Nurse Salaries By State + the Highest Paying States For RNs
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
- Average Registered Nurse Salary in the United States
- Average RN Salary by State Table
- Factors That Impact Registered Nurse Salary
- Other Considerations
- RN Salary FAQs
- 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.
52. Puerto Rico
Average RN Salary: $37,360
Average Hourly: $17.96
Number of RNs in Puerto Rico: 21,270
51. South Dakota
Average RN Salary: $64,500
Average Hourly: $31.01
Number of RNs in South Dakota: 14,360
48. Mississippi
Average RN Salary: $67,930
Average Hourly: $32.66
Number of RNs in Mississippi: 29,370
44. West Virginia
Average RN Salary: $72,230
Average Hourly: $34.73
Number of RNs in West Virginia: 21,110
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41. South Carolina
Average RN Salary: $74,330
Average Hourly: $35.74
Number of RNs in South Carolina: 44,030
40. North Dakota
Average RN Salary: $75,000
Average Hourly: $36.06
Number of RNs in North Dakota: 11,300
34. North Carolina
Average RN Salary: $77,420
Average Hourly: $37.22
Number of RNs in North Carolina: 104,300
27. Pennsylvania
Average RN Salary: $80,630
Average Hourly: $38.76
Number of RNs in Pennsylvania: 137,970
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21. New Hampshire
Average RN Salary: $83,420
Average Hourly: $40.11
Number of RNs in New Hampshire: 13,510
>> Related: Registered Nurse Salary in Texas
17. New Mexico
Average RN Salary: $85,580
Average Hourly: $41.15
Number of RNs in New Mexico: 15,910
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13. Rhode Island
Average RN Salary: $88,250
Average Hourly: $42.43
Number of RNs in Rhode Island: 11,190
11. Connecticut
Average RN Salary: $94,260
Average Hourly: $45.32
Number of RNs in Connecticut: 34,290
8. District of Columbia
Average RN Salary: $98,230
Average Hourly: $47.23
Number of RNs in DC: 11,820
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6. Washington
Average RN Salary: $101,670
Average Hourly: $48.88
Number of RNs in Washington: 64,920
4. Massachusetts
Average RN Salary: $104,150
Average Hourly: $50.07
Number of RNs in Massachusetts: 94,100
1. California
Average RN Salary: $133,340
Average Hourly: $64.10
Number of RNs in California: 325,620
*Extracted From BLS July 13, 2023
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 | $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
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 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:
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 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!
Registered Nurse Salary FAQs
The Takeaway
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!
