Average registered nurse salaries vary significantly from state-to-state. In the United States overall, the average registered nurse salary is $77,460 and the median (50th percentile) is $73,300. California, with RN salaries averaging $113,240, is the highest-paying state for nurses as of May 2019 (according to the BLS).
$53,700 lower than California’s average is South Dakota, at $59,540. With such a wide possible salary range, it may pay off for nurses to consider moving to a higher-paying state. On the other hand, it may not; large cost of living differences between states means the same dollar you earn in one state may not go as far as in another.
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Read on to learn more about which state pay their nurses the most, both in absolute terms and after factoring in cost of living.
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
California tops our list of the highest-paying states for RNs, with nurses receiving $113,240 per year on average. Following it is Hawaii, at $104,060, and Massachusetts, at $93,160. Washington, D.C., while not a technically state, also ranks among the top-paying U.S. regions at an average RN salary of $94,820.
Top 10 highest-paying states for registered nurses
| Rank | State | Average RN Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $113,240 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $104,060 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $93,160 |
| 4 | Oregon | $92,960 |
| 5 | Alaska | $90,500 |
| 6 | Nevada | $88,380 |
| 7 | New York | $87,840 |
| 8 | Washington | $86,170 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $84,280 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $83,440 |
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Highest-paying states for RNs, adjusted for cost of living
The cost of living index is a measure of the relative purchasing power of a dollar for things like groceries, housing, and transportation. Regions where these essential goods are more costly than the U.S. average have a higher cost of living index; areas where these same goods tend to be cheaper are estimated to have a lower cost of living. As of Q4 2020, Hawaii tops the list at 199.1, while Mississippi comes in lowest, at 84.8.
Adjusting each state’s average RN salary by its cost of living index gives us a potentially more accurate means of comparing where nurses get paid the most.
It’s not just about the absolute size of the paycheck, but about how far those wages will go for a nurse’s budget.
Despite it being a more expensive place to live, California still tops the list of highest-paying states for nurses after adjusting for cost of living. California’s adjusted RN salary average is $81,644 (far lower than its $113,240 non-adjusted salary). Following closely behind are New Mexico ($81,626) and Nevada ($81,157).
Top 10 highest-paying states for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
| Rank | State | Avg RN Salary (COL Adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $81,644 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $81,626 |
| 3 | Nevada | $81,157 |
| 4 | Texas | $80,497 |
| 5 | Michigan | $80,440 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $79,258 |
| 7 | Georgia | $77,322 |
| 8 | Arizona | $77,249 |
| 9 | Illinois | $76,813 |
| 10 | Washington | $76,392 |
Registered nurse salaries in all 50 states
Hospitals and other healthcare organizations employ registered nurses in every state across the U.S. Use the map or list below to find your own state’s average RN salary.
Map
List
- California
Avg RN salary: $113,240
RNs employed: 302,770
Cost of living index: 138.7
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $81,644 - Hawaii
Avg RN salary: $104,060
RNs employed: 11,330
Cost of living index: 199.1
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $52,265 - District of Columbia
Avg RN salary: $94,820
RNs employed: 10,890
Cost of living index: 160
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $59,263 - Massachusetts
Avg RN salary: $93,160
RNs employed: 81,020
Cost of living index: 130.1
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,606 - Oregon
Avg RN salary: $92,960
RNs employed: 36,660
Cost of living index: 134.7
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,013 - Alaska
Avg RN salary: $90,500
RNs employed: 6,210
Cost of living index: 127.8
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $70,814 - Nevada
Avg RN salary: $88,380
RNs employed: 22,940
Cost of living index: 108.9
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $81,157 - New York
Avg RN salary: $87,840
RNs employed: 178,320
Cost of living index: 134
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $65,552 - Washington
Avg RN salary: $86,170
RNs employed: 58,000
Cost of living index: 112.8
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $76,392 - New Jersey
Avg RN salary: $84,280
RNs employed: 80,140
Cost of living index: 117.4
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,789 - Connecticut
Avg RN salary: $83,440
RNs employed: 34,740
Cost of living index: 124.1
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $67,236 - Rhode Island
Avg RN salary: $82,310
RNs employed: 12,630
Cost of living index: 119.6
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $68,821 - Minnesota
Avg RN salary: $80,130
RNs employed: 71,000
Cost of living index: 101.1
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $79,258 - Arizona
Avg RN salary: $78,330
RNs employed: 54,590
Cost of living index: 101.4
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $77,249 - Maryland
Avg RN salary: $77,910
RNs employed: 53,150
Cost of living index: 127.6
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $61,058 - Colorado
Avg RN salary: $76,230
RNs employed: 52,510
Cost of living index: 104.1
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $73,228 - Texas
Avg RN salary: $74,540
RNs employed: 218,090
Cost of living index: 92.6
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $80,497 - Delaware
Avg RN salary: $74,100
RNs employed: 11,730
Cost of living index: 108.3
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $68,421 - New Hampshire
Avg RN salary: $73,880
RNs employed: 14,320
Cost of living index: 108.5
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $68,092 - Illinois
Avg RN salary: $73,510
RNs employed: 129,530
Cost of living index: 95.7
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $76,813 - New Mexico
Avg RN salary: $73,300
RNs employed: 17,350
Cost of living index: 89.8
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $81,626 - Michigan
Avg RN salary: $73,200
RNs employed: 96,900
Cost of living index: 91
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $80,440 - Wisconsin
Avg RN salary: $72,610
RNs employed: 61,930
Cost of living index: 96.4
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $75,322 - Virginia
Avg RN salary: $71,870
RNs employed: 66,040
Cost of living index: 101.7
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $70,669 - Pennsylvania
Avg RN salary: $71,410
RNs employed: 148,040
Cost of living index: 102.8
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,465 - Vermont
Avg RN salary: $70,240
RNs employed: 7,020
Cost of living index: 116.8
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $60,137 - Maine
Avg RN salary: $69,760
RNs employed: 14,490
Cost of living index: 116.8
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $59,726 - Georgia
Avg RN salary: $69,590
RNs employed: 75,430
Cost of living index: 90
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $77,322 - Idaho
Avg RN salary: $69,480
RNs employed: 14,110
Cost of living index: 94.5
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $73,524 - Montana
Avg RN salary: $69,340
RNs employed: 10,310
Cost of living index: 99.3
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,829 - Wyoming
Avg RN salary: $68,690
RNs employed: 5,120
Cost of living index: 95.1
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $72,229 - Ohio
Avg RN salary: $68,220
RNs employed: 125,470
Cost of living index: 92.3
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $73,911 - Utah
Avg RN salary: $67,970
RNs employed: 21,650
Cost of living index: 97.8
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,499 - Florida
Avg RN salary: $67,610
RNs employed: 181,670
Cost of living index: 100.2
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $67,475 - Nebraska
Avg RN salary: $66,640
RNs employed: 23,800
Cost of living index: 93.1
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,579 - Indiana
Avg RN salary: $66,560
RNs employed: 67,510
Cost of living index: 90.3
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $73,710 - North Carolina
Avg RN salary: $66,440
RNs employed: 99,960
Cost of living index: 96.2
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,064 - North Dakota
Avg RN salary: $66,290
RNs employed: 9,750
Cost of living index: 97
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $68,340 - Louisiana
Avg RN salary: $65,850
RNs employed: 40,870
Cost of living index: 93.4
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $70,503 - South Carolina
Avg RN salary: $64,840
RNs employed: 46,860
Cost of living index: 96.2
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $67,401 - Oklahoma
Avg RN salary: $64,800
RNs employed: 31,350
Cost of living index: 87.2
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $74,312 - Missouri
Avg RN salary: $64,160
RNs employed: 68,840
Cost of living index: 89.4
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,767 - Kentucky
Avg RN salary: $63,750
RNs employed: 43,840
Cost of living index: 94
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $67,819 - West Virginia
Avg RN salary: $63,220
RNs employed: 19,830
Cost of living index: 92.8
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $68,125 - Tennessee
Avg RN salary: $62,570
RNs employed: 63,330
Cost of living index: 90
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,522 - Kansas
Avg RN salary: $62,450
RNs employed: 30,370
Cost of living index: 87.5
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,371 - Arkansas
Avg RN salary: $61,330
RNs employed: 25,210
Cost of living index: 88.3
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,456 - Iowa
Avg RN salary: $60,590
RNs employed: 32,980
Cost of living index: 92
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $65,859 - Alabama
Avg RN salary: $60,230
RNs employed: 49,190
Cost of living index: 89.4
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $67,371 - Mississippi
Avg RN salary: $59,750
RNs employed: 29,550
Cost of living index: 84.8
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $70,460 - South Dakota
Avg RN salary: $59,540
RNs employed: 12,950
Cost of living index: 96.4
Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $61,763
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