Where Nurse Salaries are Highest (& Lowest)
According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, Registered Nurses in California earn the highest annual salary of RNs in the U.S., clocking in at $106,260 per year, an increase of $5,000 over 2017’s average salary of $101,260. Hawaii came in second place with an average annual salary of $98,080, a nearly $6,000 lead over third place’s Washington, D.C., which offers an average salary of $92,350 for RNs.
See how the other 47 states stack up below, ranked in order from highest to lowest annual wage, as well as how many RNs are employed in each state.
- California
Amount of Employed RNs: 294,510
Average Annual Salary: $106,950
Search RN Jobs in This State - Hawaii
Amount of Employed RNs: 11,310
Average Annual Salary: $98,080
Search RN Jobs in This State - Washington, D.C.
Amount of Employed RNs: 11,110
Average Annual Salary: $92,350
Search RN Jobs in This State - Massachusetts
Amount of Employed RNs: 80,630
Average Annual Salary: $92,140
Search RN Jobs in This State - Oregon
Amount of Employed RNs: 36,020
Average Annual Salary: $91,080
Search RN Jobs in This State - Alaska
Amount of Employed RNs: 5,730
Average Annual Salary: $89,310
Search RN Jobs in This State - Nevada
Amount of Employed RNs: 22,560
Average Annual Salary: $85,620
Search RN Jobs in This State - New York
Amount of Employed RNs: 182,490
Average Annual Salary: $85,610
Search RN Jobs in This State - New Jersey
Amount of Employed RNs: 79,530
Average Annual Salary: $82,750
Search RN Jobs in This State - Washington
Amount of Employed RNs: 56,290
Average Annual Salary: $82,670
Search RN Jobs in This State - Connecticut
Amount of Employed RNs: 31,400
Average Annual Salary: $81,220
Search RN Jobs in This State - Minnesota
Amount of Employed RNs: 69,000
Average Annual Salary: $78,920
Search RN Jobs in This State - Rhode Island
Amount of Employed RNs: 12,630
Average Annual Salary: $78,420
Search RN Jobs in This State - Arizona
Amount of Employed RNs: 54,690
Average Annual Salary: $77,000
Search RN Jobs in This State - Maryland
Amount of Employed RNs: 54,080
Average Annual Salary: $76,820
Search RN Jobs in This State - Delaware
Amount of Employed RNs: 11,840
Average Annual Salary: $74,800
Search RN Jobs in This State - Colorado
Amount of Employed RNs: 51,760
Average Annual Salary: $74,240
Search RN Jobs in This State - Illinois
Amount of Employed RNs: 129,400
Average Annual Salary: $73,890
Search RN Jobs in This State - Texas
Amount of Employed RNs: 210,350
Average Annual Salary: $72,890
Search RN Jobs in This State - New Hampshire
Amount of Employed RNs: 13,630
Average Annual Salary: $72,760
Search RN Jobs in This State - New Mexico
Amount of Employed RNs: 16,730
Average Annual Salary: $71,730
Search RN Jobs in This State - Wisconsin
Amount of Employed RNs: 59,030
Average Annual Salary: $71,470
Search RN Jobs in This State - Michigan
Amount of Employed RNs: 96,680
Average Annual Salary: $71,330
Search RN Jobs in This State - Pennsylvania
Amount of Employed RNs: 148,520
Average Annual Salary: $70,390
Search RN Jobs in This State - Virginia
Amount of Employed RNs: 64,750
Average Annual Salary: $69,790
Search RN Jobs in This State - Vermont
Amount of Employed RNs: 6,460
Average Annual Salary: $69,160
Search RN Jobs in This State - Georgia
Amount of Employed RNs: 76,640
Average Annual Salary: $68,950
Search RN Jobs in This State - Maine
Amount of Employed RNs: 14,460
Average Annual Salary: $67,610
Search RN Jobs in This State - Montana
Amount of Employed RNs: 10,100
Average Annual Salary: $67,450
Search RN Jobs in This State - Wyoming
Amount of Employed RNs: 5,010
Average Annual Salary: $67,360
Search RN Jobs in This State - Idaho
Amount of Employed RNs: 13,790
Average Annual Salary: $67,110
Search RN Jobs in This State - Ohio
Amount of Employed RNs: 125,380
Average Annual Salary: $66,820
Search RN Jobs in This State - Florida
Amount of Employed RNs: 177,600
Average Annual Salary: $66,210
Search RN Jobs in This State - North Dakota
Amount of Employed RNs: 8,770
Average Annual Salary: $65,740
Search RN Jobs in This State - Utah
Amount of Employed RNs: 21,700
Average Annual Salary: $65,670
Search RN Jobs in This State - Missouri
Amount of Employed RNs: 71,770
Average Annual Salary: $65,130
Search RN Jobs in This State - South Carolina
Amount of Employed RNs: 44,350
Average Annual Salary: $64,940
Search RN Jobs in This State - Indiana
Amount of Employed RNs: 67,870
Average Annual Salary: $64,860
Search RN Jobs in This State - North Carolina
Amount of Employed RNs: 102,500
Average Annual Salary: $64,850
Search RN Jobs in This State - Nebraska
Amount of Employed RNs: 22,970
Average Annual Salary: $64,470
Search RN Jobs in This State - Louisiana
Amount of Employed RNs: 43,110
Average Annual Salary: $63,970
Search RN Jobs in This State - Kentucky
Amount of Employed RNs: 46,130
Average Annual Salary: $63,100
Search RN Jobs in This State - Oklahoma
Amount of Employed RNs: 29,330
Average Annual Salary: $63,080
Search RN Jobs in This State - West Virginia
Amount of Employed RNs: 19,930
Average Annual Salary: $61,780
Search RN Jobs in This State - Tennessee
Amount of Employed RNs: 60,360
Average Annual Salary: $61,320
Search RN Jobs in This State - Kansas
Amount of Employed RNs: 27,810
Average Annual Salary: $61,030
Search RN Jobs in This State - Arkansas
Amount of Employed RNs: 25,380
Average Annual Salary: $60,780
Search RN Jobs in This State - Alabama
Amount of Employed RNs: 49,490
Average Annual Salary: $59,470
Search RN Jobs in This State - Iowa
Amount of Employed RNs: 33,770
Average Annual Salary: $59,130
Search RN Jobs in This State - Mississippi
Amount of Employed RNs: 29,860
Average Annual Salary: $58,490
Search RN Jobs in This State - South Dakota
Amount of Employed RNs: 12,760
Average Annual Salary: $58,340
Search RN Jobs in This State
Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.