Registered nurse salary by state
Registered nurse salary by state is highest in California ($140,270), Hawaii ($136,320) and Oregon ($129,010) and lowest in Alabama ($77,080).[onet_rn][oews_api] The table ranks every state by its RN median and adds the 10th and 90th percentiles, the hourly equivalent at 2,080 hours, and the number of RN jobs BLS estimated in each state.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. California | $140,270 | $67.44 | $101,260 | $213,320 | 338,940 |
| 2. Hawaii | $136,320 | $65.54 | $82,500 | $147,830 | 12,940 |
| 3. Oregon | $129,010 | $62.02 | $95,280 | $155,010 | 39,730 |
| 4. Washington | $124,200 | $59.71 | $89,630 | $161,910 | 69,260 |
| 5. Alaska | $109,480 | $52.63 | $85,030 | $149,070 | 7,510 |
| 6. New York | $109,440 | $52.62 | $79,760 | $157,090 | 205,810 |
| 7. New Jersey | $106,500 | $51.20 | $83,060 | $135,170 | 92,680 |
| 8. Massachusetts | $104,550 | $50.26 | $80,310 | $174,510 | 88,200 |
| 9. Nevada | $103,670 | $49.84 | $79,500 | $133,270 | 27,070 |
| 10. Connecticut | $102,740 | $49.39 | $80,350 | $134,870 | 40,110 |
| 11. District of Columbia | $102,540 | $49.30 | $79,390 | $151,170 | 11,440 |
| 12. Minnesota | $101,510 | $48.80 | $79,960 | $132,430 | 70,110 |
| 13. Rhode Island | $100,640 | $48.38 | $77,410 | $129,840 | 10,090 |
| 14. Colorado | $100,260 | $48.20 | $79,500 | $124,940 | 54,490 |
| 15. Maryland | $99,790 | $47.98 | $76,780 | $124,790 | 52,910 |
| 16. New Hampshire | $99,700 | $47.93 | $75,610 | $123,190 | 15,390 |
| 17. Delaware | $99,520 | $47.85 | $78,340 | $123,860 | 14,290 |
| 18. Arizona | $99,500 | $47.84 | $70,540 | $130,930 | 73,150 |
| 19. Vermont | $97,460 | $46.86 | $77,670 | $126,100 | 7,410 |
| 20. Pennsylvania | $96,430 | $46.36 | $70,800 | $117,900 | 146,520 |
| 21. Illinois | $95,990 | $46.15 | $69,170 | $118,190 | 138,910 |
| 22. Texas | $95,970 | $46.14 | $67,120 | $127,950 | 271,380 |
| 23. Wisconsin | $95,530 | $45.93 | $77,470 | $119,860 | 68,060 |
| 24. New Mexico | $94,340 | $45.36 | $74,300 | $123,540 | 17,980 |
| 25. Michigan | $94,300 | $45.34 | $77,260 | $116,710 | 104,950 |
| 26. Virginia | $93,600 | $45.00 | $67,830 | $125,580 | 77,490 |
| 27. Georgia | $93,550 | $44.98 | $68,920 | $128,640 | 100,950 |
| 28. Idaho | $92,460 | $44.45 | $71,210 | $121,230 | 16,880 |
| 29. Maine | $86,990 | $41.82 | $74,160 | $106,950 | 16,540 |
| 30. Montana | $85,280 | $41.00 | $70,120 | $113,920 | 10,950 |
| 31. Nebraska | $84,730 | $40.74 | $66,020 | $106,190 | 24,720 |
| 32. Utah | $84,600 | $40.67 | $68,920 | $109,050 | 27,420 |
| 33. North Carolina | $84,350 | $40.55 | $67,660 | $110,220 | 111,120 |
| 34. Florida | $84,190 | $40.48 | $67,970 | $120,330 | 229,940 |
| 35. Wyoming | $83,760 | $40.27 | $65,770 | $107,350 | 5,330 |
| 36. Indiana | $83,500 | $40.14 | $66,750 | $105,750 | 68,980 |
| 37. Oklahoma | $82,920 | $39.87 | $60,530 | $106,390 | 38,270 |
| 38. Ohio | $82,510 | $39.67 | $66,980 | $105,290 | 143,730 |
| 39. South Carolina | $82,360 | $39.60 | $66,860 | $106,520 | 49,750 |
| 40. Missouri | $81,780 | $39.32 | $63,230 | $104,390 | 76,310 |
| 41. Tennessee | $81,500 | $39.18 | $63,970 | $104,920 | 72,200 |
| 42. Kentucky | $81,040 | $38.96 | $64,170 | $111,750 | 50,300 |
| 43. North Dakota | $80,730 | $38.81 | $65,520 | $103,480 | 11,340 |
| 44. Louisiana | $80,230 | $38.57 | $63,800 | $104,740 | 48,970 |
| 45. West Virginia | $80,130 | $38.52 | $57,210 | $131,760 | 23,430 |
| 46. Kansas | $79,320 | $38.13 | $63,180 | $100,840 | 33,800 |
| 47. Arkansas | $78,940 | $37.95 | $60,780 | $103,660 | 29,400 |
| 48. Iowa | $78,630 | $37.80 | $63,840 | $100,500 | 34,420 |
| 49. South Dakota | $78,060 | $37.53 | $54,040 | $98,220 | 14,710 |
| 50. Mississippi | $77,090 | $37.06 | $60,610 | $100,350 | 29,060 |
| 51. Alabama | $77,080 | $37.06 | $58,150 | $98,910 | 54,340 |
Jobs: BLS OEWS employment estimate, May 2025.
The links on California and Texas go to sections with metro-level pay for the roles people search most in those states. For RN pay in a specific city, pick the state in the registered nurse salary calculator and choose the metro area.
All five nursing roles, state by state
This matrix puts the median for each nursing role in one row per state, so you can see how much each step up the ladder pays where you live.[onet_rn][onet_lpn][onet_cna][onet_np][onet_crna] A dash means BLS did not publish an estimate for that role and state, which happens for nurse anesthetists in a few small states.
| State | RN | LPN | CNA | NP | CRNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $77,080 | $57,030 | $34,140 | $105,750 | $190,300 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | $80,800 | $46,370 | $155,170 | $341,210 |
| Arizona | $99,500 | $77,070 | $44,780 | $134,420 | $248,660 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | $56,620 | $34,430 | $125,660 | $224,280 |
| California | $140,270 | $79,750 | $47,630 | $168,520 | $292,410 |
| Colorado | $100,260 | $73,880 | $47,380 | $132,930 | — |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | $73,690 | $44,790 | $138,470 | $236,960 |
| Delaware | $99,520 | $68,710 | $42,030 | $131,040 | — |
| District of Columbia | $102,540 | $75,740 | $47,700 | $135,880 | — |
| Florida | $84,190 | $61,770 | $37,510 | $129,510 | $210,570 |
| Georgia | $93,550 | $62,030 | $37,680 | $129,430 | $224,630 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | $71,140 | $45,350 | $135,570 | — |
| Idaho | $92,460 | $63,800 | $38,650 | $132,540 | $263,130 |
| Illinois | $95,990 | $75,000 | $45,960 | $130,680 | $286,830 |
| Indiana | $83,500 | $65,720 | $38,330 | $128,830 | — |
| Iowa | $78,630 | $62,630 | $39,350 | $130,160 | $273,070 |
| Kansas | $79,320 | $61,760 | $38,010 | $126,650 | $212,090 |
| Kentucky | $81,040 | $60,460 | $38,370 | $122,870 | $222,520 |
| Louisiana | $80,230 | $57,470 | $30,510 | $125,600 | $222,130 |
| Maine | $86,990 | $73,200 | $47,070 | $130,260 | $247,470 |
| Maryland | $99,790 | $74,660 | $43,240 | $131,110 | $223,140 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | $80,220 | $46,680 | $142,440 | $295,550 |
| Michigan | $94,300 | $65,460 | $39,570 | $131,450 | $247,010 |
| Minnesota | $101,510 | $63,750 | $46,680 | $133,260 | $266,190 |
| Mississippi | $77,090 | $50,220 | $31,520 | $124,730 | $198,410 |
| Missouri | $81,780 | $61,530 | $37,680 | $129,930 | $242,630 |
| Montana | $85,280 | $62,210 | $40,900 | $137,210 | $277,380 |
| Nebraska | $84,730 | $62,660 | $40,000 | $132,130 | $246,730 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | $76,160 | $45,490 | $140,670 | — |
| New Hampshire | $99,700 | $77,110 | $47,870 | $137,550 | $275,980 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | $75,160 | $46,830 | $159,310 | $291,350 |
| New Mexico | $94,340 | $59,330 | $39,390 | $137,520 | $129,370 |
| New York | $109,440 | $67,180 | $48,590 | $153,510 | $321,030 |
| North Carolina | $84,350 | $63,270 | $38,460 | $128,990 | $224,610 |
| North Dakota | $80,730 | $62,300 | $45,820 | $130,070 | $244,240 |
| Ohio | $82,510 | $61,950 | $39,010 | $124,870 | $231,810 |
| Oklahoma | $82,920 | $58,320 | $35,930 | $133,390 | $156,830 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | $80,470 | $49,830 | $155,680 | $272,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,430 | $63,940 | $44,590 | $130,140 | $221,530 |
| Rhode Island | $100,640 | $80,090 | $46,440 | $135,970 | — |
| South Carolina | $82,360 | $61,820 | $37,220 | $123,290 | $265,480 |
| South Dakota | $78,060 | $52,750 | $38,800 | $128,840 | $263,930 |
| Tennessee | $81,500 | $58,870 | $37,990 | $117,590 | $211,450 |
| Texas | $95,970 | $62,240 | $37,500 | $131,670 | $244,990 |
| Utah | $84,600 | $63,230 | $39,840 | $130,920 | $126,600 |
| Vermont | $97,460 | $69,930 | $47,130 | $134,740 | $283,060 |
| Virginia | $93,600 | $64,920 | $43,200 | $127,810 | $252,110 |
| Washington | $124,200 | $83,150 | $49,180 | $156,100 | $274,390 |
| West Virginia | $80,130 | $55,360 | $36,720 | $127,320 | $278,530 |
| Wisconsin | $95,530 | $63,760 | $45,130 | $131,980 | $273,170 |
| Wyoming | $83,760 | $63,460 | $39,160 | $132,200 | $255,250 |
Detail pages for each role, including nurse midwife salary, rank every state and list its best-paying metro areas: LPN salary, CNA salary, nurse practitioner salary and CRNA salary.
Where moving from LPN to RN pays the most
The raise from becoming a registered nurse is largest in Hawaii ($65,180 more at the median), California ($60,520) and Oregon ($48,540), and smallest in Maine ($13,790).[onet_rn][onet_lpn] That gap is the number to put into a payback calculation before choosing an LPN to RN bridge program.
| State | RN median | LPN median | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $136,320 | $71,140 | $65,180 |
| California | $140,270 | $79,750 | $60,520 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | $80,470 | $48,540 |
| New York | $109,440 | $67,180 | $42,260 |
| Washington | $124,200 | $83,150 | $41,050 |
| Kansas | $79,320 | $61,760 | $17,560 |
| Iowa | $78,630 | $62,630 | $16,000 |
| Maine | $86,990 | $73,200 | $13,790 |
States with no income tax on wages
Nine states have no broad income tax on wages, so a nurse there keeps more of the same gross pay: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.[txtax] Among them, Washington pays registered nurses the most ($124,200 median) and South Dakota the least ($78,060).
| State | RN median | RN jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $124,200 | 69,260 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | 7,510 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | 27,070 |
| New Hampshire | $99,700 | 15,390 |
| Texas | $95,970 | 271,380 |
| Florida | $84,190 | 229,940 |
| Wyoming | $83,760 | 5,330 |
| Tennessee | $81,500 | 72,200 |
| South Dakota | $78,060 | 14,710 |
Where LPNs still do a large share of nursing
Some states employ far more LPNs relative to registered nurses than others: Louisiana has 2.8 RNs for every LPN and Arkansas 2.9, against 25.9 in Alaska.[oews_api] In states with a high share of LPN jobs, mostly in the South, becoming an LPN opens more doors than the national averages suggest.
Frequently asked questions
What state pays nurses the most?
California, where the registered nurse median is $140,270 (BLS, May 2025). Hawaii and Oregon are next.
What state pays nurses the least?
Alabama has the lowest registered nurse median at $77,080, followed closely by Mississippi ($77,090).
Which state has the most registered nurse jobs?
California, with about 338,940 RN jobs in May 2025, followed by Texas (271,380), Florida (229,940), New York (205,810).
Is nurse pay higher in states without income tax?
Not necessarily. Washington pays well, but several no-tax states pay below the national RN median of $97,550. Compare take-home pay, not just gross pay. Nurses who work across state lines should also check the compact license rules on how to become a travel nurse.
Sources
- Local Wages: 29-1141.00 Registered Nurses (state and metro percentiles)
- OEWS May 2025 employment and median wage series (OEUN/OEUS), Public Data API v2
- Local Wages: 29-2061.00 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (state and metro percentiles)
- Local Wages: 31-1131.00 Nursing Assistants (state and metro percentiles)
- Local Wages: 29-1171.00 Nurse Practitioners (state and metro percentiles)
- Local Wages: 29-1151.00 Nurse Anesthetists (state and metro percentiles)
- Texas Taxes (Texas does not have a state personal income tax)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates