Registered Nurses salary
Registered Nurses earn a median of $97,550 a year ($46.90/hr) in the U.S. – from $39,880 in Puerto Rico to $140,270 in California. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$46.90/hr · $97,550 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$68,940$33.14/hr
75% earn more$80,330$38.62/hr
half earn more, half less$97,550$46.90/hr
25% earn more$112,350$54.02/hr
top 10% earn more$137,470$66.09/hr
pulled up by top earners$101,420$48.76/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among registered nurses. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for registered nurses. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
338,940 jobs · $67.44/hr$140,270
12,940 jobs · $65.54/hr$136,320
39,730 jobs · $62.02/hr$129,010
69,260 jobs · $59.71/hr$124,200
7,510 jobs · $52.64/hr$109,480
205,810 jobs · $52.62/hr$109,440
92,680 jobs · $51.20/hr$106,500
88,200 jobs · $50.27/hr$104,550
27,070 jobs · $49.84/hr$103,670
40,110 jobs · $49.39/hr$102,740
11,440 jobs · $49.30/hr$102,540
70,110 jobs · $48.80/hr$101,510
10,090 jobs · $48.39/hr$100,640
54,490 jobs · $48.20/hr$100,260
52,910 jobs · $47.98/hr$99,790
15,390 jobs · $47.93/hr$99,700
14,290 jobs · $47.85/hr$99,520
73,150 jobs · $47.84/hr$99,500
7,410 jobs · $46.86/hr$97,460
146,520 jobs · $46.36/hr$96,430
138,910 jobs · $46.15/hr$95,990
271,380 jobs · $46.14/hr$95,970
68,060 jobs · $45.93/hr$95,530
17,980 jobs · $45.36/hr$94,340
104,950 jobs · $45.34/hr$94,300
77,490 jobs · $45.00/hr$93,600
100,950 jobs · $44.98/hr$93,550
16,880 jobs · $44.45/hr$92,460
16,540 jobs · $41.82/hr$86,990
10,950 jobs · $41.00/hr$85,280
24,720 jobs · $40.74/hr$84,730
27,420 jobs · $40.67/hr$84,600
111,120 jobs · $40.56/hr$84,350
229,940 jobs · $40.48/hr$84,190
5,330 jobs · $40.27/hr$83,760
68,980 jobs · $40.14/hr$83,500
38,270 jobs · $39.87/hr$82,920
143,730 jobs · $39.67/hr$82,510
49,750 jobs · $39.60/hr$82,360
76,310 jobs · $39.32/hr$81,780
72,200 jobs · $39.18/hr$81,500
50,300 jobs · $38.96/hr$81,040
11,340 jobs · $38.81/hr$80,730
48,970 jobs · $38.57/hr$80,230
23,430 jobs · $38.52/hr$80,130
33,800 jobs · $38.14/hr$79,320
29,400 jobs · $37.95/hr$78,940
34,420 jobs · $37.80/hr$78,630
14,710 jobs · $37.53/hr$78,060
29,060 jobs · $37.06/hr$77,090
54,340 jobs · $37.06/hr$77,080
21,270 jobs · $19.17/hr$39,880
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 29-1141. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do registered nurses make?
The median wage for registered nurses in the U.S. was $46.90 an hour or $97,550 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $80,330 and $112,350 a year.
Which state pays registered nurses the most?
California has the highest median wage for registered nurses: $140,270 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $39,880. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many registered nurses are there?
BLS estimates 3,379,720 registered nurses were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.