National salary guide
Registered Nurse Salary 2026
Latest available BLS gross wage benchmarks, hourly and annual comparison, selected states and metros, and offer context for registered nurse roles.
BLS May 2025 OEWS reports a $101,420 mean annual wage and $48.76 mean hourly wage for registered nurses nationally. The median was $97,550 annually, or $46.90 hourly. These are gross occupation-wide benchmarks, not guaranteed 2026 offers. Actual offers vary by employer, experience, shift, certifications, benefits, and local market.
Start with the latest available BLS OEWS gross wage benchmark for Registered Nurses (29-1141), compare all 50 states and DC, then open selected local guides for take-home context.
BLS mean annual wage
$101,420
$48.76/hr, $1,950/wk, $8,452/mo
National salary overview
Hourly
$48.76
Weekly
$1,950
Monthly
$8,452
Annual
$101,420
Registered nurses assess patient needs, coordinate care, administer treatment, and educate patients across hospitals, clinics, home health, and other settings. TrueNursePay uses BLS OEWS occupation code 29-1141 for the gross wage benchmarks on registered nurse pages.
BLS estimated 3,379,720 registered nurse jobs nationally. The data period is May 2025; 2026identifies this guide's update year.
How much does a registered nurse make?
BLS May 2025 OEWS reports a $101,420 mean annual wage and $48.76 mean hourly wage for registered nurses nationally. The median was $97,550 annually, or $46.90 hourly. These are gross occupation-wide benchmarks, not guaranteed 2026 offers.
For a better offer comparison, open the state and city calculators below to compare hourly pay, annual salary, estimated take-home pay, salary range, and nearby markets using the same assumptions.
Mean hourly wage
$48.76
Mean annual wage
$101,420
Updated
August 19, 2026
Salary answer snapshot
Gross wage figures below come from BLS May 2025 OEWS. Actual offers can vary with employer, unit, shift, experience, benefits, and overtime.
Registered Nurse hourly pay
$48.76
BLS May 2025 national mean gross hourly wage.
Registered Nurse annual salary
$101,420
BLS May 2025 national mean annual wage.
10th-90th percentile
$68,940-$137,470
BLS wage distribution, not experience tiers.
Best next comparison
Phoenix, AZ, Columbus, OH, San Diego, CA, Dallas, TX
Use local pages for take-home pay, cost-of-living, and offer context.
2026 national pay update
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Get the registered nurse pay guide for the United States, including hourly pay, annual salary, take-home context, and offer-comparison notes.
Salary questions this guide answers
Registered Nurse and RN salary searches
Registered nurse and RN refer to the same broad licensed occupation in these pages. BLS occupation code 29-1141 includes registered nurses and clinical nurse specialists, while excluding nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. Specialty, unit, employer, and shift can still change an individual offer materially.
National BLS wage percentiles
Wage percentiles describe the national distribution for the occupation. They are not entry, mid-career, or senior experience bands.
10th percentile
$68,940
$33.14/hr
Median
$97,550
$46.90/hr
90th percentile
$137,470
$66.09/hr
City salary calculators to compare next
These city guides make it easier to compare local hourly pay, annual pay, take-home context, and nearby markets before evaluating a specific offer.
Priority state guides
These state pages are the strongest next steps for comparing statewide pay, city-level calculators, and take-home context.
Registered nurse salary by state
Among the 50 states and District of Columbia, California had the highest registered nurse mean annual wage at $150,280 in BLS May 2025 OEWS. It was followed by Hawaii ($124,340), Oregon ($123,140), Washington ($121,540), Massachusetts ($117,960).
Mean pay is the arithmetic average; median pay is the midpoint of the wage distribution. Both are gross occupation-wide benchmarks before taxes, benefits, overtime, and shift differentials. Actual offers vary.
Showing 51 of 51 jurisdictions. Select a column to sort.
| California (CA) | $72.25 | $150,280 | $140,270 | 338,940 |
| Hawaii (HI) | $59.78 | $124,340 | $136,320 | 12,940 |
| Oregon (OR) | $59.20 | $123,140 | $129,010 | 39,730 |
| Washington (WA) | $58.43 | $121,540 | $124,200 | 69,260 |
| Massachusetts (MA) | $56.71 | $117,960 | $104,550 | 88,200 |
| Alaska (AK) | $55.23 | $114,870 | $109,480 | 7,510 |
| New York (NY) | $54.54 | $113,440 | $109,440 | 205,810 |
| New Jersey (NJ) | $52.93 | $110,100 | $106,500 | 92,680 |
| District of Columbia (DC) | $51.43 | $106,980 | $102,540 | 11,440 |
| Nevada (NV) | $50.82 | $105,710 | $103,670 | 27,070 |
| Connecticut (CT) | $50.60 | $105,250 | $102,740 | 40,110 |
| Minnesota (MN) | $49.72 | $103,420 | $101,510 | 70,110 |
| Rhode Island (RI) | $48.68 | $101,260 | $100,640 | 10,090 |
| Arizona (AZ) | $47.95 | $99,730 | $99,500 | 73,150 |
| Delaware (DE) | $47.82 | $99,460 | $99,520 | 14,290 |
| Colorado (CO) | $47.78 | $99,370 | $100,260 | 54,490 |
| Maryland (MD) | $47.60 | $99,010 | $99,790 | 52,910 |
| New Hampshire (NH) | $47.07 | $97,900 | $99,700 | 15,390 |
| Vermont (VT) | $46.47 | $96,650 | $97,460 | 7,410 |
| Texas (TX) | $45.86 | $95,380 | $95,970 | 271,380 |
| New Mexico (NM) | $45.81 | $95,290 | $94,340 | 17,980 |
| Georgia (GA) | $45.71 | $95,080 | $93,550 | 100,950 |
| Wisconsin (WI) | $45.53 | $94,690 | $95,530 | 68,060 |
| Illinois (IL) | $45.36 | $94,360 | $95,990 | 138,910 |
| Michigan (MI) | $45.34 | $94,300 | $94,300 | 104,950 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $45.20 | $94,020 | $96,430 | 146,520 |
| Virginia (VA) | $45.12 | $93,850 | $93,600 | 77,490 |
| Idaho (ID) | $44.57 | $92,710 | $92,460 | 16,880 |
| Maine (ME) | $44.09 | $91,700 | $86,990 | 16,540 |
| Montana (MT) | $43.99 | $91,510 | $85,280 | 10,950 |
| Utah (UT) | $43.72 | $90,950 | $84,600 | 27,420 |
| Florida (FL) | $43.58 | $90,650 | $84,190 | 229,940 |
| North Carolina (NC) | $43.50 | $90,470 | $84,350 | 111,120 |
| Indiana (IN) | $42.86 | $89,150 | $83,500 | 68,980 |
| Wyoming (WY) | $42.60 | $88,600 | $83,760 | 5,330 |
| Nebraska (NE) | $42.47 | $88,330 | $84,730 | 24,720 |
| Ohio (OH) | $42.18 | $87,730 | $82,510 | 143,730 |
| South Carolina (SC) | $42.15 | $87,670 | $82,360 | 49,750 |
| West Virginia (WV) | $41.81 | $86,970 | $80,130 | 23,430 |
| Kentucky (KY) | $41.41 | $86,140 | $81,040 | 50,300 |
| Missouri (MO) | $41.30 | $85,900 | $81,780 | 76,310 |
| Tennessee (TN) | $41.05 | $85,390 | $81,500 | 72,200 |
| Oklahoma (OK) | $40.90 | $85,060 | $82,920 | 38,270 |
| Louisiana (LA) | $40.48 | $84,190 | $80,230 | 48,970 |
| North Dakota (ND) | $40.19 | $83,600 | $80,730 | 11,340 |
| Kansas (KS) | $39.60 | $82,360 | $79,320 | 33,800 |
| Arkansas (AR) | $39.19 | $81,520 | $78,940 | 29,400 |
| Iowa (IA) | $38.72 | $80,540 | $78,630 | 34,420 |
| Mississippi (MS) | $37.96 | $78,950 | $77,090 | 29,060 |
| South Dakota (SD) | $37.09 | $77,140 | $78,060 | 14,710 |
| Alabama (AL) | $37.03 | $77,020 | $77,080 | 54,340 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 29-1141. See the BLS OEWS data tables. Employment figures are estimates and may be rounded. This table covers 50 states and DC; the 2026 label reflects the guide update year.
Selected metro RN wage benchmarks
Hourly vs annual pay
BLS publishes mean hourly and annual wages. Weekly and monthly figures on TrueNursePay are simple conversions for comparison. Add shift differential and overtime separately when evaluating an offer.
How to increase pay
- Target higher-paying states and cities before negotiating a base rate.
- Ask for written details on shift differential, weekend premium, and overtime rules.
- Use specialty certifications and high-acuity experience as negotiation evidence.
- Compare health benefits, PTO, retirement match, tuition support, and sign-on terms.
Related specialties
FAQ
How much does a Registered Nurse make in 2026?
BLS May 2025 OEWS reports a national mean of $101,420 per year, or $48.76 per hour, for registered nurses. The national median was $97,550.
Which states pay registered nurse roles the most?
Among the 50 states and District of Columbia, BLS May 2025 OEWS reports the highest registered nurse mean annual wages in California, Hawaii, Oregon. These are gross occupation-wide means, not guaranteed offers.
How can nurses increase pay in this specialty?
Higher pay often comes from high-acuity experience, specialty certifications, shift differentials, weekend premiums, overtime rules, travel contracts, and moving into stronger local labor markets.
Are these figures guaranteed salary offers?
No. BLS OEWS figures are occupation-wide wage estimates for United States, not employer quotes. This guide was last updated August 19, 2026; actual offers vary by employer, experience, shift, certifications, and contract type.
What is the difference between mean and median RN salary?
The mean averages all reported wages, while the median is the midpoint: half of wage estimates are above it and half are below it. BLS May 2025 reports both for Registered Nurses.
Does BLS publish entry-level registered nurse salary?
No. OEWS publishes wage percentiles, not pay by years of experience. The 10th and 25th percentiles can provide lower-end market context but should not be labeled as guaranteed new-graduate pay.
Can a registered nurse make $100,000 a year?
Yes, but it depends on the market and offer. BLS May 2025 reports a $101,420 national mean, a $97,550 median, and a $112,350 75th-percentile annual wage for registered nurses. Those are occupation-wide wage estimates, not guaranteed individual pay.
Why can an RN job offer differ from the BLS figure?
Employer, unit, experience, union contract, shift differential, overtime, bonus, benefits, and the exact location can all move an offer away from the occupation-wide benchmark.
Methodology
Last updated August 19, 2026. Gross wage and employment benchmarks come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation code 29-1141. Local pages calculate take-home pay separately with simplified tax assumptions.