Methodology
How TrueNursePay estimates nurse salary and take-home pay
TrueNursePay uses a transparent model to compare nursing pay across specialties, states, and cities. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Estimate model
Each salary page starts with a national specialty baseline. State pages apply state-level cost-of-living assumptions. City pages add a local market multiplier so nurses can compare a specific metro area with the state and national baseline.
Pay breakdown
Annual estimates are converted into hourly, weekly, and monthly estimates using a full-time schedule of 2,080 hours per year. Take-home estimates use a simplified federal tax assumption plus the stored state income tax rate.
External context
Public datasets such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics can be useful external context for nursing pay research. TrueNursePay does not currently claim that its page-level estimates are official BLS data or employer-reported wage data.
For official occupational wage statistics, review the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Limitations
TrueNursePay provides model-based salary and take-home pay estimates for planning and offer comparison. The estimates are not guaranteed offers, official wage data, tax advice, legal advice, financial advice, or employer-specific compensation data.
Actual compensation can vary by employer, shift, union contract, experience, certifications, benefits, overtime rules, contract type, and local labor market.
Start comparing
Use the nurse salary and take-home pay calculator or open a specialty guide for pediatric nurse and labor and delivery nurse comparisons.