Registered nurse pay in the United States ranges from a $70,000 average in the lowest-paying states to over $140,000 in the highest — but the rankings flip entirely when you adjust for cost of living. This is the definitive 2026 guide to what RNs actually earn where, where the money goes furthest, and which states offer the best risk-adjusted careers.
Last updated: April 2026. Data aggregated from BLS OEWS (May 2025 release), state nursing association surveys, and verified nurse compensation reports.
Average RN Salary by State (2026)
| Rank | State | Avg Annual Salary | Avg Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $142,500 | $68.51 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $122,700 | $58.99 |
| 3 | Oregon | $112,800 | $54.23 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $110,500 | $53.13 |
| 5 | Alaska | $109,600 | $52.69 |
| 6 | Washington | $107,300 | $51.59 |
| 7 | New York | $104,500 | $50.24 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $101,200 | $48.65 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $97,800 | $47.02 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $97,400 | $46.83 |
| 11 | Nevada | $96,700 | $46.49 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $94,800 | $45.58 |
| 13 | Colorado | $93,500 | $44.95 |
| 14 | Arizona | $92,100 | $44.28 |
| 15 | Maryland | $91,200 | $43.85 |
| 16 | Illinois | $90,800 | $43.65 |
| 17 | Delaware | $90,200 | $43.37 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $89,700 | $43.13 |
| 19 | Vermont | $88,400 | $42.50 |
| 20 | Michigan | $87,800 | $42.21 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $87,500 | $42.07 |
| 22 | Texas | $87,100 | $41.88 |
| 23 | Virginia | $86,300 | $41.49 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $85,900 | $41.30 |
| 25 | Florida | $84,200 | $40.48 |
| 26 | Georgia | $83,600 | $40.19 |
| 27 | Maine | $83,100 | $39.95 |
| 28 | Ohio | $82,400 | $39.62 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $81,800 | $39.33 |
| 30 | Indiana | $81,200 | $39.04 |
| 31 | Missouri | $80,700 | $38.80 |
| 32 | Montana | $80,200 | $38.56 |
| 33 | Utah | $79,900 | $38.41 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $79,500 | $38.22 |
| 35 | Idaho | $78,900 | $37.93 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $78,300 | $37.64 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $77,800 | $37.40 |
| 38 | Kansas | $77,200 | $37.12 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $76,800 | $36.92 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $76,200 | $36.63 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $75,900 | $36.49 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $75,400 | $36.25 |
| 43 | Iowa | $74,900 | $36.01 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $74,200 | $35.67 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $73,800 | $35.48 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $72,900 | $35.05 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $72,400 | $34.81 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $71,800 | $34.52 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $71,200 | $34.23 |
| 50 | Alabama | $70,900 | $34.09 |
Top 10 Highest-Paying States for RNs in 2026
- California — $142,500. Driven by AB 394 mandatory staffing ratios, union hospitals (CNA), and high cost of living. Bay Area and LA average over $160K.
- Hawaii — $122,700. Limited workforce, cost of living premium, isolated market. Oahu hospitals pay top; outer islands slightly lower.
- Oregon — $112,800. Strong unionization in Portland metro, plus ONA-negotiated contracts at OHSU and Legacy.
- Massachusetts — $110,500. Boston academic medical centers (MGH, BI, Brigham) set the floor. Unionization (MNA) is strong.
- Alaska — $109,600. Rural premium plus isolation pay. Anchorage and Fairbanks dominate the sample.
- Washington — $107,300. No state income tax is a hidden bump. Seattle/Tacoma hospitals pay $55+/hr base.
- New York — $104,500. NYC average is $120K+; upstate pulls the state average down.
- New Jersey — $101,200. Essentially an NYC commuter market with high cost of living to match.
- Minnesota — $97,800. Twin Cities health systems (Fairview, HealthPartners, Allina) have been aggressive with recent pay raises.
- Connecticut — $97,400. Hartford and Yale-New Haven academic systems drive the number.
Highest-Paying States Adjusted for Cost of Living
A $142,500 California salary sounds great until you face $3,400/month for a 1-bedroom apartment. This is the real ranking nurses care about — RN salary divided by the state's regional price parity (BEA 2025 RPP):
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | RPP | Real Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $96,700 | 97.1 | $99,588 |
| 2 | Michigan | $87,800 | 91.4 | $96,061 |
| 3 | Texas | $87,100 | 95.2 | $91,491 |
| 4 | Arizona | $92,100 | 100.8 | $91,369 |
| 5 | Ohio | $82,400 | 90.5 | $91,050 |
| 6 | Missouri | $80,700 | 89.2 | $90,471 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $97,800 | 108.2 | $90,388 |
| 8 | Oregon | $112,800 | 125.3 | $90,024 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $85,900 | 95.8 | $89,666 |
| 10 | California | $142,500 | 159.1 | $89,566 |
California falls from #1 to #10 when real purchasing power is factored in. Nevada, Michigan, and Texas emerge as the best value states for an RN's dollar. See our full cost-of-living breakdown in Highest Paying States Adjusted for Cost of Living.
RN Salary by Experience Level (National Average)
| Experience | Avg Annual Salary | Avg Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| New grad (0–1 yr) | $72,400 | $34.81 |
| 2–4 years | $81,800 | $39.33 |
| 5–9 years | $88,200 | $42.40 |
| 10–19 years | $94,500 | $45.43 |
| 20+ years | $99,100 | $47.64 |
For a deeper new-grad breakdown see New Grad RN Salary by State 2026.
RN Salary by Setting
| Setting | Avg Salary |
|---|---|
| Government (federal/state/VA) | $98,400 |
| Hospital (acute care) | $92,300 |
| Outpatient care centers | $102,700 |
| Home healthcare | $84,100 |
| Nursing/residential care | $78,500 |
| Physician offices | $81,600 |
| Educational services | $82,300 |
Specialty Matters Almost As Much As State
Specialty differential can swing an RN's salary by $25,000+ in the same hospital:
- ICU / Critical Care: +$8K–$15K over Med-Surg baseline. See ICU Nurse Salary 2026.
- OR / Perioperative: +$6K–$12K, plus call pay
- L&D / Labor and Delivery: +$4K–$10K, call premiums
- ER / Emergency: +$5K–$10K, high OT availability
- Cath Lab / Interventional: +$10K–$18K
- Psych: +$3K–$8K in urban markets, flat in rural
- Home Health / Hospice: −$5K to base plus mileage
Union vs Non-Union Pay Gap
Union RN positions pay 15–25% more than non-union equivalents in the same state. The biggest union markets:
- California — CNA/NNU covers most major systems
- Oregon — ONA at OHSU, Legacy, Providence
- Minnesota — MNA at Fairview, Allina, HealthPartners
- Massachusetts — MNA at MGH, Beth Israel, UMass
- Michigan — MNA represents key Detroit metro systems
- New York — NYSNA at NYC public hospitals and several private systems
If you're choosing between two job offers in a non-union state, the union-adjacent one (an affiliate hospital in a nearby unionized system) often has pulled-up pay rates too.
What About Shift Differentials?
Most states' averages include differentials, but the structure varies:
- Evening shift: typically $2–$4/hr extra
- Night shift: typically $4–$7/hr extra
- Weekend: $2–$5/hr
- Charge nurse: $2–$5/hr
- Preceptor: $1–$3/hr when actively precepting
Night + weekend stacking can add $10K+/year for a full-time noc/weekend rotation.
How State-by-State Pay Has Moved Since 2023
- California: up ~18% since 2023 (large CNA contract wins)
- Oregon, Washington, Minnesota: up 12–15%
- Most other states: up 6–10%
- Texas, Florida: up 8–10% but cost of living rose faster in urban markets
Frequently Asked Questions
What state pays RNs the most in 2026?
California, averaging $142,500 — driven by AB 394 staffing ratios, strong union representation, and high cost of living. Bay Area and LA hospitals often exceed $160K base.
What state pays RNs the least?
Alabama, at $70,900 average. Most southern states cluster at $71–78K. Adjusted for cost of living, these states aren't as bad as the raw number suggests, but starting pay is still the lowest nationally.
Is it worth moving to California for higher RN pay?
Only if you can handle the cost of living. A $142K salary in San Francisco nets similar real purchasing power to $85K in Dallas. If rent and living costs are covered, California wins on total career earnings. If not, Nevada, Texas, and Minnesota offer better real-dollar outcomes.
What state has the best new grad RN salaries?
California for headline pay ($85K+ new grad), but Nevada, Texas, and Minnesota offer better real-dollar starts when adjusted for cost of living. See New Grad RN Salary by State 2026.
How does travel nursing compare to staff RN pay?
Travel RNs average $2,100/week blended in 2026 vs staff RNs averaging $1,700/week — roughly 25% more gross. But travel nurses lose PTO, health insurance cost-share, retirement match, and carry contract cancellation risk. See Travel vs Staff Salary.
Do RNs with a BSN earn more than those with an ADN?
Usually $2,000–$5,000/year more in base pay, plus access to Magnet hospitals and leadership/specialty roles that require BSN. See BSN vs ADN Salary Difference.
Before You Accept or Relocate
State averages are a starting point — the contract you sign determines what you actually earn. Run your offer through the free Contract Red Flag Audit before signing. The Free Contract Audit Kit includes counter-offer templates for base pay, sign-on bonus, and differential negotiation.