RN Salary by City — 2026 Nurse Pay Guide

Nurse pay varies dramatically by city — not just by state. Two nurses with identical experience and specialty can earn $40,000–$60,000 more per year simply by working in a higher-paying metro. This guide covers RN salary data for 57 cities across 20 states, including average pay, salary ranges, and top hospitals in each market.

For statewide context, see the RN salary by state guide. To find the highest-paying specialties in any city, see highest-paying nursing specialties.

Highest-Paying Cities for Nurses in 2026

The top-paying cities for RNs share common factors: large academic medical centers, strong union contracts (CNA, NYSNA, ONA), and high cost-of-living adjustments built into wage schedules. Here are the cities with the highest average RN salaries:

• San Francisco, CA: $145,000–$165,000/year. UCSF, Kaiser, and Sutter Health drive wages to national highs.
• New York City, NY: $108,000–$128,000/year. NYSNA and 1199SEIU union contracts anchor pay at major academic systems.
• Los Angeles, CA: $118,000–$135,000/year. Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, and USC Keck compete aggressively for RN talent.
• Seattle, WA: $98,000–$112,000/year. No state income tax adds $4,000–$8,000/year in effective take-home.
• Houston, TX: $84,000–$102,000/year. Texas Medical Center — the largest in the world — drives competitive wages with zero state income tax.

Browse All Cities by State

Select any city below to see 2026 salary estimates, salary range, top employers, and how the city compares to its state average.

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