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

A Staff Nurse's salary grows with experience: a Staff Nurse - RN I (0-2 years)earns $72,836, a Staff Nurse (2-4 years)earns $82,551, a Staff Nurse - RN III (4-7 years)earns $95,992,

What are the highest paying states for a Staff Nurse?

Staff Nurse salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Staff Nurse roles are District of Columbia $90,950, California $90,605, Massachusetts $89,398. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Staff Nurse roles make?

Salaries for Staff Nurse level roles vary by specialization: Senior Staff Nurse: $97,874; Staff Nurse - RN - Research: $94,795; ICU Staff Nurse: $93,183; Staff Nurse - RN - Hospice: $87,686; Staff Registered Nurse: $85,299.

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

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

Staff Nurse Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Staff Nurse in the United States is $82,145 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,552
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,285 to $89,162
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,950

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Staff Nurse Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,162	$7,430	$1,715	$43
Average	$82,145	$6,845	$1,580	$39
25th Percentile	$76,285	$6,357	$1,467	$37

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Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

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Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

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Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

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Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Staff Nurse Salaries

A Staff 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 Staff 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 Staff Nurses. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $90,950.
California: $90,605.
Massachusetts: $89,398.

District of Columbia $90,950 California $90,605 Massachusetts $89,398 Washington $89,069 New Jersey $89,036 Alaska $88,921 Connecticut $87,788 New York $87,328

Hawaii $85,857 Rhode Island $85,167 Maryland $84,699 Minnesota $84,058 Colorado $83,812 Illinois $83,730 Oregon $83,418 Delaware $83,188

New Hampshire $83,043 Virginia $82,720 Pennsylvania $81,775 Nevada $81,298 North Dakota $81,142 Michigan $80,896 Wisconsin $80,806 Vermont $80,625

Texas $80,124 Maine $80,091 Arizona $80,042 Ohio $79,984 Georgia $79,228 Indiana $78,851 Wyoming $78,777 Utah $78,662

Iowa $78,612 Kansas $78,218 Louisiana $78,103 North Carolina $78,062 Missouri $78,045 Florida $77,725 Montana $77,553 Nebraska $77,388

Kentucky $77,298 South Carolina $76,969 Tennessee $76,764 Idaho $76,682 New Mexico $76,082 Oklahoma $75,951 Alabama $75,466 South Dakota $74,653

Arkansas $74,209 West Virginia $73,971 Mississippi $73,256

Top Paying Cities for Staff 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: $103,609
San Francisco: $102,474
Oakland: $100,315

San Jose, CA $103,609

San Francisco, CA $102,474

Oakland, CA $100,315

New York, NY $94,580

Paramus, NJ $93,430

Queens Village, NY $93,426

Passaic, NJ $93,348

Bergenfield, NJ $93,341

Stamford, CT $93,160

Huntington, NY $93,126

Newark, NJ $92,519

Bridgeport, CT $92,346

Vallejo, CA $92,183

New Brunswick, NJ $92,150

Petaluma, CA $92,100

Middlesex, NJ $91,944

Somerset, NJ $91,887

Santa Cruz, CA $91,780

Boston, MA $91,279

Monterey, CA $90,991

Seattle, WA $90,803

Santa Rosa, CA $90,786

Los Angeles, CA $90,761

Juneau, AK $90,548

Washington, DC $90,458

Orange, CA $90,165

Santa Ana, CA $89,948

Long Beach, CA $89,866

Anaheim, CA $89,850

Anchorage, AK $89,809

Santa Maria, CA $89,562

Everett, WA $89,546

Danbury, CT $89,257

Bremerton, WA $89,143

Tacoma, WA $88,847

New Suffolk, NY $88,846

Sacramento, CA $88,823

Santa Barbara, CA $88,732

Trenton, NJ $88,642

San Diego, CA $88,642

Brockton, MA $88,552

Fairbanks, AK $88,351

Lompoc, CA $88,141

Lowell, MA $88,075

Ventura, CA $88,059

Nashua, NH $88,042

Stockton, CA $88,034

Modesto, CA $87,435

Poughkeepsie, NY $87,254

Olympia, WA $87,098

Kennewick, WA $87,098

New Haven, CT $87,065

Lawrence, MA $86,769

Hartford, CT $86,687

Riverside, CA $86,671

New Bedford, MA $86,589

Richland, WA $86,589

Bakersfield, CA $86,474

San Bernardino, CA $86,441

New Britain, CT $86,432

Atlantic City, NJ $86,432

New London, CT $86,400

Norwich, CT $86,375

Portsmouth, NH $86,359

Boulder, CO $86,184

Portland, OR $86,071

Worcester, MA $86,063

Minneapolis, MN $85,808

Philadelphia, PA $85,693

Honolulu, HI $85,422

Saint Paul, MN $85,383

Vineland, NJ $85,365

Providence, RI $85,126

Chicago, IL $84,888

Bellingham, WA $84,790

Springfield, MA $84,724

Baltimore, MD $84,699

Chico, CA $84,494

Pittsfield, MA $84,272

Manchester, NH $84,116

Spokane, WA $83,755

Denver, CO $83,746

Albany, NY $83,360

Troy, NY $83,327

Nassau, NY $83,239

Schenectady, NY $83,155

Wilmington, DE $83,089

Burlington, VT $82,974

Salem, OR $82,941

Portland, ME $82,687

Yakima, WA $82,605

Rochester, MN $82,350

Reno, NV $82,309

Fresno, CA $82,309

Milwaukee, WI $82,235

Detroit, MI $82,153

Ann Arbor, MI $82,139

Allentown, PA $82,128

Colorado Springs, CO $81,988

Syracuse, NY $81,947

Carson City, NV $81,947

Houston, TX $81,832

Eugene, OR $81,791

Gary, IN $81,693

Springfield, OR $81,627

Bismarck, ND $81,611

Galveston, TX $81,553

Medford, OR $81,430

Fort Collins, CO $81,397

Concord, NH $81,356

Austin, TX $81,331

Mesa, AZ $81,159

Reading, PA $81,151

Phoenix, AZ $81,142

Dallas, TX $81,118

Saint Cloud, MN $81,039

Madison, WI $80,929

Utica, NY $80,707

Rochester, NY $80,576

Des Moines, IA $80,567

Raleigh, NC $80,559

Atlanta, GA $80,436

Battle Creek, MI $80,411

Salt Lake City, UT $80,387

Lancaster, PA $80,263

Harrisburg, PA $80,148

Kansas City, MO $80,066

Champaign, IL $80,050

Kansas City, KS $80,050

Fort Worth, TX $80,042

Columbus, OH $80,028

Boca Raton, FL $80,009

Pittsburgh, PA $79,976

Richmond, VA $79,943

Indianapolis, IN $79,927

Cleveland, OH $79,918

Las Vegas, NV $79,820

Cincinnati, OH $79,820

Petersburg, VA $79,697

Huntsville, AL $79,573

Lansing, MI $79,518

Lebanon, PA $79,508

Pueblo, CO $79,499

Appleton, WI $79,475

Buffalo, NY $79,442

Dayton, OH $79,417

Racine, WI $79,401

Charlotte, NC $79,393

Saint Louis, MO $79,368

York, PA $79,319

Elkhart, IN $79,319

Gastonia, NC $79,303

Billings, MT $79,283

Beaumont, TX $79,261

Lorain, OH $79,245

Benton Harbor, MI $79,228

Toledo, OH $79,212

Binghamton, NY $79,171

Rock Hill, SC $79,163

Rockford, IL $79,122

Springfield, IL $79,089

Elyria, OH $79,081

Fargo, ND $79,081

Flagstaff, AZ $79,023

Fort Lauderdale, FL $78,974

Duluth, MN $78,924

Miami, FL $78,924

Cheyenne, WY $78,867

Grand Forks, ND $78,867

Bangor, ME $78,686

Cedar Rapids, IA $78,596

Durham, NC $78,561

Louisville, KY $78,555

Grand Rapids, MI $78,538

Hialeah, FL $78,530

Casper, WY $78,415

Scranton, PA $78,317

New Orleans, LA $78,292

Virginia Beach, VA $78,284

Akron, OH $78,243

Peoria, IL $78,136

Sarasota, FL $78,119

Nashville, TN $78,062

Omaha, NE $78,062

Green Bay, WI $78,062

Baton Rouge, LA $78,021

Charleston, SC $78,004

Jamestown, NY $77,963

Davenport, IA $77,963

Tucson, AZ $77,922

Saint Petersburg, FL $77,873

Tampa, FL $77,857

Evansville, IN $77,807

Port Arthur, TX $77,807

Bradenton, FL $77,774

Santa Fe, NM $77,627

Orlando, FL $77,479

Clearwater, FL $77,454

Canton, OH $77,282

La Crosse, WI $77,282

Albuquerque, NM $77,232

Newport News, VA $77,224

High Point, NC $77,199

Ogden, UT $77,167

Corpus Christi, TX $77,101

Norfolk, VA $77,052

Laramie, WY $77,052

Rock Island, IL $77,002

Saginaw, MI $76,986

Jacksonville, FL $76,978

Salisbury, NC $76,961

Boise, ID $76,945

Moline, IL $76,904

Fort Myers, FL $76,879

Memphis, TN $76,863

Tulsa, OK $76,822

Waterloo, IA $76,772

Spartanburg, SC $76,690

Lincoln, NE $76,649

Fort Wayne, IN $76,633

Provo, UT $76,624

Cedar Falls, IA $76,526

San Antonio, TX $76,493

Greensboro, NC $76,460

South Bend, IN $76,452

Savannah, GA $76,362

Muskegon, MI $76,329

Birmingham, AL $76,320

Winston Salem, NC $76,280

Lake Charles, LA $76,082

Anderson, IN $76,066

Lexington, KY $76,041

Augusta, GA $76,017

Greenville, SC $76,017

Lima, OH $75,951

Wichita, KS $75,943

Tuscaloosa, AL $75,943

Columbia, SC $75,869

Springfield, OH $75,852

Asheville, NC $75,721

Bloomington, IN $75,663

Knoxville, TN $75,368

Shreveport, LA $75,359

Wilmington, NC $75,253

Roanoke, VA $75,253

Topeka, KS $75,105

Frankfort, KY $75,096

Oklahoma City, OK $75,039

Chillicothe, OH $75,006

Longview, TX $74,998

Melbourne, FL $74,990

Sioux Falls, SD $74,858

Mobile, AL $74,850

Terre Haute, IN $74,817

Altoona, PA $74,768

Amarillo, TX $74,710

Killeen, TX $74,686

Fayetteville, AR $74,620

Chattanooga, TN $74,595

Sioux City, IA $74,521

Idaho Falls, ID $74,505

Lynchburg, VA $74,439

Gainesville, FL $74,333

Portsmouth, OH $74,291

Little Rock, AR $74,275

Lafayette, LA $74,242

Youngstown, OH $74,242

Daytona Beach, FL $74,193

Clarksville, TN $74,185

Pensacola, FL $74,176

Temple, TX $74,171

Hopkinsville, KY $73,930

Erie, PA $73,914

Florence, SC $73,881

Charleston, WV $73,749

Great Falls, MT $73,708

Macon, GA $73,593

Tallahassee, FL $73,585

Fayetteville, NC $73,569

Waco, TX $73,552

Helena, MT $73,495

Pine Bluff, AR $73,463

Vincennes, IN $73,363

Lubbock, TX $73,330

Alamogordo, NM $73,281

Twin Falls, ID $73,207

Rapid City, SD $73,183

Jackson, MS $73,035

Huntington, WV $73,029

Greenville, MS $73,026

Parkersburg, WV $72,943

Montgomery, AL $72,928

Wichita Falls, TX $72,846

Springfield, MO $72,846

Biloxi, MS $72,805

Monroe, LA $72,723

Johnstown, PA $72,665

Sumter, SC $72,632

Columbus, GA $72,624

Pascagoula, MS $72,468

Abilene, TX $72,468

Kingsport, TN $72,254

Albany, GA $72,254

Gulfport, MS $72,230

Alexandria, LA $71,959

Fort Smith, AR $71,753

El Paso, TX $71,531

Las Cruces, NM $71,162

Harlingen, TX $70,953

Pocatello, ID $70,940

Florence, AL $70,833

Brownsville, TX $70,817

Mcallen, TX $70,644

Dothan, AL $70,529

Columbus, MS $70,041

Altus, OK $69,659

Lawton, OK $69,502

Pierre, SD $69,207

What Skills Can Increase a Staff 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 Staff 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	$84,609	3%
Accountability	$83,787	2%
Dedication	$83,787	2%
Partnering	$83,787	2%
Innovation	$83,787	2%
Commitment	$83,787	2%

Get Latest Data

Staff Nurse Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Staff 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, Staff Nurse positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Staff Nurse as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Staff Nurse

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking	$94,466	$45.0	15%
Biotechnology	$92,413	$44.0	12%
Energy & Utilities	$88,305	$42.0	7%
Insurance	$86,252	$41.0	5%

How Education impacts a Staff Nurse's Salary?

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

Staff Nurse Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Staff 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

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

Understanding how a Staff 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

$76,285

Average $82,145/year

$89,162

$6,357

Average $6,845/month

$7,430

$1,467

Average $1,580/week

$1,715

$37

Average $39/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,162	$7,430	$1,715	$43
Average	$82,145	$6,845	$1,580	$39
25th Percentile	$76,285	$6,357	$1,467	$37

Salaries of jobs related to Staff Nurse

Salary Trends for Staff Nurse

Salaries for a Staff Nurse can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $72,743 in 2023 to around $72,905 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Staff Nurse salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Staff Nurse Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$72,743

2024

$73,369

2025

$72,905

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$72,743
2024	$73,369
2025	$72,905
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Staff Nurse

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

Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

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Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse (RN) - Acute Leukemia. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute's (OSUCCC-Ja... more

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Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

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Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse (RN) - Progressive Care Float Pool. Department: University Hospital | Clinical Resources. Job Description Scope of Position: The Ohio State Uni... more

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Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse

Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse-B (RN) Progressive Care Unit. Department: University Hospital | 18 South - Medical PCU. Job Description Scope of Position: The Ohio State Unive... more

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Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse

Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse (RN) - Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation. University Hospital | 3 Dodd Hall, Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation. Scope of Position: The O... more

6 Days Ago
Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse

Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse (RN) - PCU - Bariatric and Colorectal Surgery. University Hospital | 19 North - Medical PCU. Job Description. The Ohio State University Wexner ... more

6 Days Ago
Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse

Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

Staff Nurse (RN) - Acute Care - General Medicine. University Hospital | 11 East Doan Hall, General Medicine. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Cente... more

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FAQ about Staff Nurse

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Staff 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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