Highest-Paying States for Registered Nurses in 2022

^{Updated 12/10/2021 Reviewed by: Kiley Griffin, RN}

Average registered nurse salaries vary significantly from state-to-state. In the United States overall, the average registered nurse salary is $80,010 and the median (50th percentile) is $75,330. California, with RN salaries averaging $120,560, is the highest-paying state for nurses as of May 2020 (according to the BLS).

$60,330 lower than California’s average is Alabama, at $60,230. 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.

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 $120,560 per year on average. Following it is Hawaii, at $104,830, and Massachusetts, at $96,250. Washington, D.C., while not a technically state, also ranks among the top-paying U.S. regions at an average RN salary of $90,050.

Top 10 highest-paying states for registered nurses

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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 2020, Hawaii tops the list at 198.6, while Mississippi comes in lowest, at 84.5.

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.

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It’s not just about the absolute size of the paycheck, but about how far those wages will go for a nurse’s budget.

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Despite it being a more expensive place to live, Nevada edges out California to top the list of highest-paying states for nurses after adjusting for cost of living. Nevada’s adjusted RN salary average is $84,770 – much higher than its $75,700 non-adjusted salary thanks to a lower cost of living. Following closely behind are California ($84,663) and Texas ($83,478).

Top 10 highest-paying states for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living

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

1. California
   Avg RN salary: $120,560
   RNs employed: 307,060
   Cost of living index: 142.4
   Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $84,663
2. Hawaii
   Avg RN salary: $104,830
   RNs employed: 11,260
   Cost of living index: 198.6
   Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $52,784
3. Massachusetts
   Avg RN salary: $96,250
   RNs employed: 84,030
   Cost of living index: 129.9
   Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $74,095
4. Oregon
   Avg RN salary: $96,230
   RNs employed: 36,840
   Cost of living index: 133.7
   Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,975
5. Alaska
   Avg RN salary: $95,270
   RNs employed: 6,240
   Cost of living index: 127.3
   Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $74,839
6. Washington
   Avg RN salary: $91,310
   RNs employed: 59,300
   Cost of living index: 113
   Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $80,805
7. District of Columbia
   Avg RN salary: $90,050
   RNs employed: 10,320
   Cost of living index: 159
   Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $56,635
8. New York
   Avg RN salary: $89,760
   RNs employed: 178,550
   Cost of living index: 146.6
   Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $61,228
9. Nevada
   Avg RN salary: $89,750
   RNs employed: 23,420
   Cost of living index: 108.8
   Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $82,491
10. New Jersey
    Avg RN salary: $85,720
    RNs employed: 78,590
    Cost of living index: 116.8
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $73,390
11. Connecticut
    Avg RN salary: $84,850
    RNs employed: 33,400
    Cost of living index: 123
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $68,984
12. Rhode Island
    Avg RN salary: $82,790
    RNs employed: 12,150
    Cost of living index: 119.6
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,222
13. Maryland
    Avg RN salary: $81,590
    RNs employed: 51,480
    Cost of living index: 127.2
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $64,143
14. Minnesota
    Avg RN salary: $80,960
    RNs employed: 70,820
    Cost of living index: 100.7
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $80,397
15. Arizona
    Avg RN salary: $80,380
    RNs employed: 55,520
    Cost of living index: 101.3
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $79,348
16. Colorado
    Avg RN salary: $77,860
    RNs employed: 52,330
    Cost of living index: 104.2
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $74,722
17. Texas
    Avg RN salary: $76,800
    RNs employed: 219,330
    Cost of living index: 92
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $83,478
18. New Hampshire
    Avg RN salary: $75,970
    RNs employed: 13,840
    Cost of living index: 108.4
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $70,083
19. New Mexico
    Avg RN salary: $75,700
    RNs employed: 17,100
    Cost of living index: 89.3
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $84,770
20. Wisconsin
    Avg RN salary: $74,760
    RNs employed: 63,630
    Cost of living index: 96.1
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $77,794
21. Illinois
    Avg RN salary: $74,560
    RNs employed: 127,450
    Cost of living index: 95
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $78,484
22. Virginia
    Avg RN salary: $74,380
    RNs employed: 66,450
    Cost of living index: 101.5
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $73,281
23. Delaware
    Avg RN salary: $74,330
    RNs employed: 11,410
    Cost of living index: 107.7
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,016
24. Pennsylvania
    Avg RN salary: $74,170
    RNs employed: 146,640
    Cost of living index: 104
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,317
25. Michigan
    Avg RN salary: $73,980
    RNs employed: 97,820
    Cost of living index: 90.6
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $81,656
26. Wyoming
    Avg RN salary: $72,600
    RNs employed: 5,010
    Cost of living index: 94.3
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $76,988
27. Vermont
    Avg RN salary: $72,140
    RNs employed: 6,810
    Cost of living index: 116.4
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $61,976
28. Idaho
    Avg RN salary: $71,640
    RNs employed: 12,800
    Cost of living index: 93.9
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $76,294
29. Georgia
    Avg RN salary: $71,510
    RNs employed: 73,230
    Cost of living index: 89.7
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $79,721
30. Maine
    Avg RN salary: $71,040
    RNs employed: 14,160
    Cost of living index: 116.1
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $61,189
31. Montana
    Avg RN salary: $70,530
    RNs employed: 9,980
    Cost of living index: 99.4
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $70,956
32. Utah
    Avg RN salary: $70,370
    RNs employed: 23,690
    Cost of living index: 97.9
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,879
33. Ohio
    Avg RN salary: $69,750
    RNs employed: 129,090
    Cost of living index: 92.2
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $75,651
34. North Dakota
    Avg RN salary: $69,630
    RNs employed: 9,970
    Cost of living index: 96.5
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $72,155
35. Florida
    Avg RN salary: $69,510
    RNs employed: 183,130
    Cost of living index: 99.8
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,649
36. Nebraska
    Avg RN salary: $69,480
    RNs employed: 24,060
    Cost of living index: 93
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $74,710
37. North Carolina
    Avg RN salary: $68,950
    RNs employed: 99,110
    Cost of living index: 96.1
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,748
38. Louisiana
    Avg RN salary: $68,010
    RNs employed: 41,690
    Cost of living index: 93.2
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $72,972
39. Indiana
    Avg RN salary: $67,490
    RNs employed: 66,460
    Cost of living index: 89.8
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $75,156
40. South Carolina
    Avg RN salary: $67,140
    RNs employed: 45,930
    Cost of living index: 95.9
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $70,010
41. Oklahoma
    Avg RN salary: $66,600
    RNs employed: 32,950
    Cost of living index: 87.2
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $76,376
42. Missouri
    Avg RN salary: $65,900
    RNs employed: 71,560
    Cost of living index: 89.1
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $73,962
43. West Virginia
    Avg RN salary: $65,130
    RNs employed: 19,800
    Cost of living index: 92.7
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $70,259
44. Kentucky
    Avg RN salary: $64,730
    RNs employed: 42,940
    Cost of living index: 93.6
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $69,156
45. Kansas
    Avg RN salary: $64,200
    RNs employed: 29,430
    Cost of living index: 86.8
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $73,963
46. Tennessee
    Avg RN salary: $64,120
    RNs employed: 61,040
    Cost of living index: 89.7
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $71,483
47. Arkansas
    Avg RN salary: $63,640
    RNs employed: 25,300
    Cost of living index: 88.1
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $72,236
48. Iowa
    Avg RN salary: $62,570
    RNs employed: 32,610
    Cost of living index: 91.3
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $68,532
49. Mississippi
    Avg RN salary: $61,250
    RNs employed: 28,800
    Cost of living index: 84.5
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $72,485
50. South Dakota
    Avg RN salary: $60,960
    RNs employed: 13,130
    Cost of living index: 99.8
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $61,082
51. Alabama
    Avg RN salary: $60,230
    RNs employed: 48,850
    Cost of living index: 89.2
    Avg RN salary, adjusted for COL: $67,522

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Questions from the Incredible Health Nurse Community

• What is the most effective way to negotiate for higher pay? My peers in the same area are making almost $4/hr more than I am.

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