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Registered professional nurse salary
Average registered professional nurse salary
$73,268
Registered Professional Nurse Salary Overview
A Registered Professional Nurse (RPN) plays a vital role in patient care, and the compensation reflects this importance. As of October 2025, the average salary for an RPN is $73,268 annually. Earnings typically range from $60,000 to $90,000, influenced by factors like geographical location, healthcare facility type, and years of experience.
Salary Variations by State
States with the highest average salaries for RPNs include:
- California: $98,000
- Hawaii: $95,000
- Massachusetts: $92,000
In these states, demand for nursing professionals remains high, leading to competitive salaries. Additionally, cities such as San Francisco and New York offer some of the highest wages in the field.
Impact of Experience
Entry-level RPNs typically start at around $60,000, while those with over ten years of experience can earn upwards of $90,000. Pursuing specialized certifications can further enhance earning potential and job opportunities.
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Where can a Registered Professional Nurse earn more?
Registered professional nurse salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level registered professional nurse | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Mid-level registered professional nurse | $73,100 | $35.13 |
| Senior-level registered professional nurse | $100,000 | $48.18 |
Average registered professional nurse salary by state
The average registered professional nurse salary in Alaska, Delaware, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average registered professional nurse salary states are North Dakota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for registered professional nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $89,169 | $42.87 |
| 2 | Delaware | $87,993 | $42.30 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $84,975 | $40.85 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $75,562 | $36.33 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $83,273 | $40.04 |
| 6 | New York | $87,824 | $42.22 |
| 7 | Georgia | $78,365 | $37.68 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $100,980 | $48.55 |
| 9 | Michigan | $79,587 | $38.26 |
| 10 | Oregon | $85,372 | $41.04 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $74,893 | $36.01 |
| 12 | Texas | $76,810 | $36.93 |
| 13 | Washington | $79,359 | $38.15 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $75,348 | $36.23 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $85,335 | $41.03 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $82,334 | $39.58 |
| 17 | Colorado | $78,858 | $37.91 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $75,073 | $36.09 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $72,885 | $35.04 |
| 20 | California | $86,930 | $41.79 |
| 21 | Arizona | $73,718 | $35.44 |
| 22 | Idaho | $73,596 | $35.38 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $68,011 | $32.70 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $70,878 | $34.08 |
| 25 | Maine | $67,155 | $32.29 |
| 26 | Nevada | $73,983 | $35.57 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $69,892 | $33.60 |
| 28 | Maryland | $78,514 | $37.75 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $74,774 | $35.95 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $66,441 | $31.94 |
| 31 | Missouri | $73,259 | $35.22 |
| 32 | Vermont | $67,515 | $32.46 |
| 33 | Indiana | $65,195 | $31.34 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $68,537 | $32.95 |
| 35 | Florida | $65,752 | $31.61 |
| 36 | Montana | $67,870 | $32.63 |
| 37 | Alabama | $68,299 | $32.84 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $62,148 | $29.88 |
| 39 | Iowa | $62,793 | $30.19 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $66,278 | $31.86 |
| 41 | Illinois | $69,344 | $33.34 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $59,839 | $28.77 |
| 43 | Utah | $69,485 | $33.41 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $73,464 | $35.32 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $67,331 | $32.37 |
| 46 | Virginia | $68,907 | $33.13 |
| 47 | Kansas | $59,611 | $28.66 |
| 48 | Ohio | $62,158 | $29.88 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $59,491 | $28.60 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $57,046 | $27.43 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $60,919 | $29.29 |
Highest paying cities for registered professional nurses
The highest-paying cities for registered professional nurses are New York, NY, Fresno, CA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $88,757 | $42.67 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $87,519 | $42.08 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $85,483 | $41.10 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $78,338 | $37.66 |
| 5 | Fort Worth, TX | $76,543 | $36.80 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $73,687 | $35.43 |
| 7 | Chapel Hill, NC | $67,496 | $32.45 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,761 | $31.62 |
| 9 | Fairfield, OH | $61,523 | $29.58 |
Registered professional nurse salary details
A registered professional nurse's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $124,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a registered professional nurse's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $124,000 | $10,333 | $60 |
| 75th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| Average | $73,268 | $6,106 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
Highest paying registered professional nurse jobs
The highest paying types of registered professional nurses are contractor-registered nurse, agency registered nurse, and registered nurse in the icu.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse | $57,564 | $4,797 | $27.67 | 696,124 |
| Staff Nurse | $68,342 | $5,695 | $32.86 | 699,636 |
| Clinical Research Nurse | $60,347 | $5,029 | $29.01 | 703,983 |
| Emergency Department Registered Nurse | $81,260 | $6,772 | $39.07 | 661,518 |
| Psychiatric Registered Nurse | $73,053 | $6,088 | $35.12 | 640,480 |
| Registered Nurse In The ICU | $92,881 | $7,740 | $44.65 | 631,825 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for registered professional 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 registered professional nurses now:
Which companies pay registered professional nurses the most?
Registered professional nurse salaries at Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp. and Medical City Arlington are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average registered professional nurse salary at companies like Express Healthcare Professionals and Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp. | $102,354 | $49.21 |
| 2 | Medical City Arlington | $100,260 | $48.20 |
| 3 | Express Healthcare Professionals | $93,427 | $44.92 |
| 4 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $93,174 | $44.80 |
| 5 | Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc. | $79,180 | $38.07 |
| 6 | PeaceHealth | $78,406 | $37.70 |
| 7 | Lakeland Regional Health | $74,325 | $35.73 |
| 8 | Kettering Health Network | $74,298 | $35.72 |
| 9 | Tufts Medical Center | $73,071 | $35.13 |
| 10 | Highmark | $72,592 | $34.90 |
| 11 | TRC Companies | $71,839 | $34.54 |
| 12 | MVP Health Care | $70,097 | $33.70 |
| 13 | Medstar Health | $69,363 | $33.35 |
| 14 | Geisinger Medical Center | $68,532 | $32.95 |
| 15 | State of Connecticut | $67,904 | $32.65 |
| 16 | Mount Sinai Health System | $67,427 | $32.42 |
| 17 | Clinical Management Consultants | $66,074 | $31.77 |
| 18 | Monroe County | $65,918 | $31.69 |
| 19 | Topeka Public Schools | $65,331 | $31.41 |
| 20 | Sentara Healthcare | $64,971 | $31.24 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Registered professional nurse salary trends
The average registered professional nurse salary has risen by $10,256 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average registered professional nurse earned $63,012 annually, but today, they earn $73,268 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for registered professional nurses over the last decade.
Compare registered professional nurse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average registered professional nurse salary over time
Compare registered professional nurse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Registered professional nurse salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $73,300 | $35.23 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $71,300 | $34.28 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $69,800 | $33.54 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $68,100 | $32.73 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $66,600 | $32.01 | +1.4% |
Recently added registered professional nurse salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Association of School | Health Professional RN @ Roosevelt Elementary School | Moline, IL | 06/26/2025 | $65,678 |
| Monument Health | Nursing Professional Development RN | Rapid City, SD | 06/26/2025 | $74,880 |
| Poughkeepsie City School District | Registered Professional Nurse (School) | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $65,309 |
| Moline-Coal Valley School District | Health Professional, RN @ Roosevelt Elementary School | Kane, IL | 06/25/2025 | $65,678 |
| Octapharma Plasma | CA Medical Professional-Registered Nurse (RN) | Indio, CA | 06/22/2025 | $81,831 |
| Humana | Compliance Professional; Registered Nurse | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| Humana | Compliance Professional; Registered Nurse | Jefferson City, MO | 06/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| Humana | Compliance Professional; Registered Nurse | Helena, MT | 06/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| Humana | Compliance Professional; Registered Nurse | Nashville, TN | 06/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| Humana | Compliance Professional; Registered Nurse | Montpelier, VT | 06/18/2025 | $65,000 |
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