RN Salary Guide by State
Knowing the average RN salary can be helpful when you’re looking for a nursing job. Since nursing salaries can vary from state to state, understanding which states have the highest earning potential allows you to more effectively choose where you want to practice.
This guide provides you the tools you need to learn what the average RN salary is nationwide, as well as on a state-by-state basis.
Salaries for Registered Nurses
The median annual salary for registered nurses is $86,070 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This can vary considerably based on what field or specialty of nursing you focus on, as well as by geography. The salaries of nurses working in hospitals or for the government tend to be above the national median, while nurses who work in residential care facilities or physicians’ offices earn salaries below the national median.
Nursing careers are growing much more quickly than other careers in the United States. According to the BLS, employment of RNs is expected to grow six percent by 2033.
RN Salary Guide by State
Data in this map, as well as in the breakdown below, is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2023).
RN Salary: The Breakdown
The map above can help you determine what the RN salary is in your state or surrounding states. It’s a useful visual representation of the data in the table below. This table can be helpful for quickly finding the annual mean salary in a particular state, as well as easily comparing the salaries in different states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $71,370 |
| Alaska | $109,210 |
| Arizona | $91,430 |
| Arkansas | $72,900 |
| California | $137,690 |
| Colorado | $91,730 |
| Connecticut | $101,840 |
| Delaware | $94,670 |
| Florida | $84,760 |
| Georgia | $90,000 |
| Hawaii | $119,710 |
| Idaho | $83,090 |
| Illinois | $87,650 |
| Indiana | $82,700 |
| Iowa | $74,610 |
| Kansas | $76,240 |
| Kentucky | $81,770 |
| Louisiana | $80,760 |
| Maine | $84,340 |
| Maryland | $92,090 |
| Massachusetts | $108,850 |
| Michigan | $86,210 |
| Minnesota | $94,830 |
| Mississippi | $75,510 |
| Missouri | $77,590 |
| Montana | $82,950 |
| Nebraska | $79,780 |
| Nevada | $97,700 |
| New Hampshire | $89,410 |
| New Jersey | $101,960 |
| New Mexico | $92,140 |
| New York | $106,620 |
| North Carolina | $82,530 |
| North Dakota | $79,190 |
| Ohio | $84,430 |
| Oklahoma | $82,110 |
| Oregon | $113,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,530 |
| Rhode Island | $95,070 |
| South Carolina | $81,390 |
| South Dakota | $69,030 |
| Tennessee | $78,240 |
| Texas | $90,210 |
| Utah | $83,100 |
| Vermont | $88,380 |
| Virginia | $88,350 |
| Washington | $111,030 |
| West Virginia | $75,990 |
| Wisconsin | $87,220 |
| Wyoming | $83,990 |
| Wyoming | $73,130 |
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For more than 30 years, Rivier University’s Department of Nursing and Health Professions has prepared students to meet the rapidly changing demands of the healthcare environment. Rivier continually builds on its strengths, offering programs that provide students with individual attention, quality education, and numerous opportunities for practical experience.
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Request more information today to learn how Rivier can help you achieve your career goals.