As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Graduate Nurse in the US is $82,732, equivalent to $40 per hour, $1,591 weekly, or $6,894 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Graduate Nurse in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Graduate Nurse in the US vary widely, spanning from $72,374 to $97,444. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($77,310) and 75th percentile ($90,433), while top earners (90th percentile) make $97,444 per year. This $13,123 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Planning or Nursing Process, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Graduate Nurse often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 60 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Graduate Nurse Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Graduate Nurse Salary $72,374 US January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Graduate Nurse Salary $77,310 US January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Graduate Nurse Salary $82,732 US January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Graduate Nurse Salary $90,433 US January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Graduate Nurse Salary $97,444 US January 01, 2026
25% $77,310 10% $72,374 90% $97,444 75% $90,433 $82,732 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Graduate Nurse ?

The Graduate Nurse (GN) is a nurse who has completed his or her academic studies but not completed the requirements to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Depending on the country, state, province or similar licensing body, the graduate nurse may be granted provisional nursing licensure. A Graduate nurse has not yet passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a Registered Nurse (RN). In the US, the Graduate nurse can practice nursing under a Registered nurse. To practice as a Graduate nurse, he or she must have been authorized by the examination provider to sit for the ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
77310
90433
82732

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
80166
98155
88405
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Graduate Nurse in the United States. The base salary for Graduate Nurse ranges from $77,310 to $90,433 with the average base salary of $82,732. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $80,166 to $98,155 with the average total cash compensation of $88,405.

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77310
90433

 

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