Wondering where nurses make the most money in 2021? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) latest Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Report tells all! Not surprisingly, healthcare workers report some of the highest average salaries in the United States and nursing was named the best college major of 2021 by Universities.com. 

Here are all 50 states (plus Washington DC), ranked by average (mean) salary for registered nurses.

51.  South Dakota

Average RN Salary: $59,540

Average Hourly: $28.63

Number of RNs in South Dakota: 12,950

 

50.  Mississippi

Average RN Salary: $59,750

Average Hourly: $28.73

Number of RNs in South Dakota:  29,550

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49.  Alabama

Average RN Salary: $60,230

Average Hourly: $28.96

Number of RNs in South Dakota: 49,190

 

48.  Iowa

Average RN Salary: $60,590

Average Hourly: $29.13

Number of RNs in Iowa: 32,980

 

47.  Arkansas

Average RN Salary: $61,330

Average Hourly: $29.49

Number of RNs in Arkansas: 25,210

 

46.  Kansas 

Average RN Salary: $62,450

Average Hourly: $30.02

Number of RNs in Kansas: 30,370

 

45.  Tennessee

Average RN Salary: $62,570

Average Hourly: $30.08

Number of RNs in Tennessee: 63,330

 

 

44.  West Virginia

Average RN Salary: $63,220

Average Hourly: $30.39

Number of RNs in West Virginia: 19,830

 

43.  Kentucky

Average RN Salary: $63,750

Average Hourly: $30.65

Number of RNs in Kentucky: 43,840

 

42.  Missouri

Average RN Salary: $64,160

Average Hourly: $30.85

Number of RNs in Missouri:68,840

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41.  Oklahoma

Average RN Salary: $64,800

Average Hourly: $31.15

Number of RNs in Kentucky: 31,350

 

40.  South Carolina

Average RN Salary: $64,840

Average Hourly: $31.17

Number of RNs in South Carolina: 46,860

 

39.  Louisiana

Average RN Salary: $65,850

Average Hourly: $31.66

Number of RNs in Louisiana: 40,870

 

38.  North Dakota

Average RN Salary: $66,290

Average Hourly: $31.87

Number of RNs in North Dakota: 9,750

 

37.  North Carolina

Average RN Salary: $66,440

Average Hourly: $31.94

Number of RNs in North Carolina: 99,960

 

36.  Indiana

Average RN Salary: $66,560

Average Hourly: $32.00

Number of RNs in Indiana: 67,510

 

 

35.  Nebraska

Average RN Salary: $66,640

Average Hourly: $32.04

Number of RNs in Nebraska: 23,800

 

34.  Florida

Average RN Salary: $67,610

Average Hourly: $32.50

Number of RNs in Florida: 181,670

 

33.  Utah

Average RN Salary: $67,970

Average Hourly: $32.68

Number of RNs in Utah: 21,650

 

32.  Ohio

Average RN Salary: $68,220

Average Hourly: $32.80

Number of RNs in Ohio: 125,470

 

31.  Wyoming

Average RN Salary: $68,690

Average Hourly: $33.03

Number of RNs in Wyoming: 5,120

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30.  Montana

Average RN Salary: $69,340

Average Hourly: $33.34

Number of RNs in Montana: 10,310

 

29.  Idaho

Average RN Salary: $69,480

Average Hourly: $33.40

Number of RNs in Idaho: 14,110

 

28.  Georgia

Average RN Salary: $69,590

Average Hourly: $33.46

Number of RNs in Georgia: 75,430

 

27.  Maine

Average RN Salary: $69,760

Average Hourly: $33.54

Number of RNs in Maine: 14,490

 

26.  Vermont

Average RN Salary: $70,240

Average Hourly:$33.77

Number of RNs in Vermont: 6,270

 

 

25.  Pennsylvania

Average RN Salary: $71,410

Average Hourly: $34.33

Number of RNs in Pennsylvania: 148,040

 

24.  Virginia

Average RN Salary: $71,870

Average Hourly: $34.56

Number of RNs in Virginia: 66,040

 

23.  Wisconsin

Average RN Salary: $72,610

Average Hourly: $34.91

Number of RNs in Wisconsin: 61,930

 

22.  Michigan

Average RN Salary: $73,200

Average Hourly: $35.19

Number of RNs in Michigan: 96,900

 

 

21.  New Mexico

Average RN Salary: $73,300

Average Hourly: $35.24

Number of RNs in New Mexico: 17,350

 

20.  Illinois

Average RN Salary: $73,510

Average Hourly: $35.34

Number of RNs in Illinois: 129,530

 

19.  New Hampshire

Average RN Salary: $73,880

Average Hourly: $35.52

Number of RNs in New Hampshire: 14,320

 

 

18.  Delaware

Average RN Salary: $74,100

Average Hourly: $35.63

Number of RNs in Delaware: 11,730

 

17.  Texas

Average RN Salary: $74,540

Average Hourly: $35.84

Number of RNs in Texas: 218,090

 

16.  Colorado

Average RN Salary: $76,230

Average Hourly: $36.65

Number of RNs in Colorado: 52,510

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15.  Maryland

Average RN Salary: $77,910

Average Hourly: $37.46

Number of RNs in Maryland: 53,150

 

14.  Arizona

Average RN Salary: $78,330

Average Hourly: $37.66

Number of RNs in Arizona: 54,590

 

 

13.  Minnesota

Average RN Salary: $80,130

Average Hourly: $38.52

Number of RNs in Minnesota: 71,000

 

12.  Rhode Island

Average RN Salary: $82,310

Average Hourly: $39.57

Number of RNs in Rhode Island: 12,630

 

11.  Connecticut

Average RN Salary: $83,440

Average Hourly: $40.12

Number of RNs in Connecticut: 34,740

 

10.  New Jersey

Average RN Salary: $84,280

Average Hourly: $40.52

Number of RNs in New Jersey: 80,140

 

9.  Washington

Average RN Salary: $86,170

Average Hourly: $41.43

Number of RNs in Washington: 58,000

 

 

8.  New York

Average RN Salary: $87,840

Average Hourly: $42.23

Number of RNs in New York: 178,320

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7.  Nevada

Average RN Salary: $88,380

Average Hourly: $42.49

Number of RNs in Nevada: 22,940

 

6.  Alaska

Average RN Salary: $90,500

Average Hourly: $43.51

Number of RNs in Alaska: 6,210

 

5.  Oregon

Average RN Salary: $92,960

Average Hourly: $44.69

Number of RNs in Oregon: 36,660

 

 

4.  Massachusetts

Average RN Salary: $93,160

Average Hourly: $44.79

Number of RNs in Massachusetts: 81,020

 

3.  District of Columbia

Average RN Salary: $94,820

Average Hourly: $45.59

Number of RNs in DC: 10,890

 

2.  Hawaii 

Average RN Salary: $104,060

Average Hourly: $50.03

Number of RNs in Hawaii: 11,330

 

1.  California

Average RN Salary: $113,240

Average Hourly: $54.44

Number of RNs in California: 302,770

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 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 master's degree and doctorate prepared nurses will usually earn 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. 

You'll also want to look at things like the job benefits, the hours, what the work-life balance will be like, and what their training and education policies are like. Don't overlook your quality of life!

The Takeaway

There are a lot of things at play in the nursing salaries you can expect to earn. As you're planning out your career path, don't forget to keep them all in mind!