How much does a Rpn make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Rpn in the United States is $63,727 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,673
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,743 to $71,550
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,832

Key Factors That Influence Rpn Salaries

A Rpn'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 Rpn Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Rpn'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): $66,223
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $74,634
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $105,663
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $105,232
  • Expert (over 8 years): $128,316
Levels Salary
Rpn Level Rpn$66,223
Loss Cont... Level Rpn$74,634
Loss Cont... Level Rpn$105,663
Loss Cont... Level Rpn$105,232
Loss Cont... Level Rpn$128,316

Top Paying Cities for Rpns

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: $80,378
  • San Francisco: $79,498
  • Oakland: $77,823

What Skills Can Increase a Rpn's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.66% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Risk Assessment (Mentioned in 3.47% Job Postings): Broadly speaking, a risk assessment is the combined effort of: identifying and analyzing potential (future) events that may negatively impact individuals, assets, and/or the environment (i.e. risk analysis); and making judgments "on the tolerability of the risk on the basis of a risk analysis" while considering influencing factors (i.e. risk evaluation).Put in simpler terms, a risk assessment analyzes what can go wrong, how likely it is to happen, what the potential consequences are, and how tolerable the identified risk is. As part of this process, the resulting determination of risk may be expressed in a quantitative or qualitative fashion. The risk assessment is an inherent part of an overall risk management strategy, which attempts to, after a risk assessment, "introduce control measures to eliminate or reduce" any potential risk-related consequences.
  • Consulting Services (Mentioned in 1.21% Job Postings): Consulting Services means the provision of expertise or strategic advice that is presented for consideration and decision-making.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.66%
Risk Assessment 3.47%
Consulting Services 1.21%

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 Rpn's salary.

  • Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 40%.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Hard Working $89,217
40%
Products and Services $73,923
16%
Consulting $72,648
14%

Rpn Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Rpn roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 37% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Rpn positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Rpn as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Rpn

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$76,472$37.020%
Pharmaceuticals$75,198$36.018%
Energy & Utilities$73,286$35.015%
Insurance$70,099$34.010%
Chemicals$66,913$32.05%

How Education impacts a Rpn's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Rpns enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Rpn with a Bachelor's Degree is between $61,824 and $67,549).

Rpn Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Rpn
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 13.6%
High School 4.5%
Associates 9.1%
Bachelors 54.5%
Masters 18.2%
Doctorate 0.0%

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

Understanding how a Rpn'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 September 01, 2026
$51,743
Average $63,727/year
$71,550
$4,312
Average $5,311/month
$5,962
$995
Average $1,226/week
$1,376
$25
Average $31/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,550 $5,962 $1,376 $34
Average $63,727 $5,311 $1,226 $31
25th Percentile $51,743 $4,312 $995 $25

Most common benefits for Rpn

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Rpn

Here are companies hiring for Rpn and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Rpn

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Rpn?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Rpn roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.

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