Registered Nurse Salary by State (2023) | Incredible Health (2024)

Nurse Salaries / States

Average registered nurse salaries vary significantly from state-to-state. In the United States overall, the average registered nurse salary is $82,750 and the median (50th percentile) is $77,600. California, with RN salaries averaging $124,000, is the highest-paying state for nurses as of May 2021 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics).

$63,460 lower than California’s average is South Dakota, at $60,540. With such a wide possible salary range, it may pay off for nurses to consider moving to a higher-paying state. On the other hand, it may not; large cost of living differences between states means the same dollar you earn in one state may not go as far as in another.

Read on to learn more about which state pays their nurses the most, both in absolute terms and after factoring in the cost of living.

In this article:

• Highest-paying states for RNs
• Highest-paying states, adjusted for cost of living
• RN salaries in all 50 states

Highest-paying states for registered nurses

California tops the list of the highest-paying states, where registered nurses make $124,000 per year on average. Following it is Hawaii, at $106,530, and Oregon at $98,630. Washington, D.C., while not technically a state, also ranks among the top-paying U.S. regions with an average RN salary of $98,540.

Top 10 highest-paying states for registered nurses

See salaries by state for:

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)
• Nurse Practitioners
• Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs)

Highest-paying states for RNs, adjusted for cost of living

The cost of living index is a measure of the relative purchasing power of a dollar for things like groceries, housing, and transportation. Regions, where these essential goods are more costly than the U.S. average, have a higher cost of living index; areas where these same goods tend to be cheaper, are estimated to have a lower cost of living. As of 2021, Hawaii tops the list at 119.3, while Mississippi comes in lowest, at 87.8.

When you adjust each state’s average RN salary by its cost of living index, you get a much clearer sense of earning power. Adjusting Hawaii’s $106,530 average RN salary by its high cost of living yields a cost-adjusted salary of $89,296. Doing the same math for Mississippi’s $63,130 average RN salary yields a cost-adjusted salary of $71,902. Suddenly, the gap between salaries doesn’t seem quite as significant.

It’s not just about the absolute size of the paycheck, but about how far those wages will go for a nurse’s budget.

Though California still tops the list of highest-paying states for nurses after adjusting for cost of living, the adjusted RN salary average drops to $106,529 – much lower than its $124,000 non-adjusted salary. Next on the cost-adjusted RN salary list are Oregon ($96,131) and Alaska ($92,512).

Top 10 highest-paying states for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living.

Registered nurse salaries in all 50 states

Of course, there are many reasons other than pay for living and working in a particular state. Whether you reside in the same town where you grew up, where your spouse is working, or simply in the state that offers you the best activities and options to suit your lifestyle, hospitals and other healthcare organizations employ registered nurses in every state across the U.S. To find your own state’s average RN salary, or to see what your nurse salary potential is in another state, use themapup top or thelistbelow.

U.S. nurse salary FAQ

Article Sources

• “May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.” bls.gov. Accessed April 1, 2022.
• “Regional Price Parities by State and Metro Area.” bea.gov. Accessed April 1, 2022.

Questions from the Incredible Health Nurse Community

• What is the most effective way to negotiate for higher pay? My peers in the same area are making almost $4/hr more than I am.
• How much should a RN with 22yrs combined specialty get paid in NC when applying straight to a facility, not travel?

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