Registered Nurses
Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141) earn a median $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour) in the United States, with 3,379,720 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What registered nurses do
Registered nurses assess patient health problems and needs, develop and carry out nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. They administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent or disabled patients, giving medications, watching for reactions or side effects, and recording vital signs and changes in condition. They consult and coordinate with the healthcare team to plan and evaluate care, and they monitor all aspects of care, including diet and physical activity. Some provide first aid, immunizations or help with rehabilitation in schools, hospitals or industry, and some provide case management or advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention. O*NET alternate titles such as charge nurse, circulating nurse, community health nurse and operating room nurse show how duties vary by setting. Nurses also direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel. The SOC states that licensing or registration is required. More than half of respondents report a bachelor's degree. It counts clinical nurse specialists here, while nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners have separate codes.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (56 percent).
Also called: Cardiac Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse), Cardiac Nurse Specialist, Central Supply Nurse, Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR), Charge Nurse.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $33.14 | $38.62 | $46.90 | $54.02 | $66.09 | $48.76 | 3,379,720 |
| Annual | $68,940 | $80,330 | $97,550 | $112,350 | $137,470 | $101,420 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where registered nurses earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $48.68 | $58.87 | $67.44 | $83.25 | $102.56 | $72.25 | 338,940 | 18.61 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $101,260 | $122,440 | $140,270 | $173,170 | $213,320 | $150,280 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $39.66 | $48.65 | $65.54 | $69.30 | $71.07 | $59.78 | 12,940 | 20.62 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $82,500 | $101,200 | $136,320 | $144,140 | $147,830 | $124,340 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $45.81 | $51.55 | $62.02 | $64.63 | $74.52 | $59.20 | 39,730 | 20.20 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $95,280 | $107,220 | $129,010 | $134,420 | $155,010 | $123,140 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $43.09 | $49.57 | $59.71 | $64.54 | $77.84 | $58.43 | 69,260 | 19.51 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $89,630 | $103,100 | $124,200 | $134,240 | $161,910 | $121,540 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $40.88 | $46.97 | $52.64 | $62.07 | $71.67 | $55.23 | 7,510 | 23.06 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $85,030 | $97,700 | $109,480 | $129,100 | $149,070 | $114,870 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $48.68 | $58.87 | $67.44 | $83.25 | $102.56 | $72.25 | 338,940 | 18.61 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $101,260 | $122,440 | $140,270 | $173,170 | $213,320 | $150,280 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $32.27 | $38.06 | $46.14 | $50.53 | $61.51 | $45.86 | 271,380 | 19.29 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $67,120 | $79,170 | $95,970 | $105,100 | $127,950 | $95,380 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $32.68 | $37.82 | $40.48 | $48.64 | $57.85 | $43.58 | 229,940 | 23.16 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $67,970 | $78,660 | $84,190 | $101,180 | $120,330 | $90,650 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $38.35 | $45.60 | $52.62 | $62.34 | $75.52 | $54.54 | 205,810 | 21.24 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $79,760 | $94,840 | $109,440 | $129,660 | $157,090 | $113,440 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $34.04 | $38.75 | $46.36 | $50.35 | $56.69 | $45.20 | 146,520 | 24.16 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $70,800 | $80,610 | $96,430 | $104,730 | $117,900 | $94,020 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $59.68 | $79.35 | $104.20 | $107.46 | $113.07 | $93.73 | 22,930 | 20.21 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $124,140 | $165,050 | $216,740 | $223,510 | $235,190 | $194,950 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $58.72 | $67.28 | $97.74 | $104.16 | $105.09 | $87.89 | 4,120 | 28.61 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $122,140 | $139,940 | $203,290 | $216,640 | $218,590 | $182,820 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $57.35 | $65.93 | $89.71 | $103.67 | $107.58 | $85.05 | 41,750 | 17.59 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $119,290 | $137,120 | $186,610 | $215,630 | $223,770 | $176,900 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $53.27 | $63.54 | $83.92 | $100.63 | $108.63 | $81.73 | 3,720 | 18.12 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $110,800 | $132,170 | $174,550 | $209,310 | $225,940 | $170,000 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $48.38 | $63.38 | $82.43 | $95.47 | $105.18 | $78.94 | 23,590 | 21.83 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $100,630 | $131,830 | $171,460 | $198,580 | $218,780 | $164,200 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $41.91 | $49.99 | $57.56 | $64.05 | $76.56 | $57.50 | 197,740 | 20.83 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $87,180 | $103,970 | $119,720 | $133,230 | $159,240 | $119,600 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $48.55 | $53.88 | $65.18 | $80.67 | $83.75 | $67.48 | 109,360 | 17.44 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $100,980 | $112,070 | $135,560 | $167,800 | $174,200 | $140,370 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $37.22 | $39.73 | $48.31 | $52.13 | $57.34 | $47.08 | 100,240 | 22.21 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $77,410 | $82,640 | $100,490 | $108,430 | $119,260 | $97,930 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $35.29 | $39.25 | $48.76 | $53.19 | $62.36 | $48.47 | 76,680 | 18.93 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $73,400 | $81,640 | $101,420 | $110,630 | $129,710 | $100,820 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $38.06 | $43.36 | $48.64 | $54.31 | $58.61 | $48.75 | 73,790 | 25.46 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $79,160 | $90,190 | $101,180 | $112,970 | $121,900 | $101,400 | ||||
Top industries employing registered nurses
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals employ 56.3% of registered nurses nationally (1,902,960 jobs) at a median $100,210 a year ($48.18 an hour), followed by Offices of Physicians (6.9%) and Home Health Care Services (5.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 1,902,960 | 56.3% | $100,210 | $48.18 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 232,420 | 6.9% | $85,000 | $40.87 |
| Home Health Care Services NAICS 621600 | 198,180 | 5.9% | $84,930 | $40.83 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 173,380 | 5.1% | $99,350 | $47.77 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | 142,270 | 4.2% | $85,510 | $41.11 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (3,379,720). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $77,600 for registered nurses in May 2021 and $97,550 in May 2025, with employment of 3,047,530 and 3,379,720.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $77,600 | $37.31 | 3,047,530 |
| May 2022 | $81,220 | $39.05 | 3,072,700 |
| May 2023 | $86,070 | $41.38 | 3,175,390 |
| May 2024 | $93,600 | $45.00 | 3,282,010 |
| May 2025 | $97,550 | $46.90 | 3,379,720 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $67.44 | $140,270 | $101,260 | $213,320 | 338,940 | 18.61 | 0.86 |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $65.54 | $136,320 | $82,500 | $147,830 | 12,940 | 20.62 | 0.95 |
| 3 | Oregon profile | $62.02 | $129,010 | $95,280 | $155,010 | 39,730 | 20.20 | 0.93 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $59.71 | $124,200 | $89,630 | $161,910 | 69,260 | 19.51 | 0.90 |
| 5 | Alaska profile | $52.64 | $109,480 | $85,030 | $149,070 | 7,510 | 23.06 | 1.06 |
| 6 | New York profile | $52.62 | $109,440 | $79,760 | $157,090 | 205,810 | 21.24 | 0.98 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $51.20 | $106,500 | $83,060 | $135,170 | 92,680 | 21.62 | 0.99 |
| 8 | Massachusetts profile | $50.27 | $104,550 | $80,310 | $174,510 | 88,200 | 24.25 | 1.12 |
| 9 | Nevada profile | $49.84 | $103,670 | $79,500 | $133,270 | 27,070 | 17.45 | 0.80 |
| 10 | Connecticut profile | $49.39 | $102,740 | $80,350 | $134,870 | 40,110 | 23.65 | 1.09 |
| 11 | District of Columbia profile | $49.30 | $102,540 | $79,390 | $151,170 | 11,440 | 16.31 | 0.75 |
| 12 | Minnesota profile | $48.80 | $101,510 | $79,960 | $132,430 | 70,110 | 23.77 | 1.09 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $48.39 | $100,640 | $77,410 | $129,840 | 10,090 | 20.13 | 0.93 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $48.20 | $100,260 | $79,500 | $124,940 | 54,490 | 18.96 | 0.87 |
| 15 | Maryland profile | $47.98 | $99,790 | $76,780 | $124,790 | 52,910 | 19.15 | 0.88 |
| 16 | New Hampshire profile | $47.93 | $99,700 | $75,610 | $123,190 | 15,390 | 22.52 | 1.04 |
| 17 | Delaware profile | $47.85 | $99,520 | $78,340 | $123,860 | 14,290 | 29.48 | 1.36 |
| 18 | Arizona profile | $47.84 | $99,500 | $70,540 | $130,930 | 73,150 | 22.58 | 1.04 |
| 19 | Vermont profile | $46.86 | $97,460 | $77,670 | $126,100 | 7,410 | 24.39 | 1.12 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $46.36 | $96,430 | $70,800 | $117,900 | 146,520 | 24.16 | 1.11 |
| 21 | Illinois profile | $46.15 | $95,990 | $69,170 | $118,190 | 138,910 | 22.78 | 1.05 |
| 22 | Texas profile | $46.14 | $95,970 | $67,120 | $127,950 | 271,380 | 19.29 | 0.89 |
| 23 | Wisconsin profile | $45.93 | $95,530 | $77,470 | $119,860 | 68,060 | 23.14 | 1.06 |
| 24 | New Mexico profile | $45.36 | $94,340 | $74,300 | $123,540 | 17,980 | 20.65 | 0.95 |
| 25 | Michigan profile | $45.34 | $94,300 | $77,260 | $116,710 | 104,950 | 23.83 | 1.10 |
| 26 | Virginia profile | $45.00 | $93,600 | $67,830 | $125,580 | 77,490 | 18.86 | 0.87 |
| 27 | Georgia profile | $44.98 | $93,550 | $68,920 | $128,640 | 100,950 | 20.65 | 0.95 |
| 28 | Idaho profile | $44.45 | $92,460 | $71,210 | $121,230 | 16,880 | 19.69 | 0.91 |
| 29 | Maine profile | $41.82 | $86,990 | $74,160 | $106,950 | 16,540 | 25.83 | 1.19 |
| 30 | Montana profile | $41.00 | $85,280 | $70,120 | $113,920 | 10,950 | 21.41 | 0.99 |
| 31 | Nebraska profile | $40.74 | $84,730 | $66,020 | $106,190 | 24,720 | 24.14 | 1.11 |
| 32 | Utah profile | $40.67 | $84,600 | $68,920 | $109,050 | 27,420 | 15.80 | 0.73 |
| 33 | North Carolina profile | $40.56 | $84,350 | $67,660 | $110,220 | 111,120 | 22.49 | 1.03 |
| 34 | Florida profile | $40.48 | $84,190 | $67,970 | $120,330 | 229,940 | 23.16 | 1.07 |
| 35 | Wyoming profile | $40.27 | $83,760 | $65,770 | $107,350 | 5,330 | 19.00 | 0.87 |
| 36 | Indiana profile | $40.14 | $83,500 | $66,750 | $105,750 | 68,980 | 21.55 | 0.99 |
| 37 | Oklahoma profile | $39.87 | $82,920 | $60,530 | $106,390 | 38,270 | 22.41 | 1.03 |
| 38 | Ohio profile | $39.67 | $82,510 | $66,980 | $105,290 | 143,730 | 25.90 | 1.19 |
| 39 | South Carolina profile | $39.60 | $82,360 | $66,860 | $106,520 | 49,750 | 21.58 | 0.99 |
| 40 | Missouri profile | $39.32 | $81,780 | $63,230 | $104,390 | 76,310 | 25.99 | 1.20 |
| 41 | Tennessee profile | $39.18 | $81,500 | $63,970 | $104,920 | 72,200 | 22.02 | 1.01 |
| 42 | Kentucky profile | $38.96 | $81,040 | $64,170 | $111,750 | 50,300 | 25.14 | 1.16 |
| 43 | North Dakota profile | $38.81 | $80,730 | $65,520 | $103,480 | 11,340 | 26.40 | 1.21 |
| 44 | Louisiana profile | $38.57 | $80,230 | $63,800 | $104,740 | 48,970 | 25.31 | 1.16 |
| 45 | West Virginia profile | $38.52 | $80,130 | $57,210 | $131,760 | 23,430 | 33.39 | 1.54 |
| 46 | Kansas profile | $38.14 | $79,320 | $63,180 | $100,840 | 33,800 | 23.51 | 1.08 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $37.95 | $78,940 | $60,780 | $103,660 | 29,400 | 22.55 | 1.04 |
| 48 | Iowa profile | $37.80 | $78,630 | $63,840 | $100,500 | 34,420 | 22.08 | 1.02 |
| 49 | South Dakota profile | $37.53 | $78,060 | $54,040 | $98,220 | 14,710 | 32.17 | 1.48 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $37.06 | $77,090 | $60,610 | $100,350 | 29,060 | 24.99 | 1.15 |
| 51 | Alabama profile | $37.06 | $77,080 | $58,150 | $98,910 | 54,340 | 25.71 | 1.18 |
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1141 Registered Nurses.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1141, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1141.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.