Healthcare8% remote-eligible+3.5% YoY growth

Registered Nurse Salary
by City (2026)

Provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients, and provide emotional support. National median: $82K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$82K

Top 10% earn

$130K

Entry level

$65K

Salary growth

+3.5%/yr

Registered Nurse salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$91K	$115K	$146K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$88K	$111K	$140K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$86K	$109K	$138K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$86K	$108K	$137K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$86K	$108K	$137K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$85K	$107K	$135K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$85K	$107K	$135K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$85K	$107K	$135K	152	8.5%
Irvine, CA	$83K	$105K	$133K	172	9.3%
Bellevue, WA	$84K	$105K	$134K	175	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$81K	$103K	$130K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$81K	$103K	$130K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$81K	$102K	$130K	165	6.85%
Kirkland, WA	$81K	$102K	$129K	162	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$81K	$102K	$130K	165	5.75%
San Diego, CA	$79K	$100K	$127K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$79K	$100K	$127K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$79K	$100K	$127K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$80K	$100K	$127K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$79K	$99K	$126K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$78K	$98K	$124K	150	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$78K	$98K	$125K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$78K	$98K	$125K	192	11%
Long Beach, CA	$77K	$97K	$123K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$77K	$97K	$124K	148	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$77K	$97K	$123K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$77K	$97K	$122K	145	5.75%
Baltimore, MD	$77K	$97K	$123K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$77K	$97K	$124K	148	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$77K	$97K	$122K	145	10.75%
Anchorage, AK	$77K	$97K	$123K	128	None ✓
Paterson, NJ	$75K	$95K	$121K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$75K	$94K	$120K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$75K	$94K	$120K	138	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$75K	$94K	$120K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$75K	$94K	$120K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$75K	$94K	$120K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$75K	$94K	$120K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$73K	$92K	$116K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$73K	$92K	$116K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$73K	$92K	$116K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$72K	$90K	$114K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$72K	$90K	$114K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$72K	$90K	$114K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$72K	$90K	$114K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$71K	$90K	$114K	122	6.99%
Houston, TX	$70K	$89K	$112K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$70K	$89K	$112K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$70K	$89K	$112K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$70K	$89K	$112K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$70K	$89K	$112K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$70K	$89K	$112K	104	6.8%
Nashua, NH	$71K	$89K	$113K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$69K	$88K	$111K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$69K	$88K	$111K	115	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$69K	$88K	$111K	115	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	5%
Ann Arbor, MI	$69K	$88K	$111K	115	4.25%
Gresham, OR	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$69K	$88K	$111K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$69K	$88K	$111K	115	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	None ✓
Concord, NH	$69K	$88K	$111K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$70K	$88K	$112K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$69K	$88K	$111K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$69K	$87K	$110K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$69K	$87K	$110K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$69K	$87K	$110K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$69K	$87K	$110K	112	4.75%
Austin, TX	$68K	$86K	$109K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$68K	$86K	$109K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$68K	$86K	$109K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$68K	$86K	$109K	108	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$68K	$86K	$108K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$68K	$86K	$109K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$68K	$86K	$109K	118	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$68K	$86K	$108K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$68K	$86K	$108K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$68K	$86K	$108K	108	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$68K	$86K	$109K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$68K	$86K	$109K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$68K	$86K	$109K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$68K	$86K	$109K	105	4.85%
Boise, ID	$68K	$86K	$108K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$68K	$86K	$108K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$67K	$85K	$107K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$67K	$85K	$107K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$67K	$85K	$107K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$67K	$85K	$107K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$67K	$85K	$107K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$66K	$84K	$106K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$66K	$84K	$106K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$66K	$84K	$106K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$66K	$84K	$106K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$66K	$84K	$106K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$66K	$84K	$106K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$66K	$84K	$106K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$66K	$84K	$106K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$66K	$83K	$105K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$66K	$83K	$105K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$65K	$83K	$105K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$65K	$83K	$105K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$66K	$83K	$105K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$66K	$83K	$105K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$65K	$83K	$105K	98	5.75%
Rochester, MN	$66K	$83K	$105K	100	6.8%
North Las Vegas, NV	$65K	$83K	$105K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$65K	$83K	$105K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$66K	$83K	$105K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$65K	$83K	$105K	98	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$66K	$83K	$105K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$65K	$83K	$105K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$65K	$83K	$105K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$65K	$83K	$105K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$66K	$83K	$105K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$65K	$82K	$104K	95	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$65K	$82K	$104K	100	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$65K	$82K	$104K	95	4.95%
Chandler, AZ	$65K	$82K	$104K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$65K	$82K	$104K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$65K	$82K	$104K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$65K	$82K	$104K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$65K	$82K	$104K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$65K	$82K	$104K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$65K	$82K	$104K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$65K	$82K	$104K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$65K	$82K	$104K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$65K	$82K	$104K	100	4.85%
North Charleston, SC	$65K	$82K	$104K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$64K	$81K	$102K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$64K	$81K	$102K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$64K	$81K	$102K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$64K	$81K	$102K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$64K	$81K	$102K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$64K	$80K	$102K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$64K	$80K	$102K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$64K	$80K	$102K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$64K	$80K	$102K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$64K	$80K	$102K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$64K	$80K	$102K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$64K	$80K	$102K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$64K	$80K	$102K	98	2.5%
Greensboro, NC	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$64K	$80K	$102K	98	5.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$64K	$80K	$102K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$64K	$80K	$102K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$64K	$80K	$102K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$64K	$80K	$102K	90	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	5%
Charleston, SC	$64K	$80K	$102K	105	6.5%
Great Falls, MT	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$64K	$80K	$102K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$63K	$80K	$101K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$62K	$79K	$100K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$62K	$79K	$100K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$62K	$79K	$100K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$62K	$79K	$100K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$62K	$79K	$100K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$62K	$79K	$100K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$62K	$79K	$100K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	5%
Lafayette, LA	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$62K	$79K	$100K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$62K	$78K	$99K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$62K	$78K	$99K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	3.99%
South Bend, IN	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	3.23%
Huntsville, AL	$62K	$78K	$99K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$62K	$78K	$99K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$62K	$78K	$99K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$62K	$78K	$99K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$62K	$78K	$99K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$61K	$77K	$97K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	5.75%
Toledo, OH	$61K	$77K	$97K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$61K	$77K	$97K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$61K	$77K	$97K	78	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$61K	$77K	$97K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$61K	$77K	$98K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$61K	$77K	$97K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$60K	$76K	$96K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$60K	$76K	$96K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$60K	$76K	$96K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$60K	$75K	$96K	82	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$60K	$75K	$96K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$60K	$75K	$96K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$60K	$75K	$96K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$60K	$75K	$96K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$60K	$75K	$96K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$60K	$75K	$96K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$60K	$75K	$96K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$60K	$75K	$96K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$60K	$75K	$96K	88	5.9%
Lubbock, TX	$59K	$74K	$94K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$59K	$74K	$94K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$59K	$74K	$94K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$59K	$74K	$94K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$57K	$72K	$92K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$57K	$72K	$92K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $82K Registered Nurse salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Registered Nurse Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Registered Nurse is $82,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $65,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $104,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Registered Nurses nationally earn $130,000+.

Education and requirements

BSN or ADN; RN licensure required. This role is 8% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Registered Nurse compensation is growing at 3.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Registered Nurse salary FAQ

How much does a Registered Nurse make?

The median Registered Nurse salary in the US is $82,000 per year — about $39/hour. Most earn between $65,000 (25th percentile) and $104,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Registered Nurse?

Entry-level Registered Nurse positions typically start around $65,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Registered Nurses earn?

The top 10% of Registered Nurses earn $130,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Registered Nurses the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Registered Nurse salary at $115K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Registered Nurse salaries going up?

Yes — Registered Nurse pay is growing about 3.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Registered Nurse Salaryby City (2026)