Last Updated: April 24, 2026
Highest Paying States for Registered Nurses (2026 Rankings)
The highest paying states for registered nurses in 2026 are California ($148,000–$158,000+ mean), Hawaii ($122,000+), Oregon ($117,000+), Washington ($114,000+), and Alaska ($113,000+), based on BLS May 2024 OEWS data adjusted for 3–4% projected annual wage growth. The gap between the highest-paying state and the median state is over $40,000 per year. Cost of living meaningfully changes the effective ranking — Texas, Florida, and Tennessee jump 5–8 spots on a take-home basis.
How We Built the Rankings
All estimates use the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 release as the baseline for state-level RN mean annual wages, projected forward with a 3–4% annual wage-growth assumption. Pay figures are estimates before shift differentials, specialty premiums, overtime, and bonuses. See the state-by-state RN pay pillar and RN Salary Calculator for granular modeling.
Top 20 Highest Paying States for RNs (2026 — Nominal)
| Rank | State | Estimated RN Mean Annual (2026) | Estimated Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $148,000 – $158,000 | $71 – $76/hr |
| 2 | Hawaii | $122,000 – $130,000 | $59 – $63/hr |
| 3 | Oregon | $117,000 – $125,000 | $56 – $60/hr |
| 4 | Washington | $114,000 – $122,000 | $55 – $59/hr |
| 5 | Alaska | $113,000 – $121,000 | $54 – $58/hr |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $110,000 – $118,000 | $53 – $57/hr |
| 7 | New York | $108,000 – $116,000 | $52 – $56/hr |
| 8 | New Jersey | $103,000 – $110,000 | $50 – $53/hr |
| 9 | Nevada | $100,000 – $107,000 | $48 – $51/hr |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $100,000 – $107,000 | $48 – $51/hr |
| 11 | Minnesota | $98,000 – $105,000 | $47 – $50/hr |
| 12 | Connecticut | $97,000 – $104,000 | $47 – $50/hr |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $96,000 – $103,000 | $46 – $49/hr |
| 14 | Maryland | $95,000 – $102,000 | $46 – $49/hr |
| 15 | Arizona | $93,000 – $100,000 | $45 – $48/hr |
| 16 | Colorado | $92,000 – $98,000 | $44 – $47/hr |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $91,000 – $97,000 | $44 – $47/hr |
| 18 | Illinois | $91,000 – $97,000 | $44 – $47/hr |
| 19 | Delaware | $90,000 – $97,000 | $43 – $47/hr |
| 20 | Vermont | $89,000 – $96,000 | $43 – $46/hr |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 (29-1141), projected 3–4% annually. Excludes differentials, OT, and bonuses.
Why These States Lead
Three structural factors explain most of the top-tier pay:
- Union density — California, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, New York, and Minnesota all have strong nurse union presence. Collective bargaining consistently raises the wage floor and drives step-based progression.
- Staffing ratio legislation — California's AB 394 (effective 2004) set minimum nurse-to-patient ratios by unit type. Ratio constraints tighten supply, which raises price. Oregon, Massachusetts, and New York have moved toward ratio or staffing-committee regulation.
- Cost of living floor — Pacific and Northeast metros have structurally higher housing and service costs, and nominal wages rise to meet them.
Cost of Living Adjusted: The Real Paycheck
Nominal rankings don't reflect what a nurse actually takes home and keeps. California's $150,000 mean loses significant ground once state income tax and Bay Area / LA housing are factored in. The table below is an illustrative re-ranking — states with lower nominal pay but much lower cost of living can produce better real purchasing power.
| State | Nominal Mean (2026) | COL Index (100=US avg) | Real Pay Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $81,000 – $87,000 | ~90 | Strong real pay |
| Tennessee | $80,000 – $86,000 | ~90 | Strong real pay |
| Texas | $89,000 – $96,000 | ~94 | Strong real pay |
| Georgia | $84,000 – $90,000 | ~91 | Strong real pay |
| Oregon | $117,000 – $125,000 | ~113 | High nominal + moderate COL |
| Washington | $114,000 – $122,000 | ~113 | High nominal + moderate COL |
| California | $148,000 – $158,000 | ~142 | High nominal, high COL drag |
| Hawaii | $122,000 – $130,000 | ~185 | Below US avg real pay |
Illustrative only. COL indexes vary by source and metro; always model your actual metro before relying on a statewide index.
The takeaway: the nominal top-5 isn't the real top-5 for everyone. A nurse optimizing for savings rate may do better in Texas, Tennessee, or Michigan than in Hawaii. See our Florida RN salary guide for a no-income-tax comparison.
State-by-State Highlights
California — by far the highest-paying RN market in the US. AB 394 ratios, strong CNA union representation, and massive system concentration in the Bay Area, LA, and San Diego drive pay. Cost of living is the primary offset.
Hawaii — second-highest nominal pay; highest cost of living by a wide margin. Best suited for nurses with existing ties to Hawaii or those optimizing for lifestyle.
Oregon — strong ONA union density, Magnet systems (OHSU, Providence, Legacy), and a more moderate cost of living than California make it one of the strongest real-pay markets.
Washington — WSNA represents a large share of Seattle-area RNs. Strong academic anchor (UW Medicine, Seattle Children's). Seattle-area housing is the primary COL drag.
Alaska — small labor market, high pay driven by recruitment difficulty and a structural remoteness premium. Consider carefully if you don't have a personal connection to the state.
Massachusetts — MNA is a powerful bargaining presence. Boston-metro academic density (MGH, Brigham, BIDMC) produces among the highest RN wages east of the Mississippi.
New York — enormous range by region. NYC union-system nurses can clear $130,000+ with differentials; upstate pay sits closer to the national mean.
Nevada — Las Vegas and Reno drive the state average. Below-median cost of living makes Nevada a strong real-pay candidate.
Pay Premium Drivers Beyond State
State is the biggest factor, but your actual paycheck is the sum of state + metro + specialty + certification + shift + experience. Even within a top-5 state, rural pay can sit 15–20% below metro pay. An ICU nurse with CCRN in a mid-ranked state may out-earn a med-surg nurse in a top-5 state. See top-paying RN specialties for specialty premiums.
2026 Trends Worth Watching
- Staffing ratio legislation is being actively debated in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Illinois. Any law that passes could move those states several ranks higher over 3–5 years.
- Travel-to-staff compression has closed the gap between a staff RN in a top-5 state and a travel RN in a middle-tier state.
- Sign-on bonus growth in middle-tier states (Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee) continues as those systems compete for coastal talent.
For negotiation help when switching states, see our negotiation scripts.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2024 (29-1141), state-level; BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses; published state-level cost-of-living composite indexes. Internal methodology: BLS state means projected with 3–4% annual wage-growth assumption; COL adjustments are illustrative. Figures are estimates; actual pay varies by employer, experience, metro, specialty, certification, and shift. Not career or financial advice.
📊 Data Methodology
Salary figures on this page are 2026 estimates derived from the most recent available U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, based on the May 2024 survey and published in March 2025. Estimated ranges may also incorporate publicly available 2025 job postings, hospital pay schedules, regional market conditions, and reported compensation trends.
Official 2026 OEWS wage data has not yet been released. All salary figures on this page should be treated as informational estimates rather than official government statistics or guaranteed compensation rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state pays registered nurses the most in 2026?
What are the top 5 highest paying states for nurses?
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Why do California nurses make so much more?
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How does New York rank?
Does Hawaii really have high RN pay?
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What about travel nurses — does the state ranking change?
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Sources
Methodology
State RN pay rankings sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, adjusted for 3–4% annual wage growth projections into 2026. Rankings reflect mean annual wages. Cost-of-living analysis derived from published COL indices. Salary data sourced from BLS OEWS state-level summary data; see individual state pages for metro-level detail. Figures are estimates and vary by employer, experience, certifications, location, and contract terms.
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