Emergency Room | $54,427 | $26.17 |
| 4 | Memorial Health | $52,856 | $25.41 |
| 5 | Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| 6 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $51,423 | $24.72 |
| 7 | Reston Hospital | $50,944 | $24.49 |
| 8 | TriStar Skyline Medical Center | $50,717 | $24.38 |
| 9 | LCMC Health | $50,638 | $24.35 |
| 10 | Fairview Park Hospital | $48,794 | $23.46 |
| 11 | Huntington Hospital | $48,572 | $23.35 |
| 12 | Baptist Health Home Care | $48,333 | $23.24 |
| 13 | Trident Medical Center | $48,259 | $23.20 |
| 14 | GradyHealth | $47,517 | $22.84 |
| 15 | Regional Medical Center of San Jose | $47,486 | $22.83 |
| 16 | Student Conservation Association | $47,421 | $22.80 |
| 17 | Mount Sinai Health System | $47,401 | $22.79 |
| 18 | St. David's HealthCare | $47,392 | $22.78 |
| 19 | Regional Medical Center- Orangeburg | $46,989 | $22.59 |
| 20 | Rose Medical Center | $46,714 | $22.46 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Nurse extern salary trends
The average nurse extern salary has risen by $5,201 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average nurse extern earned $31,955 annually, but today, they earn $37,156 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for nurse externs over the last decade.
Compare nurse extern salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average nurse extern salary over time
Compare nurse extern salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Nurse extern salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $37,200 | $17.86 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $36,200 | $17.38 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $35,400 | $17.01 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $34,500 | $16.60 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $33,800 | $16.23 | +1.4% |
Recently added nurse extern salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glensfallshosp | Student Nurse Extern-Telemetry | Glens Falls, NY | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| HCA Healthcare | Nurse Extern-ICU | Denver, CO | 06/28/2025 | $45,789 |
| Hospital Sisters Health System | Nurse Extern I | Greenville, IL | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Maricopa Integrated Health System | Nurse Extern | Phoenix, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $56,349 |
| Valleywise Health | Nurse Extern | Phoenix, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $56,349 |
| HCA Healthone Presbyterian St. Luke's | Nurse Extern-ICU | Denver, CO | 06/28/2025 | $45,789 |
| SSM Health | Nurse Extern | Saint Joseph, MO | 06/23/2025 | $37,566 |
| University of New Mexico-Hospitals | Nurse Intern | Albuquerque, NM | 06/22/2025 | $49,191 |
| Presbyterian Healthcare Services | Nurse Extern | Espanola, NM | 06/21/2025 | $54,179 |
| Aurora Health Care | Nurse Extern II-December 2025 Grads-Neuro/Neurosurgical ICU | Cole, OK | 06/20/2025 | $44,766 |
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