Registered Nurse Salary in 2026
Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients about health conditions, and provide emotional support. They work in hospitals, clinics, and various healthcare settings.
Median Salary
$85,000
$7,083/mo
Entry Level
$56,000
starting pay
Senior Level
$110,000
experienced
Job Growth
+6%
10-yr outlook
Registered Nurse Overview
Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients about health conditions, and provide emotional support. They work in hospitals, clinics, and various healthcare settings.
Education
Bachelor's Degree (BSN)
Experience
0-2 years
Industry
Healthcare
Total Jobs (US)
3.1M
5-Year Growth
+16%
Category
Healthcare
Hourly Rate
$40.87/hr
Monthly Pay
$7,083
Registered Nurse Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Registered Nurse salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Registered Nurse Salary
$92,000
$7,667/month · $3,538/biweekly · $44.23/hr
Registered Nurse Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Registered Nurse field.
Entry-level Registered Nurses earn around $56,000, while the top 10% earn $118,000 or more.
Top Paying States for Registered Nurses
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $100,000 | +$15,000 |
| New York | $98,000 | +$13,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,000 | $0 |
| Texas | $83,000 | $-2,000 |
| Florida | $83,000 | $-2,000 |
Top Paying Cities for Registered Nurses
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $100,000 | +$15,000 |
| Los Angeles | $95,000 | +$10,000 |
| Miami | $87,000 | +$2,000 |
| Philadelphia | $87,000 | +$2,000 |
| Houston | $84,000 | $-1,000 |
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
Registered Nurse Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a Registered Nurse from entry level to expert.
$56,000
0-2 years
$83,000
3-7 years
$110,000
8-14 years
$126,000
15+ years
Related Healthcare Jobs
Registered Nurse Salary FAQ
Methodology & Data Sources — Registered Nurse Salary
How we calculate Registered Nurse salary data: Our figures combine BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the national salary baseline, adjusted by cost-of-living multipliers from the C2ER Cost of Living Index. State-level estimates use BLS regional wage survey data weighted by occupation employment counts. We calibrate entry/senior/top-level tiers against BLS percentile distributions (P10, P25, P75, P90) for this occupation.
- National median salary: $85,000 — sourced from BLS OEWS for SOC code corresponding to Registered Nurse in the Healthcare sector.
- Entry-level ($56,000) and senior-level ($110,000) figures reflect BLS P25 and P75 percentile wage estimates adjusted for experience.
- Job outlook: +6% projected growth through 2034, from BLS Employment Projections program. Approximately 3.1M total positions nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 16% over the past 5 years, derived from BLS Employment Cost Index for Healthcare sector wages.
- Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree (BSN), per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State-level estimates use BLS regional CPI-U data and OEWS metropolitan area wage surveys, normalized to the national median of $85,000.
Authoritative US data sources for Registered Nurse compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Registered Nurse job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections — 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data for Healthcare
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: Registered Nurse salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Patient Care, IV Therapy, EHR Systems), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated May 17, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest OEWS annual release
Explore More Job Salaries
Compare salary data for hundreds of jobs across all industries. Find out what you should be earning.