Registered Nurses in the state of Alabama earn an average annual salary of $60,230 per year (or $28.96 per hour) as of May 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 80% of Alabama RNs earn between $43,350 and $79,590.
On average, RNs in Alabama earn about 10% less than the national average salary for nurses, at $77,460 (or $37.24 per hour).
[ 1. Find your salary range 2. Get interview requests for high-paying nursing jobs 💰 ]
The cost of living in a region can impact what nurses tend to earn working in those areas. With a Cost of Living Index of 89.4 in Q3 2020, nurses in Alabama benefit from slightly lower prices for food, housing, and transportation compared to other states. So, it’s understandable that their earnings would also be a bit lower than the national average.
State | Avg. RN Salary | Avg. RN Salary (adjusted for COL) |
---|---|---|
Alabama | $60,230 | $66,596 |
Nationwide | $77,460 | - |

Free nursing salary estimate
Get a personalized salary estimate for your location and nursing credentials.
Average RN Salaries In Alabama Cities
Alabama RN salaries vary quite a bit across the state, but the highest-paying regions for RNs are unsurprisingly in the largest metropolitan area, Atlanta, with average RN salaries at around $70,540. Macon is a close second at $67,010. Other regions vary below the statewide average for RN salary. Atlanta has 40,400 RNs employed, while other regions only have between 2,000-6,000.
Metro Area | RNs Employed | Avg. RN Salary |
---|---|---|
Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 16,760 | $62,810 |
Tuscaloosa, AL | 2,840 | $59,190 |
Decatur, AL | 960 | $49,980 |
Huntsville, AL | 5,000 | $57,850 |
Mobile, AL | 5,320 | $58,470 |
Montgomery, AL | 3,760 | $65,200 |
RN salary vs similar healthcare professions in Alabama
At a $74,540 average annual salary, RNs in Alabama earn less than other types of healthcare workers in the state. “Nurse Practitioners” and “Physical Therapists” workers in Alabama earn an average salary ranging between $92,570-$99,570, according to the BLS.
Here’s how a sample of these other types of healthcare professions compare to RN salaries in Alabama:
Profession | # Employed | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
Registered Nurses | 49,190 | $60,230 |
LPNs / LVNs | 12,400 | $39,310 |
Pharmacy Technicians | 6,790 | $30,830 |
Dental Hygienists | 3,790 | $48,090 |
Physical Therapist | 2,770 | $92,570 |
Nurse Practitioners | 3,800 | $99,570 |
Job outlook for Registered Nurses in Alabama
Almost 53,000 Registered Nurses reside in the state of Alabama. The nursing positions are projected to increase by at least 10% from 2018 to 2028 – an increase of more than 5,000 new RNs in the state in the coming years.

Nurses needed nationwide
Join Incredible Health for free to get interview requests from top U.S. hospitals.