Registered Nurse (RN) Salary by State

Evaluating the return on investment (ROI) of your nursing education requires analyzing regional earning potential alongside program tuition costs. According to official federal labor reports, the national mean annual salary for a Registered Nurse (RN) is approximately $97,550 (roughly $46.90 per hour). However, compensation varies dramatically depending on geographic location, local hospital demand, and state licensure requirements.

Review the comprehensive state-by-state salary breakdown below. Click on any state to explore its top-ranked accredited nursing programs, average tuition rates, and mandatory clinical hours from our accredited nursing program directory.

State	Avg. Annual Salary	Avg. Hourly Wage	Programs
California Nursing Programs	$140,270	$67.44/hr	656
Hawaii Nursing Programs	$136,320	$65.54/hr	23
Oregon Nursing Programs	$129,010	$62.02/hr	67
Washington Nursing Programs	$124,200	$59.71/hr	92
Alaska Nursing Programs	$109,480	$52.63/hr	11
New York Nursing Programs	$109,440	$52.62/hr	402
New Jersey Nursing Programs	$106,500	$51.20/hr	147
Massachusetts Nursing Programs	$104,550	$50.26/hr	140
Nevada Nursing Programs	$103,670	$49.84/hr	39
Connecticut Nursing Programs	$102,740	$49.39/hr	52
Minnesota Nursing Programs	$101,510	$48.80/hr	93
Rhode Island Nursing Programs	$100,640	$48.38/hr	20
Colorado Nursing Programs	$100,260	$48.20/hr	84
Maryland Nursing Programs	$99,790	$47.98/hr	76
New Hampshire Nursing Programs	$99,700	$47.93/hr	31
Delaware Nursing Programs	$99,520	$47.85/hr	15
Arizona Nursing Programs	$99,500	$47.84/hr	112
Vermont Nursing Programs	$97,460	$46.86/hr	15
Pennsylvania Nursing Programs	$96,430	$46.36/hr	302
Illinois Nursing Programs	$95,990	$46.15/hr	222
Texas Nursing Programs	$95,970	$46.14/hr	396
Wisconsin Nursing Programs	$95,530	$45.93/hr	79
New Mexico Nursing Programs	$94,340	$45.36/hr	45
Michigan Nursing Programs	$94,300	$45.34/hr	161
Virginia Nursing Programs	$93,600	$45.00/hr	140
Georgia Nursing Programs	$93,550	$44.98/hr	142
Idaho Nursing Programs	$92,460	$44.45/hr	35
Maine Nursing Programs	$86,990	$41.82/hr	34
Montana Nursing Programs	$85,280	$41.00/hr	28
Nebraska Nursing Programs	$84,730	$40.74/hr	41
Utah Nursing Programs	$84,600	$40.67/hr	61
North Carolina Nursing Programs	$84,350	$40.55/hr	158
Florida Nursing Programs	$84,190	$40.48/hr	311
Wyoming Nursing Programs	$83,760	$40.27/hr	11
Indiana Nursing Programs	$83,500	$40.14/hr	105
Oklahoma Nursing Programs	$82,920	$39.87/hr	95
Ohio Nursing Programs	$82,510	$39.67/hr	269
South Carolina Nursing Programs	$82,360	$39.60/hr	86
Missouri Nursing Programs	$81,780	$39.32/hr	134
Tennessee Nursing Programs	$81,500	$39.18/hr	138
Kentucky Nursing Programs	$81,040	$38.96/hr	85
North Dakota Nursing Programs	$80,730	$38.81/hr	25
Louisiana Nursing Programs	$80,230	$38.57/hr	108
West Virginia Nursing Programs	$80,130	$38.52/hr	66
Kansas Nursing Programs	$79,320	$38.13/hr	74
Arkansas Nursing Programs	$78,940	$37.95/hr	77
Iowa Nursing Programs	$78,630	$37.80/hr	75
South Dakota Nursing Programs	$78,060	$37.53/hr	25
Mississippi Nursing Programs	$77,090	$37.06/hr	54
Alabama Nursing Programs	$77,080	$37.06/hr	76

Important Note on Nursing ROI

While states with higher cost-of-living indexes (such as California and Hawaii) typically offer higher starting salaries, they also feature competitive admissions standards and rigorous clinical hour mandates. Be sure to review our nursing school accreditation guide to ensure your chosen school qualifies for state board licensure and federal aid before enrolling.

Essential Nursing Toolkit

3M Littmann Classic III Stethoscope

Gold standard diagnostic tool required across clinical rotations.

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Nurse Notes NCLEX Guide

Comprehensive study guide tailored for Next Gen NCLEX board preparation.

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Foldable Nursing Clipboard

Compact aluminum clipboard with quick-reference medical cheat sheets.

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Sockwell Compression Socks

Graduated support socks to prevent fatigue during long clinical shifts.

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Medical Penlight & Scissors Kit

Essential pocket kit featuring a diagnostic penlight and bandage shears.

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