What are the main factors that influence a Rn's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a Rn's salary?

A Rn's salary grows with experience: starting around $81,458 for beginners, reaching about $83,828 at mid-level, and approach $87,297 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Rn?

Rn salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Rn roles are District of Columbia $90,821, California $90,477, Massachusetts $89,271. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Rn roles make?

Salaries for Rn level roles vary by specialization: Electrophysiology RN: $96,190; RN Research: $95,263; ICU RN: $93,678; Traveling RN: $92,911; Psychiatric RN: $89,577.

How do different companies affect a Rn's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Rn roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Rn Salary in the United States

How much does a Rn make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Rn in the United States is $82,028 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, a Rn's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,188
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,165 to $88,917
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,827

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered Talent

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Rn Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$88,917	$7,410	$1,710	$43
Average	$82,028	$6,836	$1,577	$39
25th Percentile	$76,165	$6,347	$1,465	$37

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Rn Job Openings in the United States

RN Ambulatory

Sanford Health - BISMARCK, ND

RN or LPN

Sanford Health - BERESFORD, SD

RN or LPN

Sanford Health - FAIRVIEW, SD

RN or LPN

Sanford Health - CANTON, SD

Search More Rn Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Rn Salaries

A Rn's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Rn Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Rn's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $81,458
Early Career (1-2 years): $81,621
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $83,828
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,066
Expert (over 8 years): $87,297

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Rn	$81,458
Intermediate Level Rn	$81,621
Senior Level Rn	$83,828
Specialist Level Rn	$87,066
Expert Level Rn	$87,297

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Rn Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Rns. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $90,821.
California: $90,477.
Massachusetts: $89,271.

District of Columbia $90,821 California $90,477 Massachusetts $89,271 Washington $88,943 New Jersey $88,910 Alaska $88,795 Connecticut $87,663 New York $87,204

Hawaii $85,735 Rhode Island $85,046 Maryland $84,579 Minnesota $83,939 Colorado $83,693 Illinois $83,611 Oregon $83,299 Delaware $83,070

New Hampshire $82,925 Virginia $82,602 Pennsylvania $81,659 Nevada $81,183 North Dakota $81,027 Michigan $80,781 Wisconsin $80,691 Vermont $80,510

Texas $80,010 Maine $79,977 Arizona $79,928 Ohio $79,870 Georgia $79,116 Indiana $78,738 Wyoming $78,665 Utah $78,550

Iowa $78,501 Kansas $78,107 Louisiana $77,992 North Carolina $77,951 Missouri $77,935 Florida $77,615 Montana $77,442 Nebraska $77,278

Kentucky $77,188 South Carolina $76,860 Tennessee $76,655 Idaho $76,573 New Mexico $75,974 Oklahoma $75,843 Alabama $75,359 South Dakota $74,547

Arkansas $74,104 West Virginia $73,866 Mississippi $73,152

Top Paying Cities for Rns

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $103,462
San Francisco: $102,445
Oakland: $100,172

San Jose, CA $103,462

San Francisco, CA $102,445

Oakland, CA $100,172

New York, NY $95,062

Queens Village, NY $94,447

Paramus, NJ $93,791

Passaic, NJ $93,709

Bergenfield, NJ $93,627

Stamford, CT $93,503

Huntington, NY $93,421

Newark, NJ $92,888

Bridgeport, CT $92,724

New Brunswick, NJ $92,454

Vallejo, CA $92,281

Middlesex, NJ $92,232

Somerset, NJ $92,158

Petaluma, CA $91,970

Santa Cruz, CA $91,650

Boston, MA $91,486

Monterey, CA $91,075

Fairbanks, AK $91,018

Los Angeles, CA $90,862

Washington, DC $90,821

Seattle, WA $90,674

Santa Rosa, CA $90,657

Juneau, AK $90,419

Orange, CA $90,149

Anchorage, AK $90,001

Anaheim, CA $89,943

Santa Ana, CA $89,820

Nassau, NY $89,771

Long Beach, CA $89,738

Danbury, CT $89,714

Santa Maria, CA $89,435

Everett, WA $89,419

Bremerton, WA $89,017

Trenton, NJ $88,861

Sacramento, CA $88,828

San Diego, CA $88,787

Brockton, MA $88,754

Tacoma, WA $88,721

Santa Barbara, CA $88,606

Lowell, MA $88,278

New Suffolk, NY $88,246

Nashua, NH $88,147

Lompoc, CA $88,016

Ventura, CA $87,934

Stockton, CA $87,909

New Haven, CT $87,745

Atlantic City, NJ $87,532

Hartford, CT $87,351

Modesto, CA $87,310

Poughkeepsie, NY $87,130

New Britain, CT $87,089

Olympia, WA $86,974

Kennewick, WA $86,974

New London, CT $86,958

Norwich, CT $86,933

Lawrence, MA $86,892

Bakersfield, CA $86,662

Riverside, CA $86,548

New Bedford, MA $86,548

Richland, WA $86,466

Portsmouth, NH $86,400

Vineland, NJ $86,383

San Bernardino, CA $86,318

Boulder, CO $86,088

Worcester, MA $86,023

Portland, OR $85,949

Saint Paul, MN $85,850

Minneapolis, MN $85,850

Philadelphia, PA $85,735

Honolulu, HI $85,301

Springfield, MA $85,014

Providence, RI $85,005

Chicago, IL $84,768

Bellingham, WA $84,669

Baltimore, MD $84,579

Chico, CA $84,374

Wilmington, DE $84,234

Pittsfield, MA $84,152

Manchester, NH $83,996

Spokane, WA $83,636

Denver, CO $83,627

Albany, NY $83,242

Troy, NY $83,209

Schenectady, NY $83,037

Burlington, VT $82,856

Portland, ME $82,569

Salem, OR $82,504

Yakima, WA $82,487

Ann Arbor, MI $82,463

Rochester, MN $82,233

Fresno, CA $82,192

Reno, NV $82,192

Milwaukee, WI $82,118

Detroit, MI $82,036

Allentown, PA $82,011

Carson City, NV $82,003

Houston, TX $81,880

Colorado Springs, CO $81,872

Syracuse, NY $81,831

Eugene, OR $81,675

Bismarck, ND $81,577

Gary, IN $81,577

Galveston, TX $81,577

Springfield, OR $81,511

Medford, OR $81,314

Fort Collins, CO $81,281

Austin, TX $81,216

Mesa, AZ $81,043

Phoenix, AZ $81,027

Dallas, TX $81,002

Reading, PA $80,953

Saint Cloud, MN $80,920

Concord, NH $80,847

Madison, WI $80,814

Utica, NY $80,592

Raleigh, NC $80,527

Las Vegas, NV $80,518

Rochester, NY $80,461

Des Moines, IA $80,453

Atlanta, GA $80,322

Battle Creek, MI $80,297

Salt Lake City, UT $80,272

Lancaster, PA $80,149

Champaign, IL $80,133

Harrisburg, PA $80,035

Durham, NC $79,961

Kansas City, MO $79,952

Kansas City, KS $79,936

Fort Worth, TX $79,928

Boca Raton, FL $79,895

Cleveland, OH $79,887

Columbus, OH $79,870

Pittsburgh, PA $79,862

Richmond, VA $79,829

Indianapolis, IN $79,813

Cincinnati, OH $79,706

Petersburg, VA $79,583

Billings, MT $79,403

Lansing, MI $79,403

Huntsville, AL $79,403

Lebanon, PA $79,395

Dayton, OH $79,387

Pueblo, CO $79,387

Appleton, WI $79,362

Buffalo, NY $79,329

Racine, WI $79,288

Charlotte, NC $79,280

Saint Louis, MO $79,255

Springfield, IL $79,222

Elkhart, IN $79,206

York, PA $79,206

Gastonia, NC $79,198

Benton Harbor, MI $79,198

Beaumont, TX $79,149

Lorain, OH $79,132

Toledo, OH $79,099

Binghamton, NY $79,058

Rock Hill, SC $79,050

Rockford, IL $79,009

Fargo, ND $78,968

Elyria, OH $78,968

Flagstaff, AZ $78,911

Fort Lauderdale, FL $78,862

Miami, FL $78,812

Duluth, MN $78,681

Bangor, ME $78,574

Cedar Rapids, IA $78,484

Louisville, KY $78,443

Grand Rapids, MI $78,427

Hialeah, FL $78,419

Casper, WY $78,304

Scranton, PA $78,205

New Orleans, LA $78,181

Virginia Beach, VA $78,172

Akron, OH $78,131

Peoria, IL $78,025

Sarasota, FL $78,008

Green Bay, WI $77,951

Baton Rouge, LA $77,910

Charleston, SC $77,894

Nashville, TN $77,869

Jamestown, NY $77,853

Davenport, IA $77,853

Tucson, AZ $77,812

Cheyenne, WY $77,787

Saint Petersburg, FL $77,762

Tampa, FL $77,746

Omaha, NE $77,730

Port Arthur, TX $77,697

Evansville, IN $77,697

Bradenton, FL $77,664

Santa Fe, NM $77,516

Orlando, FL $77,434

Clearwater, FL $77,344

Canton, OH $77,172

La Crosse, WI $77,172

Grand Forks, ND $77,147

Albuquerque, NM $77,123

Tulsa, OK $77,123

Newport News, VA $77,114

High Point, NC $77,090

Ogden, UT $77,057

Corpus Christi, TX $76,991

Laramie, WY $76,942

Norfolk, VA $76,942

Rock Island, IL $76,893

Saginaw, MI $76,876

Jacksonville, FL $76,868

Salisbury, NC $76,852

Memphis, TN $76,835

Moline, IL $76,794

Fort Myers, FL $76,770

Waterloo, IA $76,663

Spartanburg, SC $76,581

Lincoln, NE $76,540

Fort Wayne, IN $76,524

Birmingham, AL $76,434

Cedar Falls, IA $76,417

Provo, UT $76,409

Springfield, OH $76,401

San Antonio, TX $76,384

Greensboro, NC $76,351

South Bend, IN $76,343

Winston Salem, NC $76,335

Boise, ID $76,310

Savannah, GA $76,253

Muskegon, MI $76,105

Lima, OH $76,007

Lake Charles, LA $75,974

Anderson, IN $75,958

Lexington, KY $75,933

Augusta, GA $75,909

Greenville, SC $75,909

Wichita, KS $75,835

Tuscaloosa, AL $75,835

Columbia, SC $75,761

Bloomington, IN $75,556

Roanoke, VA $75,507

Asheville, NC $75,400

Knoxville, TN $75,261

Shreveport, LA $75,252

Wilmington, NC $75,146

Frankfort, KY $74,990

Oklahoma City, OK $74,932

Chillicothe, OH $74,900

Longview, TX $74,891

Topeka, KS $74,867

Mobile, AL $74,744

Terre Haute, IN $74,711

Erie, PA $74,703

Altoona, PA $74,662

Melbourne, FL $74,637

Amarillo, TX $74,604

Killeen, TX $74,580

Fayetteville, AR $74,514

Sioux Falls, SD $74,457

Chattanooga, TN $74,407

Idaho Falls, ID $74,399

Gainesville, FL $74,227

Portsmouth, OH $74,186

Little Rock, AR $74,170

Lynchburg, VA $74,170

Lafayette, LA $74,137

Youngstown, OH $74,137

Temple, TX $74,104

Daytona Beach, FL $74,088

Clarksville, TN $74,079

Pensacola, FL $74,071

Hopkinsville, KY $73,825

Charleston, WV $73,817

Florence, SC $73,776

Sioux City, IA $73,727

Macon, GA $73,489

Tallahassee, FL $73,481

Fayetteville, NC $73,464

Waco, TX $73,448

Wichita Falls, TX $73,448

Pine Bluff, AR $73,415

Vincennes, IN $73,259

Lubbock, TX $73,226

Great Falls, MT $73,177

Alamogordo, NM $73,169

Abilene, TX $73,103

Rapid City, SD $72,997

Monroe, LA $72,997

Albany, GA $72,947

Huntington, WV $72,939

Jackson, MS $72,931

Greenville, MS $72,923

Parkersburg, WV $72,841

Montgomery, AL $72,824

Johnstown, PA $72,808

Springfield, MO $72,742

Biloxi, MS $72,701

Sumter, SC $72,529

Columbus, GA $72,521

Twin Falls, ID $72,472

Pascagoula, MS $72,365

Kingsport, TN $72,152

Gulfport, MS $72,127

Alexandria, LA $71,856

Fort Smith, AR $71,651

El Paso, TX $71,430

Helena, MT $71,323

Las Cruces, NM $71,061

Harlingen, TX $70,831

Pocatello, ID $70,757

Florence, AL $70,733

Brownsville, TX $70,716

Dothan, AL $70,585

Mcallen, TX $70,544

Columbus, MS $69,937

Altus, OK $69,560

Lawton, OK $69,404

Pierre, SD $69,108

What Skills Can Increase a Rn's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Planning (Mentioned in 5.16% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Nursing Process (Mentioned in 3.34% Job Postings): The nursing process is a modified scientific method. Nursing practise was first described as a four-stage nursing process by Ida Jean Orlando in 1958.
Long Term Care (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): Long-term care (LTC) is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods. Long term care is focused on individualized and coordinated services that promote independence, maximize patients' quality of life, and meet patients' needs over a period of time. It is common for long-term care to provide custodial and non-skilled care, such as assisting with normal daily tasks like dressing, feeding, using the bathroom. Increasingly, long-term care involves providing a level of medical care that requires the expertise of skilled practitioners to address the multiple chronic conditions associated with older populations. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes. Long-term care may be needed by people of any age, although it is a more common need for senior citizens.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Planning	5.16%
Nursing Process	3.34%
Long Term Care	1.96%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Rn's salary.

Telemetry: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Telemetry	$84,489	3%
Accountability	$83,668	2%
Dedication	$83,668	2%
Partnering	$83,668	2%
Innovation	$83,668	2%
Commitment	$83,668	2%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Rn's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Rns enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Rn with a Associate's Degree is between $81,300 and $85,864).

Rn Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Rn

No Diploma 0.1%

High School 2.1%

Associates 43.3%

Bachelors 48.9%

Masters 5.3%

Doctorate 0.3%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	0.1%
High School	2.1%
Associates	43.3%
Bachelors	48.9%
Masters	5.3%
Doctorate	0.3%

view as graph

Rn Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Rn's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$76,165

Average $82,028/year

$88,917

$6,347

Average $6,836/month

$7,410

$1,465

Average $1,577/week

$1,710

$37

Average $39/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$88,917	$7,410	$1,710	$43
Average	$82,028	$6,836	$1,577	$39
25th Percentile	$76,165	$6,347	$1,465	$37

Salaries of jobs related to Rn

Salary Trends for Rn

Salaries for a Rn can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $73,302 in 2023 to around $73,465 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Rn salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Rn Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$73,302

2024

$73,932

2025

$73,465

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$73,302
2024	$73,932
2025	$73,465
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Rn

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Rn Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Rn job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about