Average Nurse Salary by State (2026): RN, LPN, NP, and More

By WealthVieu · Updated
Data updated September 29, 2026
Part of our Salary Guides by Profession 2026

Nursing is one of the most in-demand and well-paying career paths in America. Here’s how pay varies by role, specialty, state, and experience.

Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)

Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for registered nurses, across all industries:

Percentile Annual Wage Hourly Equivalent
10th (entry level) $68,940 $33.14
25th $80,330 $38.62
50th (median) $97,550 $46.90
75th $112,350 $54.01
90th $137,470 $66.09
Average (mean) $101,420 $48.76

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Registered Nurses (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.

Nurse Salary by Role

Role Abbreviation Median Salary (BLS, May 2025) Education Required Job Growth (2025-35)
Certified Nursing Assistant CNA $42,260 Certificate (4-12 weeks) 3%
Licensed Practical Nurse LPN $64,400 Certificate/diploma (1 year) 3%
Registered Nurse RN $97,550 Associate’s or bachelor’s (2-4 years) 6%
Nurse Practitioner NP $132,300 Master’s/DNP (6-8 years) 41%
Nurse Midwife CNM $134,040 Master’s/DNP (6-8 years) 36% (APRN group)
Nurse Anesthetist CRNA $236,590 Doctorate (7-9 years) 36% (APRN group)

RN Salary by State

Rank State Avg Salary Starting Salary Median Salary
1 California $150,280 $101,260 $140,270
2 Hawaii $124,340 $82,500 $136,320
3 Oregon $123,140 $95,280 $129,010
4 Washington $121,540 $89,630 $124,200
5 Massachusetts $117,960 $80,310 $104,550
6 Alaska $114,870 $85,030 $109,480
7 New York $113,440 $79,760 $109,440
8 New Jersey $110,100 $83,060 $106,500
9 District of Columbia $106,980 $79,390 $102,540
10 Nevada $105,710 $79,500 $103,670
11 Connecticut $105,250 $80,350 $102,740
12 Minnesota $103,420 $79,960 $101,510
13 Rhode Island $101,260 $77,410 $100,640
14 Arizona $99,730 $70,540 $99,500
15 Delaware $99,460 $78,340 $99,520
16 Colorado $99,370 $79,500 $100,260
17 Maryland $99,010 $76,780 $99,790
18 New Hampshire $97,900 $75,610 $99,700
19 Vermont $96,650 $77,670 $97,460
20 Texas $95,380 $67,120 $95,970
21 New Mexico $95,290 $74,300 $94,340
22 Georgia $95,080 $68,920 $93,550
23 Wisconsin $94,690 $77,470 $95,530
24 Illinois $94,360 $69,170 $95,990
25 Michigan $94,300 $77,260 $94,300
26 Pennsylvania $94,020 $70,800 $96,430
27 Virginia $93,850 $67,830 $93,600
28 Idaho $92,710 $71,210 $92,460
29 Maine $91,700 $74,160 $86,990
30 Montana $91,510 $70,120 $85,280
31 Utah $90,950 $68,920 $84,600
32 Florida $90,650 $67,970 $84,190
33 North Carolina $90,470 $67,660 $84,350
34 Indiana $89,150 $66,750 $83,500
35 Wyoming $88,600 $65,770 $83,760
36 Nebraska $88,330 $66,020 $84,730
37 Ohio $87,730 $66,980 $82,510
38 South Carolina $87,670 $66,860 $82,360
39 West Virginia $86,970 $57,210 $80,130
40 Kentucky $86,140 $64,170 $81,040
41 Missouri $85,900 $63,230 $81,780
42 Tennessee $85,390 $63,970 $81,500
43 Oklahoma $85,060 $60,530 $82,920
44 Louisiana $84,190 $63,800 $80,230
45 North Dakota $83,600 $65,520 $80,730
46 Kansas $82,360 $63,180 $79,320
47 Arkansas $81,520 $60,780 $78,940
48 Iowa $80,540 $63,840 $78,630
49 Mississippi $78,950 $60,610 $77,090
50 South Dakota $77,140 $54,040 $78,060
51 Alabama $77,020 $58,150 $77,080
— National $101,420 $68,940 $97,550

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Registered Nurses (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate. Nursing salaries are tracked in the profession salary guides hub. See what constitutes a strong income for your location at the good salary hub, and explore salary data across all professions at the salary hub.

See every profession in our salary by profession guides.

NP Salary by Specialty

Specialty Median Salary Salary Range
Acute care NP $128,000 $105,000-$160,000
Psychiatric mental health NP $132,000 $108,000-$170,000
Neonatal NP $125,000 $100,000-$155,000
Family practice NP $118,000 $95,000-$145,000
Pediatric NP $115,000 $92,000-$140,000
Women’s health NP $112,000 $90,000-$138,000
Oncology NP $120,000 $98,000-$150,000
Emergency NP $126,000 $102,000-$158,000

RN Salary by Specialty

Specialty Median Salary Premium Over General RN
Informatics nurse $98,000 +21%
Nurse researcher $95,000 +17%
ICU/critical care RN $92,000 +13%
Emergency room RN $88,000 +8%
Operating room RN $90,000 +11%
Labor and delivery RN $85,000 +5%
Oncology RN $84,000 +3%
Pediatric RN $82,000 +1%
Medical-surgical RN $78,000 -4%
Home health RN $74,000 -9%
School nurse $58,000 -29%

Travel Nurse Pay

Travel nursing offers premium pay for temporary assignments (typically 13 weeks):

Factor Typical Range
Weekly gross pay (travel RN) $2,200-$4,500/week
Annual equivalent $100,000-$200,000
Tax-free stipends (housing + meals) $800-$1,800/week
Premium over staff RN +30-100%
Best-paying states for travel CA, NY, MA, WA
Best-paying specialties ICU, ER, OR, L&D

Post-COVID, travel nurse pay has normalized from 2021-2022 peaks but remains significantly above staff rates.

Nurse Salary by Experience

Years of Experience RN Median NP Median Annual Increase
New grad (0-1) $63,000 $100,000 —
1-4 years $70,000 $108,000 +3.8%
5-9 years $80,000 $118,000 +2.5%
10-14 years $88,000 $128,000 +2.0%
15-19 years $93,000 $135,000 +1.5%
20+ years $98,000 $142,000 +1.0%

Nursing Workforce Facts

Metric Value
Total RNs in the US 3.1 million
Total NPs 385,000
Total LPNs 640,000
Total CNAs 1.5 million
Nursing shortage (projected by 2030) 200,000-400,000 RNs
Average age of RN workforce 52
% male nurses 13%
Burnout rate (post-COVID) 62% report burnout
Nurses planning to leave profession 32%

How to Maximize Nurse Earnings

Strategy Potential Income Boost
Advance to NP/CRNA +$40,000-$125,000
Specialize (ICU, OR, informatics) +$5,000-$20,000
Get BSN (if ADN) +$5,000-$10,000
Travel nursing +$30,000-$80,000
Overtime (1.5x-2x rate) +$15,000-$40,000
Per diem shifts +$10,000-$25,000
Relocate to high-paying state +$20,000-$50,000
Earn certifications (CCRN, CEN) +$3,000-$8,000
Move to management/admin +$10,000-$30,000

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## Is It a Good Career?

Good fit for

  • Genuine caring instinct — Patient care is the core job.
  • Handles stress under pressure — Emergencies happen.
  • Good communicator — Patients, families, doctors require it.
  • Comfortable with bodies — Blood, wounds, bodily functions daily.
  • Lifelong learner — Medicine constantly evolves.
  • Team player — Healthcare is collaborative.
  • Can detach emotionally (somewhat) — Patients will die — you must continue.

Poor fit for

  • Squeamish about bodies — Bodily fluids are unavoidable.
  • Needs predictable schedule — Nights/weekends/holidays required early on.
  • Dislikes hierarchy — Doctors, charge nurses, admin above you.
  • Can’t handle patient death — Death is part of the job.
  • Expects appreciation — Patients/families often ungrateful.
  • Purely money-motivated — Many paths pay more with less stress.
  • Physical limitations — Standing, lifting, moving required.
  • Prefers working alone — Nursing is highly collaborative.
WealthVieu
Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy