Salary

RN Salaries By State 2024

Wondering where you can make the most money as a nurse in 2024? Turns out, the average registered nurse salary varies widely from state to state. The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the difference between the highest and lowest RN salaries is nearly $100,000 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Read on to find out the highest paying states for registered nurses and check out the average RN salary by state.

In This Article

  1. Average Registered Nurse Salary in the United States
  2. Average RN Salary by State Table
  3. Factors That Impact Registered Nurse Salary
  4. Other Considerations
  5. RN Salary FAQs
  6. Conclusion

Many factors impact how much registered nurses make in each state. But how do they stack up against one another? We pulled the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to rank all 50 states, Wahington D.C., and Puerto Rico registered nurse salaries to see where you can make the most as an RN.

Average RN Salary: $37,360

Average Hourly: $17.96

Number of RNs in Puerto Rico: 21,270

Average RN Salary: $64,500

Average Hourly: $31.01

Number of RNs in South Dakota: 14,360

Average RN Salary: $66,530

Average Hourly: $31.98

Number of RNs in Arkansas: 28,490

Average RN Salary: $66,910

Average Hourly: $32.17

Number of RNs in Alabama: 49,370

Average RN Salary: $67,930

Average Hourly: $32.66

Number of RNs in Mississippi:  29,370

Mississippi River in Mississippi

Average RN Salary: $69,370

Average Hourly: $33.35

Number of RNs in Iowa: 34,050

Iowa City from the river at dusk

Average RN Salary: $71,860

Average Hourly: $34.55

Number of RNs in Missouri: 70,440

Average RN Salary: $71,990

Average Hourly: $34.61

Number of RNs in Kansas: 30,520

Average RN Salary: $72,230

Average Hourly: $34.73

Number of RNs in West Virginia: 21,110

Average RN Salary: $72,480

Average Hourly: $34.85

Number of RNs in Tennessee: 60,840

Average RN Salary: $73,510

Average Hourly: $35.34

Number of RNs in Nebraska: 19,870

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Average RN Salary: $75,000

Average Hourly: $36.06

Number of RNs in North Dakota: 11,300

Average RN Salary: $75,580

Average Hourly: $36.34

Number of RNs in Indiana: 67,350

Average RN Salary: $75,920

Average Hourly: $36.50

Number of RNs in Louisiana: 43,790

Famous state building in downtown New Orleans Louisiana

Average RN Salary: $76,400

Average Hourly: $36.73

Number of RNs in Utah: 22,830

Average RN Salary: $76,920

Average Hourly: $36.98

Number of RNs in Oklahoma: 30,320

 

Average RN Salary: $77,410

Average Hourly: $37.22

Number of RNs in Maine: 14,610

Atlantic Ocean coast in Maine

Average RN Salary: $77,420

Average Hourly: $37.22

Number of RNs in North Carolina: 104,300

Average RN Salary: $77,620

Average Hourly: $37.32

Number of RNs in Kentucky: 44,970

Average RN Salary: $78,350

Average Hourly: $37.67

Number of RNs in Montana: 10,020

Average RN Salary: $78,450

Average Hourly: $37.72

Number of RNs in Ohio: 130,370

Average RN Salary: $78,610

Average Hourly: $37.79

Number of RNs in Idaho: 13,680

Average RN Salary: $79,910

Average Hourly: $38.42

Number of RNs in Florida: 197,630

Average RN Salary: $79,990

Average Hourly: $38.46

Number of RNs in Vermont: 6,930

Average RN Salary: $80,630

Average Hourly: $38.76

Number of RNs in Pennsylvania: 137,970

Average RN Salary: $80,660

Average Hourly: $38.78

Number of RNs in Michigan: 101,470

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Average RN Salary: $81,000

Average Hourly: $38.94

Number of RNs in Wisconsin: 61,100

Average RN Salary: $81,010

Average Hourly: $38.95

Number of RNs in Wyoming: 5,070

Average RN Salary: $81,860

Average Hourly: $39.36

Number of RNs in Virginia: 69,510

Average RN Salary: $82,220

Average Hourly: $39.53

Number of RNs in Illinois: 129,390

Average RN Salary: $83,420

Average Hourly: $40.11

Number of RNs in New Hampshire: 13,510

Average RN Salary: $84,320

Average Hourly: $40.54

Number of RNs in Texas: 231,060

Average RN Salary: $85,020

Average Hourly: $40.88

Number of RNs in Delaware: 11,490

Average RN Salary: $85,180

Average Hourly: $40.95

Number of RNs in Georgia: 82,970

 

Average RN Salary: $85,580

Average Hourly: $41.15

Number of RNs in New Mexico: 15,910

Average RN Salary: $86,590

Average Hourly: $41.63

Number of RNs in Colorado: 52,390

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Average RN Salary: $86,740

Average Hourly: $41.70

Number of RNs in Arizona: 56,040

Average RN Salary: $87,990

Average Hourly: $42.30

Number of RNs in Maryland: 49,790

Average RN Salary: $88,250

Average Hourly: $42.43

Number of RNs in Rhode Island: 11,190

Average RN Salary: $88,860

Average Hourly: $42.72

Number of RNs in Minnesota: 63,800

Average RN Salary: $96,310

Average Hourly: $46.30

Number of RNs in Nevada: 23,970

Average RN Salary: $96,670

Average Hourly: $46.48

Number of RNs in New Jersey: 78,340

Average RN Salary: $98,230

Average Hourly: $47.23

Number of RNs in DC: 11,820

Average RN Salary: $100,130

Average Hourly: $48.14

Number of RNs in New York: 190,470

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Average RN Salary: $101,670

Average Hourly: $48.88

Number of RNs in Washington: 64,920

Average RN Salary: $103,310

Average Hourly: $49.67

Number of RNs in Alaska: 6,730

Two people sitting on frozen lake enjoying aurora borealis in Alaska

Average RN Salary: $104,150

Average Hourly: $50.07

Number of RNs in Massachusetts: 94,100

Average RN Salary: $106,610

Average Hourly: $51.26

Number of RNs in Oregon: 37,400

Waterfall splashing into forest lake in Oregon

Average RN Salary: $113,220

Average Hourly: $54.43

Number of RNs in Hawaii: 11,800

Average RN Salary: $133,340

Average Hourly: $64.10

Number of RNs in California: 325,620

*Extracted From BLS July 13, 2023

Here is a table of the average registered nurse salary in all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico:

State Annual Salary Hourly Wage
Alabama $66,910 $32.17
Alaska $103,310 $49.67
Arizona $86,740 $41.70
Arkansas $66,530 $31.98
California $133,340 $64.10
Colorado $86,590 $41.63
Connecticut $94,260 $45.32
Delaware $85,020 $40.88
District of Columbia $98,230 $47.23
Florida $79,910 $38.42
Georgia $85,180 $40.95
Hawaii $113,220 $54.43
Idaho $78,610 $37.79
Illinois $82,220 $39.53
Indiana $75,580 $36.34
Iowa $69,370 $33.35
Kansas $71,990 $34.61
Kentucky $77,620 $37.32
Louisiana $75,920 $36.50
Maine $77,410 $37.22
Maryland $87,990 $42.30
Massachusetts $104,150 $50.07
Michigan $80,660 $38.78
Minnesota $88,860 $42.72
Mississippi $67,930 $32.66
Missouri $71,860 $34.55
Montana $78,350 $37.67
Nebraska $73,510 $35.34
Nevada $96,310 $46.30
New Hampshire $83,420 $40.11
New Jersey $96,670 $46.48
New Mexico $85,580 $41.15
New York $100,130 $48.14
North Carolina $77,420 $37.22
North Dakota $75,000 $36.06
Ohio $78,450 $37.72
Oklahoma $76,920 $36.98
Oregon $106,610 $51.26
Pennsylvania $80,630 $38.76
Puerto Rico $37,360 $17.96
Rhode Island $88,250 $42.43
South Carolina $74,330 $35.74
South Dakota $64,500 $31.01
Tennessee $72,480 $34.85
Texas $84,320 $40.54
Utah $76,400 $36.73
Vermont $79,990 $38.46
Virginia $81,860 $39.36
Washington $101,670 $48.88
West Virginia $72,230 $34.73
Wisconsin $81,000 $38.94
Wyoming $81,010 $38.95

*Extracted From BLS July 13, 2023

The salaries by state listed above represent an average across all types of nurses. So, depending on your specialty, place of work, level of experience, degree, and many other factors, you’ll see some variances in how much you can expect to earn. Here are some of the things you should keep in mind that can impact how much you make:

See also  School Nurse Salary by State

1. Types of Nurses

Salaries will vary widely depending on your specialty and the nursing job you work in. 

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) like nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives can all expect to earn higher salaries than a nurse without a graduate degree. 

How you work also plays a big role in the annual salary you can expect to earn. Travel nurses and per diem nurses, for example, tend to earn far more than their traditional nurse counterparts.

2. Years of Experience

Registered nurses, at the start of their careers, will usually make less than nurses with more years of experience under their belts. As you improve your skills and progress in your career, you can expect to see your wages improve as well.

3. Degree Type

Nurses will typically see salary increases when they further their education. Nurses who have earned their Bachelor’s degree (BSN) tend to earn more than nurses who have only earned their Associate’s degree in Nursing (ADN). While a master’s in nursing or a doctorate degree will usually earn nurses even higher salaries.

As a nurse, your salary shouldn’t be the only thing you consider when deciding what field to go into or what job to take. 

How far that salary will go will greatly depend on the cost of living in the area. Some of the highest-paying states also cost a lot to live in, meaning that 6 figure salary isn’t going to go nearly as far as it would in a less expensive area. Your registered nurse salary in California might get you a comparable standard of living to a lower salary in Iowa.

You’ll also want to look at things like the job benefits, the hours, what the work-life balance will be, and what their training and education policies are like. Don’t overlook your quality of life!

There are a lot of things at play in the nursing salaries you can expect to earn. And even if you practice in a state with a lower RN salary average, there are always ways to increase your salary and reach your career goals. As you’re planning out your career path, don’t forget to keep all these factors in mind to set yourself up for success!

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