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Head nurse salary
Average head nurse salary
$80,173
Average Head Nurse Salary
The average salary for a head nurse is currently $80,173 per year, or approximately $39 per hour. This figure can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific healthcare facility. For example, head nurses in metropolitan areas often earn more than those in rural settings due to the higher cost of living and demand for healthcare services.
Salary by Experience Level
Experience plays a crucial role in determining a head nurse's salary. Entry-level positions may start at around $60,000, while those with significant experience can earn upwards of $100,000. The salary progression typically reflects increased responsibilities and expertise in managing nursing teams and patient care standards.
Top-Paying States for Head Nurses
State-specific data indicates that head nurses in states like California, New York, and Massachusetts tend to earn higher salaries. For instance, California head nurses can average over $90,000 annually, reflecting both demand and living costs in those regions.
Exploring Job Opportunities
For those interested in pursuing a career as a head nurse, Zippia offers a comprehensive job board featuring various openings across states and healthcare settings. This platform provides the necessary tools to apply for positions that align with your career goals.
Let Zippia find your next head nurse job
Let Zippia find your next head nurse job
Where can a Head Nurse earn more?
Head nurse salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level head nurse | $63,600 | $30.56 |
| Mid-level head nurse | $80,000 | $38.44 |
| Senior-level head nurse | $110,000 | $52.72 |
Head nurse salary estimates from across the web
Average head nurse salary by state
The highest-paying states for head nurses are California, Hawaii, and Oregon. The lowest average head nurse salary states are Florida, Iowa, and Massachusetts.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for head nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $101,841 | $48.96 |
| 2 | Montana | $90,905 | $43.70 |
| 3 | Oregon | $112,318 | $54.00 |
| 4 | California | $143,208 | $68.85 |
| 5 | Washington | $96,119 | $46.21 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $83,837 | $40.31 |
| 7 | Nevada | $100,675 | $48.40 |
| 8 | Arizona | $98,037 | $47.13 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $127,613 | $61.35 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $76,986 | $37.01 |
| 11 | Delaware | $83,801 | $40.29 |
| 12 | Idaho | $98,003 | $47.12 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $89,688 | $43.12 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $98,290 | $47.25 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $89,956 | $43.25 |
| 16 | Texas | $76,158 | $36.61 |
| 17 | New York | $84,201 | $40.48 |
| 18 | Colorado | $86,558 | $41.61 |
| 19 | Michigan | $75,429 | $36.26 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $72,566 | $34.89 |
| 21 | Utah | $83,725 | $40.25 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $70,413 | $33.85 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $93,163 | $44.79 |
| 24 | Ohio | $69,827 | $33.57 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $68,699 | $33.03 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $70,558 | $33.92 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $65,609 | $31.54 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $72,014 | $34.62 |
| 29 | Indiana | $69,960 | $33.63 |
| 30 | Kansas | $71,380 | $34.32 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $75,718 | $36.40 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $63,181 | $30.38 |
| 33 | Georgia | $70,025 | $33.67 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $64,007 | $30.77 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $68,384 | $32.88 |
| 36 | Alabama | $70,540 | $33.91 |
| 37 | Maryland | $71,661 | $34.45 |
| 38 | Florida | $62,630 | $30.11 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $65,382 | $31.43 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $65,453 | $31.47 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $70,091 | $33.70 |
| 42 | Connecticut | $65,759 | $31.61 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $67,511 | $32.46 |
| 44 | Virginia | $70,869 | $34.07 |
| 45 | Illinois | $71,154 | $34.21 |
| 46 | Missouri | $68,349 | $32.86 |
| 47 | Maine | $48,019 | $23.09 |
| 48 | New Hampshire | $49,738 | $23.91 |
| 49 | Massachusetts | $54,715 | $26.31 |
| 50 | Vermont | $38,144 | $18.34 |
| 51 | Iowa | $55,322 | $26.60 |
Highest paying cities for head nurses
The highest-paying cities for head nurses are Minneapolis, MN, New Brunswick, NJ, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $98,396 | $47.31 |
| 2 | New Brunswick, NJ | $91,608 | $44.04 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $86,380 | $41.53 |
| 4 | Wilmington, DE | $83,669 | $40.23 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $81,081 | $38.98 |
| 6 | Meridian, MS | $71,988 | $34.61 |
| 7 | Gaithersburg, MD | $71,720 | $34.48 |
| 8 | Glen Ellyn, IL | $71,127 | $34.20 |
| 9 | Mechanicsville, VA | $70,783 | $34.03 |
| 10 | Bridgeport, CT | $67,906 | $32.65 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $65,499 | $31.49 |
| 12 | Columbia, SC | $65,370 | $31.43 |
Head nurse salary details
A head nurse's salary ranges from $48,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $132,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a head nurse's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $132,000 | $11,000 | $63 |
| 75th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| Average | $80,173 | $6,681 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
Highest paying head nurse jobs
The highest paying types of head nurses are contractor-registered nurse, nurse manager, and nurse coordinator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Coordinator | $79,040 | $6,587 | $38.00 | 428,775 |
| Nurse Clinician | $65,159 | $5,430 | $31.33 | 596,073 |
| Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | $71,342 | $5,945 | $34.30 | 645,134 |
| Nurse Educator | $67,983 | $5,665 | $32.68 | 537,803 |
| Contractor-Registered Nurse | $128,474 | $10,706 | $61.77 | 648,022 |
| Nurse Manager | $83,684 | $6,974 | $40.23 | 380,264 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for head nurses, 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.
Top companies hiring head nurses now:
Which companies pay head nurses the most?
Head nurse salaries at AstraZeneca and Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. Are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average head nurse salary at companies like Health Alliance and WakeMed are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AstraZeneca | $99,274 | $47.73 |
| 2 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $86,658 | $41.66 |
| 3 | Health Alliance | $85,207 | $40.96 |
| 4 | WakeMed | $84,667 | $40.71 |
| 5 | Lakeland Regional Health | $79,320 | $38.13 |
| 6 | Broome Delaware Tioga BOCES - Practical Nursing Program | $73,329 | $35.25 |
| 7 | One Brooklyn Health | $72,691 | $34.95 |
| 8 | Bridgeport Hospital | $70,575 | $33.93 |
| 9 | State of Connecticut | $69,978 | $33.64 |
| 10 | Texas Tech University | $64,967 | $31.23 |
| 11 | New Brunswick Public Schools | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| 12 | S.C. Department of Commerce | $61,362 | $29.50 |
| 13 | START Treatment & Recovery Centers | $61,261 | $29.45 |
| 14 | Alamance Community College | $60,386 | $29.03 |
| 15 | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | $58,952 | $28.34 |
| 16 | Green Janet Lynne | $57,792 | $27.78 |
| 17 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | $50,689 | $24.37 |
| 18 | Tidelands Health | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| 19 | Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge | $34,006 | $16.35 |
| 20 | Allina Health | $28,114 | $13.52 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Head nurse salary trends
The average head nurse salary has risen by $11,223 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average head nurse earned $68,950 annually, but today, they earn $80,173 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for head nurses over the last decade.
Compare head nurse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average head nurse salary over time
Compare head nurse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Head nurse salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $80,200 | $38.54 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $78,000 | $37.51 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $76,300 | $36.70 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $74,500 | $35.82 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $72,900 | $35.02 | +1.4% |
Recently added head nurse salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Catherine of Siena | Assistant Head Nurse-Pacu/Periop | Bethpage, NY | 05/21/2025 | $125,387 |
| Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center | New Graduate RN Resident-Thoracic, Head and Neck Clinic Nurse | Seattle, WA | 04/27/2025 | $94,645 |
| F45 Training | Head Nurse | Coral Springs, FL | 04/23/2025 | $60,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey | Head Nurse | Kinnelon, NJ | 04/11/2025 | $69,132 |
| F45 Training | Head Nurse | Coral Springs, FL | 03/18/2025 | $60,000 |
| State of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services | Head Nurse ( | Newington, CT | 02/21/2025 | $91,192 |
| Bender Jcc of Greater Washington | Camp Head Nurse | Rockville, MD | 02/21/2025 | $168,000 |
| Covenant Health | Assistant Head Nurse-Labour and Delivery | Union, NJ | 02/19/2025 | $84,565 |
| Pali Institute Inc. | Head Nurse | Ione, CA | 02/19/2025 | $68,460 |
| Nycancer | Head Nurse (RN) | New York, NY | 02/19/2025 | $129,394 |
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