Registered Nurse Salary (United States)

Registered nurses in the United States typically earn around 85,000 to 95,000 dollars per year, with entry pay near 65,000 and experienced roles above 110,000.

Overview

These are indicative figures drawn from federal wage statistics, and pay varies widely by state and setting. The median sits in the high 80 thousands, with California pay well above the national figure and southern states below it. Entry requires an associate or bachelor degree plus the national licensing exam, and hospitals increasingly prefer the BSN. Specialties shift pay: critical care, operating room and emergency roles pay more, and travel nursing contracts can spike during shortages. Outlook is strong, with aging demographics driving demand faster than most occupations. Unions in some West Coast systems have won some of the highest nursing wages in the country.