Nurse Salaries By State + the Highest Paying States For RNs

Wondering where you can make the most money as a nurse in 2024? As it 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

Average Registered Nurse Salary in the United States

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.

>> Related: What are the Highest-Paying Countries for Nurses?

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*Extracted From BLS July 10, 2024

How Much Do Registered Nurses Make in Each State?

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	$65,900	$31.68
Alaska	$106,410	$51.16
Arizona	$88,310	$42.46
Arkansas	$72,920	$35.06
California	$133,990	$64.42
Colorado	$86,900	$41.78
Connecticut	$100,620	$48.37
Delaware	$93,200	$44.81
District of Columbia	$105,220	$50.59
Florida	$80,960	$38.92
Georgia	$83,620	$40.20
Hawaii	$129,210	$62.12
Idaho	$80,130	$38.53
Illinois	$82,470	$39.65
Indiana	$78,530	$37.76
Iowa	$71,570	$34.41
Kansas	$75,780	$36.43
Kentucky	$77,830	$37.42
Louisiana	$76,650	$36.85
Maine	$81,610	$39.24
Maryland	$89,340	$42.95
Massachusetts	$99,730	$47.95
Michigan	$81,710	$39.28
Minnesota	$97,300	$46.78
Mississippi	$69,370	$33.35
Missouri	$77,190	$37.11
Montana	$79,170	$38.06
Nebraska	$78,100	$37.55
Nevada	$96,210	$46.25
New Hampshire	$86,620	$41.65
New Jersey	$100,160	$48.15
New Mexico	$83,970	$40.37
New York	$104,570	$50.28
North Carolina	$79,580	$38.26
North Dakota	$74,930	$36.03
Ohio	$79,940	$38.44
Oklahoma	$78,760	$37.87
Oregon	$110,940	$53.34
Pennsylvania	$82,780	$39.80
Puerto Rico	$36,420	$17.51
Rhode Island	$94,840	$45.60
South Carolina	$78,380	$37.68
South Dakota	$67,030	$32.23
Tennessee	$76,200	$36.64
Texas	$85,110	$40.92
Utah	$79,790	$38.36
Vermont	$81,900	$39.37
Virginia	$84,100	$40.43
Washington	$107,720	$51.79
West Virginia	$78,730	$37.85
Wisconsin	$83,300	$40.05
Wyoming	$79,970	$38.45

*Extracted From BLS July 13, 2023

Registered Nurse Salary Factors

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 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:

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.

Other RN Salary Considerations 

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 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, the work-life balance, and what their training and education policies are like. Don't overlook your quality of life!

Registered Nurse Salary FAQs

• What are the highest-paying jobs in the medical field? 

  • Some of the highest-paying jobs in healthcare, other than physicians, are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), which include Certified Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). 

• What is the happiest career in the medical field?

  • U.S. News ranked Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as the best job in healthcare in 2022.

• What is the easiest medical field job?

  • It really depends on what you define as “easy.” If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t require hands-on care and pays well, informatics, technology, or biomedical engineering may all be good choices.

• What is the least stressful job in the medical field?

  • Audiologists—who diagnose problems with the ears—have a reputation for having the lowest amount of stress in the medical field.

The Takeaway

There are several 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 plan your career path, don't forget to keep all these factors in mind to set yourself up for success!