The average salary for Registered Nurses in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area is approximately $81,350 per year (or $39.11 per hour) as of May 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
On average, RNs in the Houston area about 5% more than the national average salary for nurses, at $77,460. Additionally, they make 9.1% more than the average for Texas overall, at $74,540.
Houston RN Salaries Compared to Other Major Metro Areas
Houston is ranked as the 7th most populous metro area in the United States in terms of nurse employment. Texas also has a score of 92 on the cost of living index, which makes it the 13th most affordable state. As a result, the average RN salary in Houston ($81,350) is lower than many of the other major metros for nurse employment. This is especially true among those with higher cost of living such as New York City ($93,280), San Francisco ($138,000), Los Angeles ($106,190), and Boston ($96,510).
| Metro Area | RNs Employed | Avg. RN Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 54,780 | $81,350 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 174,210 | $93,280 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 54,020 | $69,920 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 60,620 | $76,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 111,780 | $106,190 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 97,030 | $77,430 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 71,120 | $77,640 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 58,690 | $96,510 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 43,450 | $83,370 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 41,640 | $84,400 |
Career Outlook for Nurses in Houston
The state of Texas has about 219,330 RNs overall, with a 17% job outlook increase. Houston is one of the most populous metropolitans in the United States. So, there is a large amount of nurses in the area. Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN) have a slightly smaller, but still substantial growth projection of almost 11%. However, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have an astounding 32% expected projected growth rate.
Other Healthcare Professions Compared to Registered Nurse Salary in Houston
At $84,960 average annual salary, registered nurses in the Houston area tend to earn about 42% more than licensed practical / vocational nurses ($48,960), and roughly a third less than nurse practitioners ($125,810). Meanwhile, dental hygienists in Houston typically earn average at a $77,640 salary. However, there are far more RN positions in Houston than other professions in the healthcare field. So, the opportunity in terms of both employment and job availability is highest for RNs.
| Profession | # Employed in Houston | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 54,780 | $81,350 |
| LPNs / LVNs | 14,120 | $48,340 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 3,190 | $124,960 |
| Dental Hygienists | 3,190 | $73,100 |
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