Registered Nurse (RN) Salaries & Wage Percentiles
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Methodology
Assess patient health needs, administer medications, coordinate clinical care, and educate patients.
National Wage Percentile Spectrum
Empirical distribution from entry-level apprentice (10th percentile) to senior principal / master tier (90th percentile).
Nationwide State Salary Rankings
State-by-state empirical labor compensation benchmarked against local cost of living and purchasing power.
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | CoL Adjusted Real Wage | Total Employed | Top Metro in State | CoL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California CA | $145,655 | $70.03/hr | $100,175 | 323,170 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 145.4 |
| #2 | Hawaii HI | $141,805 | $68.18/hr | $87,210 | 10,950 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 162.6 |
| #3 | Oregon OR | $122,350 | $58.82/hr | $102,299 | 37,810 | Bend, OR | 119.6 |
| #4 | Alaska AK | $115,290 | $55.43/hr | $96,719 | 4,990 | Anchorage, AK | 119.2 |
| #5 | Washington WA | $113,065 | $54.36/hr | $99,617 | 57,910 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 113.5 |
| #6 | Nevada NV | $104,276 | $50.13/hr | $95,666 | 26,080 | Reno, NV | 109.0 |
| #7 | Connecticut CT | $102,928 | $49.49/hr | $81,494 | 37,780 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 126.3 |
| #8 | District of Columbia DC | $102,710 | $49.38/hr | $64,638 | 46,830 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 158.9 |
Top Metropolitan Areas for Maximum Earnings
High-yield metros commanding premier compensation, rent affordability, and living wage coverage.
Career Ladder & Progression Stages
Typical milestones from entry level to senior roles.
ADN or BSN, passing NCLEX-RN exam, state licensing
BLS/ACLS certifications, critical care nursing experience
Clinical leadership, unit patient flow management, staffing oversight
Master''s/Doctorate in Nursing, advanced prescriptive authority
Skill-Adjacent Career Opportunities
Direct lateral transitions capitalizing on shared occupational competencies and BLS wage differentials.
Registered Nurse (RN): Career Ladder, Industry Hub & Regional Parity
Navigate parent industry benchmarks, lateral career progressions, and cross-pillar living cost calculators.
Healthcare Directory
Compare wage percentiles, required certifications, and senior salary caps across all Healthcare occupations.
Adjacent Career Paths
Living Cost & Tax Parity
Occupational Labor Economics & Frequently Asked Questions
Explore national wage percentiles (10th to 90th), top-paying metropolitan areas, and career ladder progression for Registered Nurse (RN). Official 2026 economic data for Registered Nurse (RN) compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
National compensation benchmarks for Registered Nurse (RN) range across the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles based on BLS OEWS labor market statistics.
Registered Nurse (RN): Where the Pay Is Highest
The national median for Registered Nurse (RN) is $97,550 per year ($46.90/hour). BLS OEWS publishes this occupation in 380 metropolitan areas, where median pay ranges from $39,280 in Mayagüez, PR to $216,740 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
Top-paying metropolitan areas for Registered Nurse (RN)
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs national |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $216,740 | +122.2% |
| Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | +108.4% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,610 | +91.3% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $174,550 | +78.9% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $171,460 | +75.8% |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $170,960 | +75.3% |
| Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | +53.1% |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $144,350 | +48.0% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $139,520 | +43.0% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $139,260 | +42.8% |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $138,820 | +42.3% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $137,360 | +40.8% |