Registered Nurse Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) registered nurse in the US earns $46.90 an hour, or $97,550 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 3,379,720 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,330 and $112,350 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $137,470.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $77,456 a year ($6,455 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in California ($95,643 a year) and lowest in Alabama ($59,848).
Not quite your job? See nurse practitioner salary (median $132,300 a year).
Registered Nurse pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $33.14 | $68,940 | $57,329 |
| 25th percentile | $38.62 | $80,330 | $65,342 |
| Median (half earn more) | $46.90 | $97,550 | $77,456 |
| 75th percentile | $54.02 | $112,350 | $87,868 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $66.09 | $137,470 | $105,227 |
The average (mean) is $101,420 a year ($48.76 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 29-1141. Source
Registered Nurse salary by state
The highest median pay for registered nurses is in California ($140,280), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($129,000), Washington ($124,200), Alaska ($109,490). The lowest is in Mississippi ($77,080), Alabama ($77,080), South Dakota ($78,060).
The most registered nurses work in California (338,940), Texas (271,380), Florida (229,940).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in California ($95,643), Hawaii ($95,200), Washington ($94,434), Oregon ($88,434), Alaska ($85,309). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37.06 | $77,080 | $59,848 | 54,340 |
| Alaska | $52.64 | $109,490 | $85,309 | 7,510 |
| Arizona | $47.84 | $99,510 | $76,845 | 73,150 |
| Arkansas | $37.95 | $78,940 | $61,932 | 29,400 |
| California | $67.44 | $140,280 | $95,643 | 338,940 |
| Colorado | $48.20 | $100,260 | $74,752 | 54,490 |
| Connecticut | $49.39 | $102,730 | $75,423 | 40,110 |
| Delaware | $47.85 | $99,530 | $73,223 | 14,290 |
| District of Columbia | $49.30 | $102,540 | $80,967* | 11,440 |
| Florida | $40.48 | $84,200 | $68,065 | 229,940 |
| Georgia | $44.98 | $93,560 | $70,729 | 100,950 |
| Hawaii | $65.54 | $136,320 | $95,200 | 12,940 |
| Idaho | $44.45 | $92,460 | $69,820 | 16,880 |
| Illinois | $46.15 | $95,990 | $71,752 | 138,910 |
| Indiana | $40.14 | $83,490 | $63,465 | 68,980 |
| Iowa | $37.80 | $78,620 | $61,686 | 34,420 |
| Kansas | $38.14 | $79,330 | $61,011 | 33,800 |
| Kentucky | $38.96 | $81,040 | $63,123 | 50,300 |
| Louisiana | $38.57 | $80,230 | $63,191 | 48,970 |
| Maine | $41.82 | $86,990 | $65,199 | 16,540 |
| Maryland | $47.98 | $99,800 | $71,630 | 52,910 |
| Massachusetts | $50.27 | $104,560 | $77,299 | 88,200 |
| Michigan | $45.34 | $94,310 | $71,420 | 104,950 |
| Minnesota | $48.80 | $101,500 | $73,689 | 70,110 |
| Mississippi | $37.06 | $77,080 | $60,716 | 29,060 |
| Missouri | $39.32 | $81,790 | $63,457 | 76,310 |
| Montana | $41.00 | $85,280 | $65,367 | 10,950 |
| Nebraska | $40.74 | $84,740 | $65,204 | 24,720 |
| Nevada | $49.84 | $103,670 | $81,762 | 27,070 |
| New Hampshire | $47.93 | $99,690 | $78,962 | 15,390 |
| New Jersey | $51.20 | $106,500 | $77,711 | 92,680 |
| New Mexico | $45.36 | $94,350 | $71,518 | 17,980 |
| New York | $52.62 | $109,450 | $79,812 | 205,810 |
| North Carolina | $40.56 | $84,360 | $65,239 | 111,120 |
| North Dakota | $38.81 | $80,720 | $65,174 | 11,340 |
| Ohio | $39.67 | $82,510 | $64,790 | 143,730 |
| Oklahoma | $39.87 | $82,930 | $63,973 | 38,270 |
| Oregon | $62.02 | $129,000 | $88,434 | 39,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $46.36 | $96,430 | $73,641 | 146,520 |
| Rhode Island | $48.39 | $100,650 | $74,617 | 10,090 |
| South Carolina | $39.60 | $82,370 | $63,241 | 49,750 |
| South Dakota | $37.53 | $78,060 | $63,746 | 14,710 |
| Tennessee | $39.18 | $81,490 | $66,158 | 72,200 |
| Texas | $46.14 | $95,970 | $76,345 | 271,380 |
| Utah | $40.67 | $84,590 | $64,569 | 27,420 |
| Vermont | $46.86 | $97,470 | $73,125 | 7,410 |
| Virginia | $45.00 | $93,600 | $70,110 | 77,490 |
| Washington | $59.71 | $124,200 | $94,434 | 69,260 |
| West Virginia | $38.52 | $80,120 | $62,414 | 23,430 |
| Wisconsin | $45.93 | $95,530 | $71,301 | 68,060 |
| Wyoming | $40.27 | $83,760 | $67,755 | 5,330 |
Overtime and pay rules for registered nurses
Registered nurses can be treated as exempt professionals, with no overtime pay, only if they are paid a salary of at least $684 a week. RNs paid by the hour are owed overtime. Source Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. Source The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a registered nurse's pay
On the median $97,550, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 20.6% of pay for a single filer: $12,631 of income tax and $7,463 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $81,450, so the top federal rate is 22%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 29.65% before state tax: 22% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($4,878 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $1,073, so it costs about $3,805 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed registered nurses are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architect | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Ultrasound Tech (Sonographer) | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| MRI Tech | $95,480 | $45.91 |
| Lineman (Power Line Worker) | $95,320 | $45.83 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $45 an hour is how much a year.
Registered Nurse salary questions
How much does a registered nurse make?
The median pay is $46.90 an hour, or $97,550 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $68,940 and the top 10% more than $137,470.
How much does a registered nurse make after taxes?
About $77,456 a year, or $2,979 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Alabama, at that state's own median pay, it is about $59,848.
How much does a registered nurse make a month?
About $8,129 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $6,455 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays registered nurses the most?
California, with a median of $140,280 a year ($67.44 an hour). Next are Hawaii ($136,320) and Oregon ($129,000). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in California.
How much does a registered nurse make an hour?
The median is $46.90 an hour. The middle half earn $38.62 to $54.02, and the top 10% more than $66.09.
Do registered nurses get paid overtime?
Registered nurses can be treated as exempt professionals, with no overtime pay, only if they are paid a salary of at least $684 a week. RNs paid by the hour are owed overtime. Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.