Highest Paying States For Registered Nurses in 2020
Updated: 4/8/2020
It’s that time of year again! The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its latest Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Report. Not surprisingly, healthcare workers report some of the highest wages in the country. Here are all 50 states (plus Washington DC), ranked by average (mean) salary for registered nurses in 2019.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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