Nurse Salary 2026: RN Pay by State, Hourly Rates & Top Specialties
The average nurse salary in the United States is strong and still climbing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earned a median annual wage of $93,600 in May 2024 nearly double the median for all occupations. If you are comparing healthcare careers, our phlebotomist salary guide covers an allied-health path with a much shorter training route.
Nurse Salary: Quick Answer
Registered nurses in the US earned a median of $93,600 per year ($45.00 per hour) in May 2024, per the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. That works out to roughly $7,800 per month before taxes.
New graduates typically start between $60,000 and $75,000, while the top 10% of RNs earn more than $135,320. Job-posting sites report slightly different averages: ZipRecruiter puts the national average at $87,868, and Indeed at about $45.36 per hour. Pay rises with experience, education, specialty, and state.
Disclaimer: Every figure below is labeled with its source and year. Actual pay varies by state, employer, shift, and experience, so treat these numbers as well-sourced guides, not guarantees.
| Experience / Level | Annual Salary | Approximate Monthly Equivalent | Compensation Type | Source / Notes |
| Entry-level RN | $60,000–$75,000 | $5,000–$6,250 | Starting range, employer postings | ICGI employer-posting data, 2025 |
| Median RN (national) | $93,600 | $7,800 | Median wage, full-time | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024 |
| Experienced RN (top 10%) | More than $135,320 | More than $11,277 | 90th percentile wage | BLS OEWS, May 2024 |
| ZipRecruiter national average | $87,868 (~$42.24/hr) | $7,322 | Average of job postings | ZipRecruiter, Oct 2026 |
| Indeed average | ~$94,349 (~$45.36/hr) | ~$7,862 | Average of 261,800 job postings | Indeed, updated Oct 4, 2026 |
Nurse Salary Per Month
Dividing the BLS median of $93,600 by 12 gives an approximate monthly equivalent of $7,800 before taxes; this is a simple annual÷12 calculation, not a separate monthly pay scale. ZipRecruiter reports its own monthly figure of about $7,322 for its $87,868 average.
Remember that gross monthly pay is not take-home pay.
After federal and state income taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and benefit deductions, the actual paycheck is noticeably smaller. Monthly figures elsewhere in this article are likewise approximate equivalents of the cited annual or hourly rates.
Nurse Salary for Freshers
New graduate RNs start below the national median, but nursing is one of the better-paid entry-level careers that requires no prior work experience:
- Typical starting range: $60,000–$75,000 per year, depending on location and facility type (ICGI, 2025, based on employer postings).
- ZipRecruiter postings: Starting RN roles averaged $44.48 per hour as of April 2026 (about $92,500 annualized), with a median of $40.08 per hour (about $83,400 annualized) and most offers clustering between $33.65 and $51.92 per hour.
- Real employer example: UVA Health’s 2026 new-graduate program lists starting base rates of $38 per hour for inpatient units (about $79,000 per year) and $39.50 per hour for the operating room.
- ADN vs BSN at entry: BSN graduates generally start higher, and many hospitals add an education differential for BSN holders (ICGI, 2025).
- Nurse residency programs: Most large hospitals run 12-month transition-to-practice residencies — UVA Health pairs its residency with a 5% raise on promotion to Clinician 2 and a $10,000 new-graduate incentive bonus.
Nurse Salary by Experience
Experience is one of the strongest drivers of RN pay. The ranges below synthesize BLS percentile data with job-posting averages from ZipRecruiter and Indeed:
| Years of Experience | Typical Reported Annual Range | Basis |
| 0–2 years | $60,000–$75,000 | Entry-level employer postings (ICGI, 2025) |
| 3–5 years | $75,000–$90,000 | Approaching the BLS national median of $93,600 (May 2024) |
| 6–10 years | $90,000–$110,000 | Mid-career; ZipRecruiter’s 75th percentile is about $104,000 (2026) |
| 10+ years | $110,000–$135,000+ | BLS top 10% exceeds $135,320; Indeed lists RN III roles at ~$63.46/hr (2026) |
A Nurse.org poll of working nurses found a similar arc in hourly terms: an average starting wage of $29.04 per hour rising to $41.14 per hour for nurses with 20+ years of experience.
Nurse Hourly Rates
Because many nurses are paid hourly (and pick up overtime), the hourly view matters:
- BLS median: $45.00 per hour for RNs (May 2024).
- ZipRecruiter average: about $42.24 per hour nationally (October 2026).
- Indeed average: $45.36 per hour, with postings ranging from $30.71 to $67.00 per hour (October 2026).
- Overtime: Typically paid at 1.5× the regular rate; Indeed’s RN postings average about $12,000 per year in overtime earnings.
- Shift differentials: Hospitals pay premiums for less popular shifts. UVA Health’s published 2026 differentials are typical of the pattern: +$3.00/hour weekday evenings, +$4.45 nights, and up to +$7.65 weekend nights.
Nurse Salary by State
Where you work can swing RN pay by $60,000 or more. The table below uses BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state medians (May 2025 release) as compiled by Becker’s Hospital Review in July 2026:
| State | Median Annual Salary | Median Hourly Wage |
| California | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | $65.54 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | $62.02 |
| Washington | $124,200 | $59.71 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | $52.64 |
| New York | $109,440 | $52.62 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | $51.20 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | $50.27 |
Why these states pay more: high cost of living (California, Hawaii, New York), strong nurse unions and mandated nurse-to-patient staffing ratios (California’s landmark ratio law), and remote or high-cost labor markets (Alaska). At the other end, the same dataset puts Alabama at $77,080 and Mississippi at $77,090 Southern states with lower costs of living and weaker union density tend to pay the least. Note that this state dataset’s national median of $97,550 reflects the newer May 2025 BLS release, while the $93,600 national figure cited elsewhere in this article comes from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook’s May 2024 data.
Nurse Salary by Specialty
Specialty choice matters as much as geography. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are the clear top earners in nursing:
| Specialty | Reported Pay | Source / Notes |
| CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) | $223,210 median; avg. starting salary $286,250 | BLS, May 2024 (median); AMN Healthcare 2026 recruiting review (starting, base pay only, 2025–26) |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $129,210 median | BLS, May 2024 |
| Nurse Midwife | $128,790 median | BLS, May 2024 |
| ICU / Critical Care RN | ~$82,100 average | NurseJournal, Oct 2025 |
| ER / Emergency RN | ~$79,050 average | NurseJournal, Oct 2025 |
| Labor & Delivery RN | ~$65.98/hr in travel bids | SkillGigs verified facility bids, Sept 2025 |
| Psychiatric RN | $86,659/yr avg (~$41.66/hr) | ZipRecruiter, 2026; Indeed reports $47.34/hr (Oct 2026) |
| Operating Room RN | Among the higher-paying staff specialties | ICGI, 2025; UVA lists new-grad OR base at $39.50/hr (2026) |
| NICU RN | Not published separately by BLS | Grouped under critical-care nursing; hospital postings vary |
Indeed’s job-posting data skews higher for critical care it lists national averages of $149,022 for ICU RNs and $150,219 for ER RNs (plus roughly $12,400–$12,500 in yearly overtime), reflecting postings concentrated in high-cost markets and overtime-heavy roles.
Travel Nurse Salary
Travel nurses work 13-week contracts through staffing agencies, and the pay is substantially above staff rates but it is contract income, not a permanent salary. AMN Healthcare’s 2025 placement data shows recently filled travel RN contracts paying:
| Specialty / Assignment | Average Weekly Pay | Reported Range |
| CVOR, Vermont | $2,848 | $2,642–$3,079 |
| Inpatient Rehab, North Dakota | $2,269 | $1,544–$3,014 |
| Telephone Triage, Oregon | $2,217 | $2,010–$2,409 |
| Long-Term Acute Care, Vermont | $2,126 | $1,793–$2,727 |
| Home Health Hospice, Florida | $1,792 | $1,445–$2,072 |
| Progressive Care (PCU), Louisiana | $1,666 | $1,527–$1,818 |
| Outpatient, Tennessee | $1,642 | $1,427–$1,961 |
Source: AMN Healthcare filled-placement data, 2025. A $2,200/week contract annualizes to roughly $114,000, but multiplying by 52 is only illustrative; contracts run 13 weeks and gaps between assignments are common. Part of travel pay often arrives as tax-advantaged housing and meals stipends for qualifying travelers (confirm eligibility with a tax professional). Most agencies require 1–2 years of recent bedside experience in the specialty.
Factors That Affect Nurse Salary
- Experience: The single biggest lever the BLS 10th-to-90th percentile span runs from under $66,030 to over $135,320.
- Education: BSN holders typically start higher and qualify for more roles than ADN holders; MSN/DNP degrees unlock APRN pay bands ($129,210–$223,210, BLS May 2024).
- Specialty: Critical care, OR, and L&D out-earn med-surg and clinic roles; CRNA and NP credentials sit at the very top.
- Location: State medians range from about $77,000 to $140,000, driven by cost of living, unions, and staffing-ratio laws.
- Employer type: Government employers pay the most among BLS-tracked industries ($106,480 median), followed by hospitals ($97,260); nursing and residential care facilities pay less ($81,820).
- Shift differentials and overtime: Nights, weekends, and holidays add $3–$8+ per hour at many hospitals; overtime at 1.5× can add ~$12,000 a year (Indeed, 2026).
- Certifications: Credentials like CCRN (critical care) or PMH-BC (psychiatric-mental health) commonly bring certification bonuses and stronger negotiating power.
- Career ladder position: Compared with allied health roles like phlebotomy, nursing offers a longer, steeper pay ladder — from new-grad RN through charge nurse, nurse manager, and advanced practice.
What Does a Nurse Do?
Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and families about health conditions. Core duties include assessing patients, administering medications, monitoring vital signs, updating care plans, and collaborating with physicians.
RNs work in hospitals, clinics, home health, nursing homes, and schools. Hospital nurses usually work shifts covering nights, weekends, and holidays, and may be on call.
Nurse Qualification and Eligibility
- Education: An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN, ~2 years), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN, ~4 years), or an approved diploma program. The BLS lists a bachelor’s as typical entry-level education, and many hospitals prefer the BSN.
- Licensing: All RNs must pass the NCLEX-RN exam and hold a license from the state board of nursing where they practice. Many states share one multistate license through the Nurse Licensure Compact.
- Advanced roles: Nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives need at least a master’s degree in their APRN specialty plus national certification (BLS).
How to Become a Nurse
- Finish high school with strong grades in biology, chemistry, and math prerequisites for nursing programs.
- Choose your path: an ADN for the fastest route (~2 years) or a BSN for broader opportunities (~4 years).
- Complete an accredited program, including supervised clinical rotations.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN licensing examination.
- Get your state nursing license (or a compact multistate license).
- Start as a new graduate nurse, ideally through a hospital nurse residency program with dedicated preceptors.
- Grow: gain experience, earn specialty certifications, and for the top pay bands pursue an MSN or DNP to become an NP, CRNA, or midwife.
Nurse Career Growth
A nursing license is a platform, not a ceiling. Typical paths:
- RN → Charge Nurse → Nurse Manager: progressive raises; Indeed lists RN II postings at about $53.66/hour and RN III at $63.46/hour (2026).
- APRN track: Nurse Practitioner ($129,210), Nurse Midwife ($128,790), or CRNA ($223,210) all BLS medians, May 2024 requiring graduate education.
- Nurse Educator / Researcher: teaching-focused roles, often requiring a master’s or doctorate.
- Outlook: RN employment projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034 with about 189,100 openings per year (BLS); APRN roles projected to grow 35% with 32,700 openings per year.
Nurse Salary, Benefits & Allowances
Base pay is only part of nurse compensation. Standard benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) or pension plans; paid time off; and license reimbursement. Widely reported extras include:
- Shift differentials: +$3 to +$8 per hour for evenings, nights, and weekends (employer-published examples, 2026).
- Tuition reimbursement and certification pay for BSN completion and specialty credentials.
- Sign-on and incentive bonuses: e.g., UVA Health’s $10,000 new-graduate incentive program (2026).
- Overtime: 1.5× rates averaging about $12,000 per year across Indeed’s RN postings.
Nurse Salary After Tax / Deductions
There is no single “after-tax” nurse salary. Take-home pay depends on federal tax brackets, state income tax (0% in states like Texas versus double digits in California), Social Security and Medicare, and deductions for insurance and retirement. Use a paycheck calculator for your state and filing status rather than relying on any published net figure.
FAQs
What is the average nurse salary in the US?
Registered nurses earned a median of $93,600 per year ($45.00 per hour) in May 2024, according to the BLS. Job-posting averages run $87,868 (ZipRecruiter, 2026) to about $94,349 annualized (Indeed, 2026).
What is the hourly rate for a registered nurse?
The BLS median is $45.00 per hour (May 2024). ZipRecruiter reports about $42.24 per hour and Indeed about $45.36 per hour in 2026, with posted ranges from roughly $31 to $67 per hour.
What is the starting salary for a new nurse?
Typically $60,000–$75,000 per year (ICGI, 2025), though ZipRecruiter’s 2026 postings for starting RNs average about $44.48 per hour. BSN graduates generally start higher than ADN graduates.
Which state pays nurses the most?
California, at $140,270 per year ($67.44/hour), followed by Hawaii ($136,320) and Oregon ($129,010) BLS OEWS state medians, May 2025 release.
Which nursing specialty pays the most?
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), with a BLS median of $223,210 (May 2024). Among staff-RN specialties, ICU, OR, and labor & delivery pay above average.
How much does a CRNA make?
A median of $223,210 per year (BLS, May 2024). AMN Healthcare’s 2026 recruiting review puts the average starting salary for newly hired CRNAs at $286,250 in base pay.
How much do travel nurses make per week?
Recent AMN Healthcare placements (2025) averaged roughly $1,640–$2,850 per week by specialty and location — e.g., about $2,848 for CVOR contracts in Vermont and $1,666 for PCU contracts in Louisiana. These are 13-week contract rates, not permanent salaries.
Does a BSN pay more than an ADN?
Yes. BSN holders typically start higher, receive education differentials at many hospitals, and qualify for management and APRN-track roles unavailable without further schooling.
Do male nurses earn more than female nurses?
A gap is documented: men are about 13.2% of RNs (BLS), and a Nurse.org poll found male nurses earning $2.73 more per hour; a UCSF study found about $5,000 more per year for the same work.
What is the job outlook for nurses?
Strong: 5% employment growth from 2024 to 2034 with about 189,100 openings per year for RNs (BLS); advanced practice roles are projected to grow 35%.
How much do nurses make per month?
About $7,800 per month before taxes at the BLS median of $93,600 (annual÷12 equivalent). ZipRecruiter’s own figure is about $7,322 per month.
Is nursing a good career financially?
By the numbers, yes: median pay near double the all-occupation median, a 5% growth outlook, multiple six-figure advancement paths, and geographic flexibility through travel contracts and compact licensing.
Conclusion
The 2026 nurse salary picture is clear: a $93,600 national median (BLS, May 2024), top states paying $110,000–$140,000, and specialty paths like CRNA reaching $223,000+. Experience, education, specialty, and location decide where you land in that wide band. If you are entering healthcare, nursing remains one of the most financially reliable careers in the United States. Strong pay today, strong demand tomorrow.
