380 metro areas
Registered Nurse Salary by City (2026)
Registered nurses earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $194,960 a year, against $101,420 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($176,560 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $101,420BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $194,960San Jose, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $176,560San Jose, CA
- Metro areas
- 380With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
Top 10 metro areas
- San Jose, CA$194,960
- Vallejo, CA$182,810
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
- Santa Cruz, CA$159,830
- Yuba City, CA$150,970
- San Luis Obispo, CA$147,410
- Stockton, CA$145,410
- San Diego, CA$145,060
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $194,960 |
| Vallejo, CA | $182,810 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $176,900 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $170,000 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $164,200 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $159,830 |
| Yuba City, CA | $150,970 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $147,410 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $145,410 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $145,060 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- San Jose, CA$194,960 nominal$176,560
- Vallejo, CA$182,810 nominal$168,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000 nominal$157,720
- Sacramento, CA$164,200 nominal$153,930
- San Francisco, CA$176,900 nominal$153,010
- Santa Cruz, CA$159,830 nominal$145,440
- Yuba City, CA$150,970 nominal$144,840
- Stockton, CA$145,410 nominal$138,370
- Modesto, CA$143,670 nominal$138,000
- San Luis Obispo, CA$147,410 nominal$135,740
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $176,560 |
| Vallejo, CA | $168,520 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $157,720 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $153,930 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $153,010 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $145,440 |
| Yuba City, CA | $144,840 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $138,370 |
| Modesto, CA | $138,000 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $135,740 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Registered Nurse salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $194,960 | $140,650 | $221,710 | $176,560 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $182,810 | $127,920 | $209,850 | $168,520 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $176,900 | $124,220 | $202,860 | $153,010 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa, CA | $170,000 | $120,000 | $194,630 | $157,720 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $164,200 | $110,200 | $190,800 | $153,930 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $159,830 | $105,620 | $186,530 | $145,440 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $150,970 | $109,820 | $171,250 | $144,840 |
| 8 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $147,410 | $102,860 | $169,350 | $135,740 |
| 9 | Stockton, CA | $145,410 | $105,560 | $165,030 | $138,370 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $145,060 | $111,680 | $161,490 | $129,650 |
| 11 | Modesto, CA | $143,670 | $106,560 | $161,970 | $138,000 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $140,360 | $103,190 | $158,680 | $123,590 |
| 13 | Salinas, CA | $138,800 | $101,750 | $157,060 | $127,290 |
| 14 | Riverside, CA | $136,680 | $101,570 | $153,960 | $128,410 |
| 15 | Chico, CA | $134,910 | $109,760 | $147,280 | $133,310 |
| 16 | Santa Maria, CA | $134,680 | $102,380 | $150,590 | $123,790 |
| 17 | Oxnard, CA | $133,700 | $95,800 | $152,380 | $120,960 |
| 18 | Redding, CA | $133,700 | $97,910 | $151,320 | $132,790 |
| 19 | Merced, CA | $129,690 | $100,030 | $144,310 | $131,970 |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,190 | $92,980 | $145,560 | $127,060 |
| 21 | Hanford, CA | $127,650 | $104,020 | $139,280 | $125,620 |
| 22 | Kahului, HI | $127,320 | $93,020 | $144,230 | $116,390 |
| 23 | Fresno, CA | $126,880 | $93,850 | $143,150 | $124,200 |
| 24 | Bend, OR | $126,690 | $98,340 | $140,670 | $122,280 |
| 25 | Seattle, WA | $126,380 | $96,780 | $140,960 | $113,720 |
| 26 | Salem, OR | $125,760 | $102,090 | $137,400 | $121,330 |
| 27 | Portland, OR-WA | $125,240 | $97,140 | $139,070 | $118,800 |
| 28 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $124,740 | $87,940 | $142,850 | $112,420 |
| 29 | Visalia, CA | $124,110 | $93,890 | $138,990 | $124,330 |
| 30 | Boston, MA-NH | $121,830 | $84,950 | $139,980 | $112,530 |
| 31 | Medford, OR | $120,520 | $98,050 | $131,580 | $118,820 |
| 32 | New York, NY-NJ | $119,600 | $92,160 | $133,120 | $106,250 |
| 33 | Eugene, OR | $117,710 | $96,530 | $128,130 | $115,890 |
| 34 | Albany, OR | $117,600 | $94,450 | $129,000 | $115,180 |
| 35 | Olympia, WA | $117,100 | $88,110 | $131,390 | $112,950 |
| 36 | Anchorage, AK | $116,670 | $91,350 | $129,130 | $110,670 |
| 37 | Bremerton, WA | $116,580 | $88,900 | $130,230 | $110,390 |
| 38 | Grants Pass, OR | $114,650 | $96,010 | $123,820 | $117,280 |
| 39 | Kennewick, WA | $114,570 | $91,730 | $125,800 | $114,480 |
| 40 | Worcester, MA | $113,900 | $81,790 | $129,730 | $111,100 |
| 41 | El Centro, CA | $113,380 | $88,610 | $125,570 | $119,130 |
| 42 | Spokane, WA | $113,280 | $87,550 | $125,960 | $112,890 |
| 43 | Barnstable Town, MA | $112,740 | $81,160 | $128,270 | $114,630 |
| 44 | Walla Walla, WA | $112,440 | $85,240 | $125,820 | $114,130 |
| 45 | Wenatchee, WA | $112,300 | $91,580 | $122,490 | $108,130 |
| 46 | Bridgeport, CT | $111,740 | $86,650 | $124,090 | $104,560 |
| 47 | Yakima, WA | $111,720 | $86,320 | $124,240 | $116,930 |
| 48 | Mount Vernon, WA | $111,200 | $85,200 | $124,010 | $108,550 |
| 49 | Ann Arbor, MI | $108,990 | $83,800 | $121,410 | $108,040 |
| 50 | New Haven, CT | $108,660 | $81,540 | $122,030 | $103,920 |
| 51 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $108,410 | $77,960 | $123,410 | $110,340 |
| 52 | Rochester, MN | $106,520 | $90,060 | $114,610 | $117,290 |
| 53 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $106,480 | $85,700 | $116,710 | $101,580 |
| 54 | Las Vegas, NV | $106,350 | $82,680 | $118,020 | $106,120 |
| 55 | Boulder, CO | $105,640 | $84,220 | $116,210 | $100,420 |
| 56 | Pittsfield, MA | $105,000 | $77,400 | $118,600 | $110,400 |
| 57 | Reno, NV | $104,870 | $82,040 | $116,110 | $103,820 |
| 58 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $104,580 | $79,850 | $116,770 | $96,050 |
| 59 | Kingston, NY | $104,310 | $75,400 | $118,540 | $103,580 |
| 60 | Trenton, NJ | $103,710 | $85,300 | $112,760 | $100,510 |
| 61 | Santa Fe, NM | $103,690 | $74,800 | $117,920 | $104,980 |
| 62 | Waterbury, CT | $103,190 | $81,000 | $114,130 | $103,420 |
| 63 | Hartford, CT | $103,080 | $81,760 | $113,570 | $100,330 |
| 64 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $102,250 | $75,550 | $115,400 | $93,450 |
| 65 | Providence, RI-MA | $102,040 | $78,100 | $113,840 | $100,260 |
| 66 | St. Cloud, MN | $101,980 | $82,310 | $111,680 | $116,370 |
| 67 | Vineland, NJ | $101,610 | $83,550 | $110,490 | $105,880 |
| 68 | Amherst Town, MA | $101,570 | $76,480 | $113,920 | $101,320 |
| 69 | Ithaca, NY | $101,400 | $76,110 | $113,840 | $98,140 |
| 70 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,400 | $81,490 | $111,200 | $98,870 |
| 71 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,090 | $74,610 | $114,130 | $97,850 |
| 72 | Denver, CO | $100,920 | $79,730 | $111,360 | $95,400 |
| 73 | Dallas, TX | $100,820 | $74,780 | $113,650 | $97,800 |
| 74 | Florence, SC | $100,690 | $65,330 | $118,120 | $116,040 |
| 75 | Mankato, MN | $100,570 | $83,260 | $109,080 | $110,570 |
| 76 | Madison, WI | $100,440 | $82,950 | $109,050 | $103,240 |
| 77 | Houston, TX | $100,280 | $75,150 | $112,670 | $101,670 |
| 78 | Atlantic City, NJ | $100,050 | $83,470 | $108,200 | $101,210 |
| 79 | Carson City, NV | $99,960 | $80,230 | $109,680 | $101,860 |
| 80 | Burlington, VT | $99,840 | $80,040 | $109,620 | $98,900 |
| 81 | Atlanta, GA | $99,760 | $75,440 | $111,740 | $99,700 |
| 82 | Helena, MT | $99,570 | $75,520 | $111,400 | $104,070 |
| 83 | Norwich, CT | $99,550 | $77,940 | $110,200 | $99,110 |
| 84 | Binghamton, NY | $99,440 | $79,810 | $109,140 | $107,080 |
| 85 | Lebanon, PA | $99,400 | $77,290 | $110,300 | $106,640 |
| 86 | South Bend, IN-MI | $99,320 | $71,700 | $112,920 | $106,960 |
| 87 | Baltimore, MD | $99,090 | $77,730 | $109,620 | $94,830 |
| 88 | Springfield, MA | $98,840 | $75,750 | $110,220 | $102,890 |
| 89 | Bozeman, MT | $98,740 | $80,850 | $107,540 | $96,320 |
| 90 | Buffalo, NY | $98,570 | $77,520 | $108,930 | $102,840 |
| 91 | Albany, NY | $98,530 | $76,040 | $109,620 | $98,960 |
| 92 | Grand Junction, CO | $98,470 | $78,640 | $108,220 | $103,140 |
| 93 | Cheyenne, WY | $97,930 | $70,350 | $111,490 | $101,490 |
| 94 | Chicago, IL-IN | $97,930 | $75,710 | $108,870 | $94,530 |
| 95 | Flagstaff, AZ | $97,840 | $76,500 | $108,350 | $97,520 |
| 96 | Charlottesville, VA | $97,780 | $74,780 | $109,120 | $98,620 |
| 97 | Austin, TX | $97,610 | $74,280 | $109,120 | $99,540 |
| 98 | Fort Collins, CO | $97,430 | $77,520 | $107,220 | $96,340 |
| 99 | Battle Creek, MI | $97,220 | $78,040 | $106,660 | $107,380 |
| 100 | Manchester, NH | $96,890 | $76,670 | $106,830 | $91,700 |
| 101 | Reading, PA | $96,780 | $76,040 | $107,020 | $99,710 |
| 102 | Albuquerque, NM | $96,760 | $77,130 | $106,450 | $101,270 |
| 103 | Naples, FL | $96,740 | $73,590 | $108,160 | $93,740 |
| 104 | Duluth, MN-WI | $96,640 | $77,000 | $106,310 | $108,870 |
| 105 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $96,600 | $77,380 | $106,040 | $96,630 |
| 106 | Killeen, TX | $96,430 | $72,900 | $108,010 | $105,810 |
| 107 | Colorado Springs, CO | $96,320 | $77,520 | $105,580 | $95,640 |
| 108 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $96,220 | $77,810 | $105,270 | $97,890 |
| 109 | Watertown, NY | $96,080 | $72,700 | $107,580 | $109,570 |
| 110 | Milwaukee, WI | $96,050 | $77,850 | $105,000 | $99,080 |
| 111 | Boise City, ID | $95,990 | $75,340 | $106,160 | $97,560 |
| 112 | Dover, DE | $95,830 | $77,330 | $104,940 | $98,280 |
| 113 | Glens Falls, NY | $95,800 | $72,380 | $107,350 | $100,980 |
| 114 | Tucson, AZ | $95,800 | $70,300 | $108,350 | $98,870 |
| 115 | Winchester, VA-WV | $95,560 | $76,920 | $104,730 | $99,080 |
| 116 | Detroit, MI | $95,470 | $76,730 | $104,690 | $95,190 |
| 117 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $95,450 | $77,170 | $104,460 | $104,010 |
| 118 | Saginaw, MI | $95,450 | $77,210 | $104,440 | $105,020 |
| 119 | Flint, MI | $94,990 | $75,820 | $104,440 | $102,100 |
| 120 | Miami, FL | $94,990 | $73,590 | $105,520 | $83,210 |
| 121 | Pueblo, CO | $94,350 | $74,960 | $103,900 | $102,820 |
| 122 | Elkhart, IN | $94,120 | $69,970 | $106,020 | $104,200 |
| 123 | San Antonio, TX | $93,770 | $70,870 | $105,040 | $99,000 |
| 124 | Chambersburg, PA | $93,750 | $72,160 | $104,370 | $99,060 |
| 125 | Harrisburg, PA | $93,660 | $77,000 | $101,880 | $94,940 |
| 126 | Greeley, CO | $93,500 | $75,300 | $102,460 | $93,340 |
| 127 | Salt Lake City, UT | $93,450 | $73,760 | $103,170 | $92,650 |
| 128 | Lexington Park, MD | $93,430 | $75,610 | $102,210 | $92,730 |
| 129 | Racine, WI | $93,370 | $76,340 | $101,750 | $97,300 |
| 130 | York, PA | $93,310 | $76,810 | $101,440 | $97,200 |
| 131 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $93,250 | $73,940 | $102,730 | $95,790 |
| 132 | Oshkosh, WI | $93,200 | $76,900 | $101,230 | $100,290 |
| 133 | Portland, ME | $93,200 | $78,060 | $100,650 | $91,500 |
| 134 | Eau Claire, WI | $93,180 | $77,110 | $101,090 | $100,410 |
| 135 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $93,180 | $70,970 | $104,100 | $98,950 |
| 136 | Waco, TX | $93,140 | $72,400 | $103,380 | $100,640 |
| 137 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $93,040 | $73,090 | $102,880 | $102,060 |
| 138 | Sheboygan, WI | $93,000 | $76,920 | $100,920 | $98,920 |
| 139 | Fond du Lac, WI | $92,830 | $76,710 | $100,760 | $101,300 |
| 140 | Jefferson City, MO | $92,710 | $66,410 | $105,640 | $105,380 |
| 141 | Tampa, FL | $92,680 | $73,220 | $102,290 | $91,860 |
| 142 | Burlington, NC | $92,600 | $73,150 | $102,170 | $99,360 |
| 143 | Lancaster, PA | $92,370 | $75,920 | $100,480 | $94,010 |
| 144 | Nashville, TN | $92,350 | $72,950 | $101,900 | $95,860 |
| 145 | Rochester, NY | $92,250 | $77,040 | $99,740 | $95,070 |
| 146 | Greenville, NC | $92,160 | $71,300 | $102,440 | $104,250 |
| 147 | Yuma, AZ | $92,120 | $67,540 | $104,250 | $99,370 |
| 148 | Utica, NY | $92,100 | $70,950 | $102,540 | $99,380 |
| 149 | Rome, GA | $92,040 | $74,460 | $100,670 | $102,080 |
| 150 | Richmond, VA | $92,020 | $72,340 | $101,690 | $94,030 |
| 151 | Fayetteville, NC | $92,000 | $67,620 | $104,000 | $100,020 |
| 152 | Raleigh, NC | $91,890 | $72,760 | $101,320 | $93,620 |
| 153 | Cape Coral, FL | $91,830 | $75,380 | $99,920 | $89,720 |
| 154 | Charleston, SC | $91,710 | $73,320 | $100,780 | $90,840 |
| 155 | Cleveland, OH | $91,580 | $75,030 | $99,740 | $97,510 |
| 156 | Kankakee, IL | $91,560 | $71,070 | $101,630 | $94,990 |
| 157 | Augusta, GA-SC | $91,520 | $71,220 | $101,520 | $99,580 |
| 158 | Lewiston, ME | $91,480 | $76,400 | $98,900 | $96,560 |
| 159 | Winston, NC | $91,440 | $73,030 | $100,480 | $99,340 |
| 160 | Salisbury, MD | $91,370 | $73,550 | $100,150 | $95,560 |
| 161 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $91,270 | $72,400 | $100,570 | $96,990 |
| 162 | Janesville, WI | $91,190 | $75,570 | $98,900 | $97,320 |
| 163 | Green Bay, WI | $91,150 | $76,670 | $98,260 | $97,920 |
| 164 | Kalamazoo, MI | $91,100 | $70,600 | $101,190 | $96,060 |
| 165 | Billings, MT | $91,080 | $74,360 | $99,320 | $97,380 |
| 166 | Champaign, IL | $90,980 | $72,840 | $99,900 | $98,140 |
| 167 | Amarillo, TX | $90,920 | $69,530 | $101,440 | $99,020 |
| 168 | Omaha, NE-IA | $90,850 | $73,110 | $99,590 | $98,850 |
| 169 | Williamsport, PA | $90,600 | $72,400 | $99,570 | $98,110 |
| 170 | Evansville, IN | $90,520 | $68,100 | $101,570 | $98,900 |
| 171 | Appleton, WI | $90,480 | $73,920 | $98,650 | $97,900 |
| 172 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $90,460 | $73,920 | $98,610 | $90,250 |
| 173 | Greensboro, NC | $90,440 | $70,490 | $100,260 | $97,390 |
| 174 | Traverse City, MI | $90,400 | $75,300 | $97,840 | $96,820 |
| 175 | Charleston, WV | $90,330 | $58,470 | $106,040 | $101,820 |
| 176 | Midland, MI | $90,330 | $81,160 | $94,850 | $98,270 |
| 177 | Bangor, ME | $90,270 | $74,730 | $97,930 | $93,540 |
| 178 | Lansing, MI | $90,230 | $74,840 | $97,800 | $94,990 |
| 179 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $90,190 | $70,680 | $99,800 | $96,900 |
| 180 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $90,040 | $72,320 | $98,760 | $100,890 |
| 181 | Staunton, VA | $89,960 | $74,710 | $97,470 | $98,720 |
| 182 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $89,940 | $72,070 | $98,740 | $94,310 |
| 183 | Grand Rapids, MI | $89,920 | $75,690 | $96,910 | $94,110 |
| 184 | Kenosha, WI | $89,880 | $74,550 | $97,430 | $88,890 |
| 185 | Syracuse, NY | $89,860 | $70,870 | $99,200 | $93,860 |
| 186 | Missoula, MT | $89,770 | $74,590 | $97,260 | $93,080 |
| 187 | Twin Falls, ID | $89,650 | $74,670 | $97,030 | $97,330 |
| 188 | Indianapolis, IN | $89,630 | $72,720 | $97,970 | $93,660 |
| 189 | Lake Charles, LA | $89,560 | $64,980 | $101,670 | $104,320 |
| 190 | Macon, GA | $89,500 | $69,910 | $99,150 | $101,100 |
| 191 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $89,360 | $69,080 | $99,340 | $91,240 |
| 192 | Wausau, WI | $89,340 | $75,480 | $96,160 | $96,430 |
| 193 | Jacksonville, FL | $89,320 | $72,760 | $97,470 | $89,780 |
| 194 | Deltona, FL | $89,210 | $72,010 | $97,680 | $89,780 |
| 195 | Springfield, IL | $89,190 | $71,680 | $97,840 | $96,170 |
| 196 | Orlando, FL | $89,170 | $70,640 | $98,300 | $87,920 |
| 197 | Asheville, NC | $89,130 | $69,490 | $98,800 | $92,360 |
| 198 | Gettysburg, PA | $88,880 | $72,090 | $97,140 | $93,190 |
| 199 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,880 | $70,800 | $97,780 | $93,880 |
| 200 | Brunswick, GA | $88,860 | $72,470 | $96,950 | $101,310 |
| 201 | Shreveport, LA | $88,860 | $66,910 | $99,650 | $104,830 |
| 202 | Goldsboro, NC | $88,800 | $68,160 | $98,970 | $100,380 |
| 203 | Columbus, OH | $88,770 | $71,860 | $97,120 | $92,980 |
| 204 | Roanoke, VA | $88,750 | $70,050 | $97,970 | $94,800 |
| 205 | Dayton, OH | $88,710 | $73,400 | $96,260 | $95,700 |
| 206 | Topeka, KS | $88,670 | $71,760 | $96,990 | $99,830 |
| 207 | Provo, UT | $88,590 | $73,960 | $95,780 | $90,180 |
| 208 | Michigan City, IN | $88,460 | $72,260 | $96,450 | $96,490 |
| 209 | El Paso, TX | $88,420 | $65,520 | $99,690 | $98,340 |
| 210 | Las Cruces, NM | $88,360 | $68,740 | $98,010 | $97,950 |
| 211 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $88,320 | $69,010 | $97,800 | $92,880 |
| 212 | Lafayette, IN | $88,280 | $73,530 | $95,530 | $94,490 |
| 213 | Jacksonville, NC | $88,250 | $65,210 | $99,590 | $95,840 |
| 214 | St. George, UT | $88,230 | $70,740 | $96,840 | $90,660 |
| 215 | Athens, GA | $88,170 | $72,180 | $96,030 | $94,460 |
| 216 | Farmington, NM | $88,150 | $67,230 | $98,470 | $100,510 |
| 217 | College Station, TX | $88,090 | $68,540 | $97,720 | $96,850 |
| 218 | Columbia, SC | $88,030 | $70,140 | $96,840 | $93,990 |
| 219 | Gainesville, FL | $88,030 | $71,030 | $96,390 | $91,000 |
| 220 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $87,960 | $65,960 | $98,800 | $99,480 |
| 221 | Morgantown, WV | $87,920 | $63,040 | $100,190 | $94,210 |
| 222 | Ogden, UT | $87,920 | $71,590 | $95,970 | $87,610 |
| 223 | Wilmington, NC | $87,900 | $70,950 | $96,260 | $91,160 |
| 224 | Savannah, GA | $87,860 | $68,910 | $97,200 | $92,280 |
| 225 | Odessa, TX | $87,820 | $67,910 | $97,640 | $93,530 |
| 226 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $87,730 | $70,530 | $96,220 | $94,800 |
| 227 | Logan, UT-ID | $87,670 | $67,620 | $97,550 | $91,390 |
| 228 | Sebastian, FL | $87,670 | $72,110 | $95,330 | $89,180 |
| 229 | Kokomo, IN | $87,650 | $72,510 | $95,120 | $97,770 |
| 230 | Lubbock, TX | $87,650 | $68,640 | $97,030 | $95,980 |
| 231 | Scranton, PA | $87,570 | $69,660 | $96,370 | $93,600 |
| 232 | Sebring, FL | $87,570 | $68,620 | $96,910 | $94,700 |
| 233 | Rockford, IL | $87,550 | $69,680 | $96,370 | $95,000 |
| 234 | Decatur, IL | $87,530 | $72,510 | $94,930 | $98,990 |
| 235 | State College, PA | $87,480 | $72,920 | $94,660 | $90,410 |
| 236 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $87,380 | $69,780 | $96,050 | $94,790 |
| 237 | Tulsa, OK | $87,380 | $66,140 | $97,840 | $97,940 |
| 238 | Palm Bay, FL | $87,300 | $69,930 | $95,870 | $87,300 |
| 239 | North Port, FL | $87,050 | $68,100 | $96,390 | $85,000 |
| 240 | Erie, PA | $87,030 | $70,720 | $95,060 | $95,690 |
| 241 | Idaho Falls, ID | $86,960 | $69,160 | $95,740 | $92,110 |
| 242 | Sherman, TX | $86,860 | $72,070 | $94,140 | $92,630 |
| 243 | Lincoln, NE | $86,740 | $68,720 | $95,600 | $94,710 |
| 244 | Midland, TX | $86,630 | $67,200 | $96,200 | $90,440 |
| 245 | New Orleans, LA | $86,630 | $69,370 | $95,140 | $93,560 |
| 246 | Altoona, PA | $86,610 | $65,500 | $97,010 | $96,760 |
| 247 | Victoria, TX | $86,610 | $67,680 | $95,930 | $96,410 |
| 248 | Montgomery, AL | $86,590 | $59,950 | $99,720 | $96,550 |
| 249 | Toledo, OH | $86,590 | $70,660 | $94,450 | $94,680 |
| 250 | Peoria, IL | $86,570 | $69,910 | $94,760 | $94,890 |
| 251 | Wichita Falls, TX | $86,510 | $68,620 | $95,330 | $96,650 |
| 252 | Monroe, MI | $86,170 | $67,810 | $95,240 | $92,170 |
| 253 | Rocky Mount, NC | $86,170 | $64,960 | $96,620 | $97,910 |
| 254 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $86,150 | $63,560 | $97,280 | $100,080 |
| 255 | Brownsville, TX | $86,110 | $63,210 | $97,390 | $100,160 |
| 256 | Bloomington, IN | $86,090 | $73,920 | $92,080 | $90,540 |
| 257 | Oklahoma City, OK | $86,090 | $67,660 | $95,160 | $95,220 |
| 258 | Akron, OH | $86,070 | $70,800 | $93,580 | $92,180 |
| 259 | Lexington, KY | $86,050 | $68,000 | $94,950 | $92,640 |
| 260 | Fort Wayne, IN | $86,030 | $68,330 | $94,760 | $92,930 |
| 261 | Casper, WY | $86,010 | $70,800 | $93,500 | $91,670 |
| 262 | Beaumont, TX | $85,900 | $65,750 | $95,830 | $95,400 |
| 263 | Little Rock, AR | $85,900 | $65,040 | $96,160 | $96,120 |
| 264 | Iowa City, IA | $85,680 | $69,200 | $93,790 | $93,630 |
| 265 | Johnstown, PA | $85,650 | $69,310 | $93,680 | $99,680 |
| 266 | Lynchburg, VA | $85,400 | $71,140 | $92,410 | $95,570 |
| 267 | Mansfield, OH | $85,340 | $67,100 | $94,310 | $96,030 |
| 268 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $85,220 | $69,490 | $92,960 | $93,170 |
| 269 | Abilene, TX | $85,180 | $67,390 | $93,930 | $94,260 |
| 270 | Albany, GA | $85,130 | $68,330 | $93,390 | $97,100 |
| 271 | Columbia, MO | $85,110 | $65,540 | $94,760 | $95,160 |
| 272 | Canton, OH | $85,070 | $69,950 | $92,520 | $95,150 |
| 273 | Dalton, GA | $85,050 | $66,750 | $94,080 | $94,660 |
| 274 | Elmira, NY | $85,030 | $72,530 | $91,210 | $90,080 |
| 275 | Greenville, SC | $85,030 | $70,080 | $92,390 | $91,180 |
| 276 | Pinehurst, NC | $84,990 | $69,060 | $92,850 | $96,210 |
| 277 | Auburn, AL | $84,880 | $65,960 | $94,220 | $96,530 |
| 278 | Longview, TX | $84,880 | $64,670 | $94,850 | $94,850 |
| 279 | Fargo, ND-MN | $84,740 | $68,220 | $92,870 | $93,250 |
| 280 | Bloomington, IL | $84,700 | $66,190 | $93,810 | $90,550 |
| 281 | Lafayette, LA | $84,640 | $63,590 | $94,990 | $97,050 |
| 282 | Grand Island, NE | $84,590 | $65,350 | $94,080 | $97,610 |
| 283 | Hickory, NC | $84,510 | $69,240 | $92,040 | $95,510 |
| 284 | Sumter, SC | $84,470 | $68,100 | $92,540 | $95,970 |
| 285 | Gulfport, MS | $84,430 | $62,250 | $95,350 | $93,800 |
| 286 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $84,430 | $63,860 | $94,540 | $95,590 |
| 287 | Johnson City, TN | $84,360 | $64,020 | $94,370 | $95,940 |
| 288 | Lawton, OK | $84,340 | $66,660 | $93,040 | $98,140 |
| 289 | Warner Robins, GA | $84,160 | $65,480 | $93,350 | $89,730 |
| 290 | Blacksburg, VA | $84,090 | $67,770 | $92,120 | $90,700 |
| 291 | Rapid City, SD | $84,070 | $66,100 | $92,910 | $94,290 |
| 292 | Paducah, KY-IL | $84,050 | $67,410 | $92,250 | $97,640 |
| 293 | Baton Rouge, LA | $84,010 | $65,330 | $93,200 | $92,540 |
| 294 | San Angelo, TX | $84,010 | $64,020 | $93,830 | $90,870 |
| 295 | Spartanburg, SC | $84,010 | $67,890 | $91,960 | $92,270 |
| 296 | Crestview, FL | $83,970 | $66,060 | $92,790 | $86,540 |
| 297 | Corpus Christi, TX | $83,930 | $65,210 | $93,140 | $90,570 |
| 298 | Beckley, WV | $83,910 | $63,810 | $93,810 | $94,950 |
| 299 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $83,840 | $68,520 | $91,400 | $89,700 |
| 300 | Lawrence, KS | $83,840 | $69,740 | $90,770 | $92,900 |
| 301 | Punta Gorda, FL | $83,840 | $63,960 | $93,640 | $83,400 |
| 302 | Lakeland, FL | $83,680 | $66,930 | $91,920 | $86,140 |
| 303 | Bowling Green, KY | $83,660 | $66,500 | $92,100 | $92,770 |
| 304 | Hot Springs, AR | $83,450 | $61,900 | $94,060 | $97,340 |
| 305 | Muncie, IN | $83,430 | $66,000 | $92,020 | $94,650 |
| 306 | Elizabethtown, KY | $83,390 | $65,580 | $92,140 | $92,070 |
| 307 | Jackson, MS | $83,390 | $62,690 | $93,580 | $93,650 |
| 308 | Alexandria, LA | $83,370 | $64,110 | $92,850 | $97,300 |
| 309 | Terre Haute, IN | $83,370 | $68,850 | $90,520 | $94,960 |
| 310 | Fayetteville, AR | $83,300 | $65,170 | $92,230 | $91,180 |
| 311 | Hinesville, GA | $83,260 | $67,620 | $90,980 | $88,640 |
| 312 | Lima, OH | $82,910 | $66,600 | $90,920 | $92,460 |
| 313 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $82,870 | $66,910 | $90,730 | $88,500 |
| 314 | Wildwood, FL | $82,800 | $68,120 | $90,040 | $96,930 |
| 315 | Parkersburg, WV | $82,760 | $60,420 | $93,770 | $95,050 |
| 316 | Great Falls, MT | $82,680 | $68,600 | $89,610 | $85,370 |
| 317 | Pocatello, ID | $82,640 | $67,140 | $90,270 | $92,950 |
| 318 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $82,510 | $62,230 | $92,520 | $90,720 |
| 319 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $82,280 | $66,190 | $90,210 | $83,940 |
| 320 | Pensacola, FL | $82,280 | $68,330 | $89,150 | $84,200 |
| 321 | Sandusky, OH | $82,160 | $67,310 | $89,460 | $92,020 |
| 322 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $82,140 | $67,640 | $89,290 | $94,780 |
| 323 | Laredo, TX | $82,140 | $63,420 | $91,350 | $94,460 |
| 324 | Columbus, GA-AL | $82,120 | $63,630 | $91,230 | $91,960 |
| 325 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $82,040 | $65,890 | $90,000 | $94,970 |
| 326 | Slidell, LA | $82,040 | $67,660 | $89,110 | $88,480 |
| 327 | Jonesboro, AR | $81,950 | $65,810 | $89,900 | $95,430 |
| 328 | Hammond, LA | $81,910 | $67,290 | $89,110 | $96,980 |
| 329 | Des Moines, IA | $81,720 | $66,290 | $89,320 | $89,120 |
| 330 | Bismarck, ND | $81,640 | $67,310 | $88,690 | $89,690 |
| 331 | Columbus, IN | $81,160 | $67,390 | $87,920 | $87,270 |
| 332 | Springfield, MO | $81,080 | $65,190 | $88,920 | $91,530 |
| 333 | Tyler, TX | $81,080 | $61,630 | $90,650 | $87,980 |
| 334 | Springfield, OH | $80,970 | $66,120 | $88,300 | $89,490 |
| 335 | McAllen, TX | $80,950 | $63,460 | $89,560 | $94,240 |
| 336 | Ocala, FL | $80,750 | $64,900 | $88,570 | $84,790 |
| 337 | Tallahassee, FL | $80,560 | $63,500 | $88,960 | $85,780 |
| 338 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $80,250 | $64,330 | $88,090 | $92,830 |
| 339 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $80,160 | $62,980 | $88,630 | $90,100 |
| 340 | Youngstown, OH | $80,020 | $65,830 | $86,990 | $91,560 |
| 341 | Minot, ND | $79,500 | $64,710 | $86,780 | $91,350 |
| 342 | Panama City, FL | $79,160 | $61,400 | $87,940 | $81,360 |
| 343 | Eagle Pass, TX | $79,140 | $58,430 | $89,360 | $94,430 |
| 344 | Dubuque, IA | $79,120 | $66,770 | $85,200 | $90,600 |
| 345 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $79,120 | $59,380 | $88,860 | $94,180 |
| 346 | Manhattan, KS | $79,100 | $63,770 | $86,650 | $87,730 |
| 347 | Birmingham, AL | $78,940 | $61,860 | $87,360 | $86,140 |
| 348 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $78,830 | $58,050 | $89,090 | $89,860 |
| 349 | Mobile, AL | $78,810 | $62,340 | $86,900 | $89,460 |
| 350 | Davenport, IA-IL | $78,790 | $63,340 | $86,400 | $88,450 |
| 351 | Monroe, LA | $78,600 | $61,420 | $87,070 | $94,020 |
| 352 | Knoxville, TN | $78,420 | $62,230 | $86,380 | $84,720 |
| 353 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $77,980 | $59,760 | $86,940 | $90,790 |
| 354 | Valdosta, GA | $77,960 | $62,820 | $85,430 | $88,320 |
| 355 | Weirton, WV-OH | $77,920 | $64,000 | $84,760 | $87,530 |
| 356 | Wichita, KS | $77,790 | $61,010 | $86,070 | $87,460 |
| 357 | Ames, IA | $76,900 | $63,880 | $83,320 | $86,570 |
| 358 | Joplin, MO-KS | $76,810 | $61,190 | $84,530 | $89,610 |
| 359 | Enid, OK | $76,560 | $57,530 | $85,950 | $90,850 |
| 360 | Waterloo, IA | $76,500 | $61,590 | $83,870 | $87,870 |
| 361 | Daphne, AL | $76,440 | $61,170 | $83,970 | $80,730 |
| 362 | Jackson, TN | $76,230 | $59,160 | $84,640 | $89,130 |
| 363 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $75,840 | $62,300 | $82,510 | $87,720 |
| 364 | Morristown, TN | $75,800 | $60,940 | $83,120 | $87,770 |
| 365 | Houma, LA | $75,670 | $57,370 | $84,700 | $88,920 |
| 366 | Huntsville, AL | $75,210 | $57,050 | $84,160 | $80,810 |
| 367 | Gadsden, AL | $75,170 | $58,640 | $83,320 | $87,760 |
| 368 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $74,710 | $57,970 | $82,950 | $82,430 |
| 369 | Hattiesburg, MS | $74,300 | $61,070 | $80,810 | $84,790 |
| 370 | Anniston, AL | $73,070 | $55,720 | $81,620 | $85,020 |
| 371 | Cleveland, TN | $71,990 | $61,010 | $77,400 | $81,730 |
| 372 | Florence, AL | $71,430 | $57,160 | $78,460 | $84,220 |
| 373 | Decatur, AL | $70,530 | $54,480 | $78,440 | $80,870 |
| 374 | Dothan, AL | $70,530 | $55,490 | $77,960 | $84,130 |
| 375 | San Juan, PR | $47,800 | $36,380 | $53,410 | N/A |
| 376 | Mayaguez, PR | $44,700 | $34,340 | $49,800 | N/A |
| 377 | Ponce, PR | $42,040 | $35,730 | $45,140 | N/A |
| 378 | Guayama, PR | $41,180 | $36,320 | $43,580 | N/A |
| 379 | Aguadilla, PR | $39,870 | $31,010 | $44,240 | N/A |
| 380 | Arecibo, PR | $39,620 | $29,470 | $44,640 | N/A |
More
More on registered nurses
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Registered Nurse salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays registered nurses the most?
San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $194,960 a year, followed by Vallejo, CA ($182,810), San Francisco, CA ($176,900), Santa Rosa, CA ($170,000). The national mean is $101,420 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do registered nurses earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($176,560 at national prices, $194,960 nominal), Vallejo, CA ($168,520 at national prices, $182,810 nominal), Santa Rosa, CA ($157,720 at national prices, $170,000 nominal).
How much do registered nurses make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $119,600; Los Angeles, CA: $140,360; Chicago, IL-IN: $97,930; Dallas, TX: $100,820; Houston, TX: $100,280 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do registered nurses earn the least?
Of the 380 metro areas with their own estimate, Arecibo, PR has the lowest mean wage, $39,620.