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

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

How does experience change A Contract Nurse's salary?

A Contract Nurse's salary grows with experience: a Staff Nurse - RN I (0-2 years)earns $75,154, a Contract Nurse (2-4 years)earns $85,179, a Staff Nurse - RN III (4-7 years)earns $99,048,

What are the highest paying states for a Contract Nurse?

Contract Nurse salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Contract Nurse roles are District of Columbia $93,845, California $93,490, Massachusetts $92,244. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Contract Nurse roles make?

Salaries for Contract Nurse level roles vary by specialization: Contract Manager: $134,538; Registered Nurse Contract: $86,464; Registered Nurse Contract Assignments AdventHealth: $84,583; Onsite Nurse Assessor Contract: $75,317; Local Contract Nurse RN: $74,840.

How do different companies affect a Contract Nurse's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Contract Nurse 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.

Contract Nurse Salary in the United States

How much does a Contract Nurse make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Contract Nurse in the United States is $84,759 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $98,593
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $78,713 to $92,001
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $73,208

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Contract Nurse Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$92,001	$7,667	$1,769	$44
Average	$84,759	$7,063	$1,630	$41
25th Percentile	$78,713	$6,559	$1,514	$38

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Key Factors That Influence Contract Nurse Salaries

A Contract Nurse'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 Do Contract Nurse 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 Contract Nurses. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $93,845.
California: $93,490.
Massachusetts: $92,244.

District of Columbia $93,845 California $93,490 Massachusetts $92,244 Washington $91,905 New Jersey $91,871 Alaska $91,752 Connecticut $90,582 New York $90,108

Hawaii $88,590 Rhode Island $87,878 Maryland $87,395 Minnesota $86,734 Colorado $86,480 Illinois $86,395 Oregon $86,073 Delaware $85,836

New Hampshire $85,687 Virginia $85,353 Pennsylvania $84,378 Nevada $83,886 North Dakota $83,725 Michigan $83,471 Wisconsin $83,378 Vermont $83,191

Texas $82,674 Maine $82,640 Arizona $82,589 Ohio $82,530 Georgia $81,750 Indiana $81,360 Wyoming $81,284 Utah $81,166

Iowa $81,115 Kansas $80,708 Louisiana $80,589 North Carolina $80,547 Missouri $80,530 Florida $80,199 Montana $80,021 Nebraska $79,852

Kentucky $79,759 South Carolina $79,419 Tennessee $79,208 Idaho $79,123 New Mexico $78,504 Oklahoma $78,368 Alabama $77,868 South Dakota $77,029

Arkansas $76,572 West Virginia $76,326 Mississippi $75,588

Top Paying Cities for Contract Nurses

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: $106,907
San Francisco: $105,736
Oakland: $103,508

San Jose, CA $106,907

San Francisco, CA $105,736

Oakland, CA $103,508

New York, NY $97,591

Paramus, NJ $96,404

Queens Village, NY $96,400

Passaic, NJ $96,320

Bergenfield, NJ $96,312

Stamford, CT $96,126

Huntington, NY $96,091

Newark, NJ $95,464

Bridgeport, CT $95,286

Vallejo, CA $95,117

New Brunswick, NJ $95,083

Petaluma, CA $95,032

Middlesex, NJ $94,871

Somerset, NJ $94,812

Santa Cruz, CA $94,702

Boston, MA $94,185

Monterey, CA $93,887

Seattle, WA $93,693

Santa Rosa, CA $93,676

Los Angeles, CA $93,651

Juneau, AK $93,430

Washington, DC $93,337

Orange, CA $93,035

Santa Ana, CA $92,811

Long Beach, CA $92,727

Anaheim, CA $92,710

Anchorage, AK $92,667

Santa Maria, CA $92,413

Everett, WA $92,396

Danbury, CT $92,098

Bremerton, WA $91,981

Tacoma, WA $91,676

New Suffolk, NY $91,674

Sacramento, CA $91,650

Santa Barbara, CA $91,557

Trenton, NJ $91,464

San Diego, CA $91,464

Brockton, MA $91,371

Fairbanks, AK $91,163

Lompoc, CA $90,947

Lowell, MA $90,878

Ventura, CA $90,862

Nashua, NH $90,845

Stockton, CA $90,837

Modesto, CA $90,218

Poughkeepsie, NY $90,031

Olympia, WA $89,870

Kennewick, WA $89,870

New Haven, CT $89,836

Lawrence, MA $89,531

Hartford, CT $89,446

Riverside, CA $89,430

New Bedford, MA $89,345

Richland, WA $89,345

Bakersfield, CA $89,226

San Bernardino, CA $89,192

New Britain, CT $89,184

Atlantic City, NJ $89,184

New London, CT $89,150

Norwich, CT $89,124

Portsmouth, NH $89,107

Boulder, CO $88,928

Portland, OR $88,811

Worcester, MA $88,802

Minneapolis, MN $88,540

Philadelphia, PA $88,421

Honolulu, HI $88,141

Saint Paul, MN $88,101

Vineland, NJ $88,082

Providence, RI $87,836

Chicago, IL $87,590

Bellingham, WA $87,489

Springfield, MA $87,421

Baltimore, MD $87,395

Chico, CA $87,183

Pittsfield, MA $86,955

Manchester, NH $86,794

Spokane, WA $86,421

Denver, CO $86,412

Albany, NY $86,014

Troy, NY $85,980

Nassau, NY $85,889

Schenectady, NY $85,802

Wilmington, DE $85,734

Burlington, VT $85,615

Salem, OR $85,581

Portland, ME $85,319

Yakima, WA $85,234

Rochester, MN $84,971

Reno, NV $84,929

Fresno, CA $84,929

Milwaukee, WI $84,853

Detroit, MI $84,768

Ann Arbor, MI $84,753

Allentown, PA $84,742

Colorado Springs, CO $84,598

Syracuse, NY $84,556

Carson City, NV $84,556

Houston, TX $84,437

Eugene, OR $84,395

Gary, IN $84,293

Springfield, OR $84,225

Bismarck, ND $84,208

Galveston, TX $84,149

Medford, OR $84,022

Fort Collins, CO $83,988

Concord, NH $83,946

Austin, TX $83,920

Mesa, AZ $83,742

Reading, PA $83,734

Phoenix, AZ $83,725

Dallas, TX $83,700

Saint Cloud, MN $83,618

Madison, WI $83,505

Utica, NY $83,276

Rochester, NY $83,140

Des Moines, IA $83,132

Raleigh, NC $83,123

Atlanta, GA $82,996

Battle Creek, MI $82,971

Salt Lake City, UT $82,945

Lancaster, PA $82,818

Harrisburg, PA $82,700

Kansas City, MO $82,615

Champaign, IL $82,598

Kansas City, KS $82,598

Fort Worth, TX $82,589

Columbus, OH $82,575

Boca Raton, FL $82,556

Pittsburgh, PA $82,522

Richmond, VA $82,488

Indianapolis, IN $82,471

Cleveland, OH $82,462

Las Vegas, NV $82,361

Cincinnati, OH $82,361

Petersburg, VA $82,233

Huntsville, AL $82,106

Lansing, MI $82,050

Lebanon, PA $82,039

Pueblo, CO $82,030

Appleton, WI $82,005

Buffalo, NY $81,971

Dayton, OH $81,945

Racine, WI $81,928

Charlotte, NC $81,920

Saint Louis, MO $81,894

York, PA $81,844

Elkhart, IN $81,844

Gastonia, NC $81,827

Billings, MT $81,807

Beaumont, TX $81,784

Lorain, OH $81,767

Benton Harbor, MI $81,750

Toledo, OH $81,733

Binghamton, NY $81,691

Rock Hill, SC $81,683

Rockford, IL $81,640

Springfield, IL $81,606

Elyria, OH $81,598

Fargo, ND $81,598

Flagstaff, AZ $81,538

Fort Lauderdale, FL $81,488

Duluth, MN $81,437

Miami, FL $81,437

Cheyenne, WY $81,377

Grand Forks, ND $81,377

Bangor, ME $81,191

Cedar Rapids, IA $81,098

Durham, NC $81,062

Louisville, KY $81,055

Grand Rapids, MI $81,038

Hialeah, FL $81,030

Casper, WY $80,911

Scranton, PA $80,810

New Orleans, LA $80,784

Virginia Beach, VA $80,776

Akron, OH $80,733

Peoria, IL $80,623

Sarasota, FL $80,606

Nashville, TN $80,547

Omaha, NE $80,547

Green Bay, WI $80,547

Baton Rouge, LA $80,504

Charleston, SC $80,487

Jamestown, NY $80,445

Davenport, IA $80,445

Tucson, AZ $80,403

Saint Petersburg, FL $80,352

Tampa, FL $80,335

Evansville, IN $80,284

Port Arthur, TX $80,284

Bradenton, FL $80,250

Santa Fe, NM $80,098

Orlando, FL $79,945

Clearwater, FL $79,920

Canton, OH $79,742

La Crosse, WI $79,742

Albuquerque, NM $79,691

Newport News, VA $79,682

High Point, NC $79,657

Ogden, UT $79,623

Corpus Christi, TX $79,555

Norfolk, VA $79,504

Laramie, WY $79,504

Rock Island, IL $79,453

Saginaw, MI $79,436

Jacksonville, FL $79,428

Salisbury, NC $79,411

Boise, ID $79,394

Moline, IL $79,352

Fort Myers, FL $79,326

Memphis, TN $79,309

Tulsa, OK $79,267

Waterloo, IA $79,216

Spartanburg, SC $79,131

Lincoln, NE $79,089

Fort Wayne, IN $79,072

Provo, UT $79,063

Cedar Falls, IA $78,962

San Antonio, TX $78,928

Greensboro, NC $78,894

South Bend, IN $78,885

Savannah, GA $78,792

Muskegon, MI $78,758

Birmingham, AL $78,750

Winston Salem, NC $78,708

Lake Charles, LA $78,504

Anderson, IN $78,487

Lexington, KY $78,462

Augusta, GA $78,436

Greenville, SC $78,436

Lima, OH $78,368

Wichita, KS $78,360

Tuscaloosa, AL $78,360

Columbia, SC $78,284

Springfield, OH $78,267

Asheville, NC $78,131

Bloomington, IN $78,072

Knoxville, TN $77,767

Shreveport, LA $77,758

Wilmington, NC $77,648

Roanoke, VA $77,648

Topeka, KS $77,495

Frankfort, KY $77,486

Oklahoma City, OK $77,428

Chillicothe, OH $77,394

Longview, TX $77,385

Melbourne, FL $77,377

Sioux Falls, SD $77,241

Mobile, AL $77,233

Terre Haute, IN $77,199

Altoona, PA $77,148

Amarillo, TX $77,089

Killeen, TX $77,063

Fayetteville, AR $76,995

Chattanooga, TN $76,970

Sioux City, IA $76,894

Idaho Falls, ID $76,877

Lynchburg, VA $76,809

Gainesville, FL $76,699

Portsmouth, OH $76,656

Little Rock, AR $76,639

Lafayette, LA $76,605

Youngstown, OH $76,605

Daytona Beach, FL $76,555

Clarksville, TN $76,546

Pensacola, FL $76,538

Temple, TX $76,532

Hopkinsville, KY $76,283

Erie, PA $76,266

Florence, SC $76,233

Charleston, WV $76,097

Great Falls, MT $76,055

Macon, GA $75,936

Tallahassee, FL $75,927

Fayetteville, NC $75,910

Waco, TX $75,893

Helena, MT $75,834

Pine Bluff, AR $75,802

Vincennes, IN $75,699

Lubbock, TX $75,665

Alamogordo, NM $75,614

Twin Falls, ID $75,537

Rapid City, SD $75,512

Jackson, MS $75,359

Huntington, WV $75,354

Greenville, MS $75,351

Parkersburg, WV $75,265

Montgomery, AL $75,249

Wichita Falls, TX $75,165

Springfield, MO $75,165

Biloxi, MS $75,122

Monroe, LA $75,037

Johnstown, PA $74,978

Sumter, SC $74,944

Columbus, GA $74,936

Pascagoula, MS $74,775

Abilene, TX $74,775

Kingsport, TN $74,554

Albany, GA $74,554

Gulfport, MS $74,529

Alexandria, LA $74,249

Fort Smith, AR $74,037

El Paso, TX $73,808

Las Cruces, NM $73,427

Harlingen, TX $73,212

Pocatello, ID $73,198

Florence, AL $73,088

Brownsville, TX $73,071

Mcallen, TX $72,893

Dothan, AL $72,774

Columbus, MS $72,271

Altus, OK $71,876

Lawton, OK $71,715

Pierre, SD $71,410

What Skills Can Increase a Contract Nurse'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 Contract Nurse'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	$87,302	3%
Accountability	$86,454	2%
Dedication	$86,454	2%
Partnering	$86,454	2%
Innovation	$86,454	2%
Commitment	$86,454	2%

Get Latest Data

Contract Nurse Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Contract Nurse roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Contract Nurse positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Contract Nurse as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Contract Nurse

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking	$97,473	$47.0	15%
Biotechnology	$95,354	$46.0	12%
Energy & Utilities	$91,116	$44.0	7%
Insurance	$88,997	$43.0	5%

How Education impacts a Contract Nurse's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Contract Nurses 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 Contract Nurse with a Associate's Degree is between $81,300 and $85,864).

Contract Nurse Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Contract Nurse

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

Contract Nurse Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Contract Nurse'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 August 01, 2026

$78,713

Average $84,759/year

$92,001

$6,559

Average $7,063/month

$7,667

$1,514

Average $1,630/week

$1,769

$38

Average $41/hour

$44

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$92,001	$7,667	$1,769	$44
Average	$84,759	$7,063	$1,630	$41
25th Percentile	$78,713	$6,559	$1,514	$38

Salaries of jobs related to Contract Nurse

Salary Trends for Contract Nurse

Salaries for a Contract Nurse can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $75,059 in 2023 to around $75,226 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Contract Nurse salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Contract Nurse Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$75,059

2024

$75,704

2025

$75,226

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$75,059
2024	$75,704
2025	$75,226
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Contract Nurse

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FAQ about Contract Nurse

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Contract Nurse?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Contract Nurse roles, with salaries approximately 15% 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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