Nurse salary

What you can earn as a nurse depends on your education, experience, role, industry, and location. Your nursing career may begin as a certified nurse assistant or registered nurse, or perhaps you’ve earned a master’s in nursing and plan to become a nurse practitioner.

Whatever your chosen pathway, it could be beneficial to research what the average salary is for your career in your state of practice.

Simmons University

School of Nursing

info

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Earn an MSN online from Simmons University. Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP — and prepare to raise the standard of patient care.

  • Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP
  • Complete in as few as 24 months
  • Full-time and part-time tracks available

Georgetown University

School of Nursing

info

Master of Science in Nursing

Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 23 months. 

  • Earn your MS in Nursing in as few as 23 months
  • Choose from one of four APRN specialty areas: AG-ACNP, FNP, NM/WHNP, or WHNP
  • Gain hands-on clinical experience in evidence-based practice

St. John Fisher University

Wegmans School of Nursing

info

Master of Science in Nursing

Earn an M.S. in Nursing online at the Wegmans School of Nursing. Bachelor’s in nursing and RN license-required. 

  • Part-time and accelerated tracks available
  • Four program options: PCFNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP

infoSPONSORED

Nationally, the 2024 annual median wage for select nursing careers was as follows (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics):

Nursing career2024 annual median wage
Nursing career
2024 annual median wage
Nursing assistants and orderlies
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (LPN/LVN)
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
Registered nurses (RN)
Nurse practitioners (NP)
Nurse midwives
Nurse anesthetists

Annual mean wages for the above nursing careers were retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2024 National Occupational Employment and Wages Estimates.

Mean nursing salary by state

StateNursing assistantsLPN/LVNsRNsNurse practitionersNurse midwivesNurse anesthetistsNursing instructors / teachers, postsecondary
Alabama
$32,470
$50,100
$71,040
$106,930
N/A
$179,160
$77,270
Alaska
$45,840
$77,670
$110,690
$145,450
$130,030
N/A
$92,050
Arizona
$41,980
$74,020
$96,890
$133,790
$135,590
$228,690
$68,360
Arkansas
$31,990
$51,030
$77,130
$113,660
N/A
$134,230
$64,330
California
$46,420
$77,170
$40,330
$166,610
$196,700
N/A
$99,010
Colorado
$44,950
$67,480
$96,520
$129,750
$132,670
$207,120
$80,440
Connecticut
$44,500
$69,130
$101,590
$138,960
$124,530
$227,530
$81,490
Delaware
$39,240
$66,090
$92,610
$127,810
$99,060
$236,800
$83,420
District of Columbia
$46,860
$70,420
$104,550
$131,380
$106,580
N/A
$103,780
Florida
$36,850
$60,080
$82,850
$129,010
$115,440
$197,940
$83,940
Georgia
$36,570
$58,490
$86,560
$126,060
$125,830
$221,190
$75,950
Guam
$32,970
$36,15041,810
N/A
$105,060
N/A
N/A
N/A
Hawaii
$44,830
$65,560
$136,320
$130,940
N/A
N/A
$102,180
Idaho
$37,530
$61,720
$86,100
$128,940
$89,870
N/A
$75,420
Illinois
$44,750
$66,030
$86,410
$128,620
$114,420
N/A
$78,870
Indiana
$37,330
$63,690
$80,740
$128,280
$129,010
$233,200
$77,270
Iowa
$38,630
$59,460
$76,960
$129,420
$136,450
$229,950
$71,910
Kansas
$36,910
$59,920
$78,060
$124,690
N/A
$82,770
$70,960
Kentucky
$37,330
$58,450
$79,910
$113,870
N/A
$212,430
$74,850
Louisiana
$30,240
$53,930
$78,880
$125,980
$95,420
$225,440
$72,990
Maine
$45,640
$70,870
$82,860
$125,040
$132,920
$229,900
$78,770
Maryland
$40,000
$69,870
$96,830
$125,530
$129,910
$167,740
$80,990
Massachusetts
$45,410
$76,560
$101,970
$138,890
$155,710
N/A
$80,140
Michigan
$38,900
$63,810
$85,670
$125,620
$116,810
$234,520
$80,740
Minnesota
$45,580
$60,870
$100,870
$128,570
$127,180
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$78,110
Mississippi
$30,460
$48,850
$74,470
$119,290
N/A
$197,490
$84,800
Missouri
$37,170
$59,030
$79,770
$126,370
$134,970
$221,550
$74,000
Montana
$39,300
$59,750
$81,560
$133,640
N/A
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$84,550
Nebraska
$38,620
$60,740
$81,020
$127,930
$133,890
$231,020
$79,120
Nevada
$45,060
$73,820
$101,990
Estimate not released
N/A
N/A
$84,660
New Hampshire
$46,050
$74,660
$96,830
$132,440
$135,860
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$81,260
New Jersey
$44,910
$71,180
$102,730
$149,620
$135,680
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$102,090
New Mexico
$37,030
$60,760
$88,260
$138,440
$118,650
$214,810
$77,850
New York
$47,390
$64,030
$105,600
$145,390
$137,860
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$93,640
North Carolina
$37,670
$61,380
$81,860
$125,020
$121,490
$226,460
$78,740
North Dakota
$44,190
$60,820
$78,260
$123,220
N/A
$232,420
$83,130
Ohio
$38,570
$60,990
$81,250
$126,740
$121,720
$216,350
$74,570
Oklahoma
$35,040
$55,870
$81,160
$126,670
N/A
$151,470
$65,100
Oregon
$48,390
$76,570
$123,990
$144,600
$123,080
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$101,640
Pennsylvania
$41,110
$62,010
$87,610
$127,400
$107,740
$217,670
$79,920
Puerto Rico
$20,470
$24,920
$37,780
N/A
N/A
$61,170
$73,500
Rhode Island
$44,160
$77,940
$99,960
$130,710
$127,480
$131,390
$74,720
South Carolina
$36,370
$59,050
$79,900
$116,240
$118,100
$225,800
$79,900
South Dakota
$38,070
$49,170
$69,510
$122,600
N/A
$223,650
$63,940
Tennessee
$36,750
$54,530
$79,030
$108,420
$97,380
$203,400
$76,620
Texas
$36,390
$60,150
$90,010
$129,880
$111,190
$227,580
$97,610
Utah
$38,500
$61,710
$82,270
$125,700
$138,020
$122,040
$75,380
Vermont
$43,610
$64,560
$85,150
$129,740
$140,240
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$78,800
Virgin Islands
$41,090
$56,670
$73,890
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Virginia
$38,790
$62,310
$81,8608,820
$124,210
$139,770
$199,960
$78,850
Washington
$48,260
$79,700
$112,180
$140,220
$145,000
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$78,000
West Virginia
$36,340
$49,850
$79,990
$121,640
N/A
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$75,550
Wisconsin
$43,250
$61,040
$86,070
$128,480
$135,360
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$79,810
Wyoming
$38,360
$61,880
$81,790
$127,750
N/A
$181,470
$75,280

Information on state by state nursing career mean salaries was retrieved from the May 2024 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.

The program cards featured on this page were last updated in October 2025. For the most current program information, please refer to the official website of the respective school.  

Sponsored online nursing programs

Simmons University

info

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Earn an MSN online from Simmons University. Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP — and prepare to raise the standard of patient care.

  • Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP
  • Complete in as few as 24 months
  • Full-time and part-time tracks available

Georgetown University

info

Master of Science in Nursing

Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 23 months. 

  • Earn your MS in Nursing in as few as 23 months
  • Choose from one of four APRN specialty areas: AG-ACNP, FNP, NM/WHNP, or WHNP
  • Gain hands-on clinical experience in evidence-based practice

St. John Fisher University

info

Master of Science in Nursing

Earn an M.S. in Nursing online at the Wegmans School of Nursing. Bachelor’s in nursing and RN license-required. 

  • Part-time and accelerated tracks available
  • Four program options: PCFNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP

info SPONSORED

Highest nursing salaries

Some nursing careers command higher salaries in certain states. Moreover, nurses may earn higher salaries in metropolitan areas. These variations could depend on the need for nurses, funding, type of employment, and the employee’s education level.

Highest-paying states for nursing assistants

Information for the tables below on the highest-paying states and metro areas for nursing assistants was retrieved from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for nursing assistants.

State2024 annual mean wage
Oregon
$49,970
Washington
$49,960
California
$48,790
Alaska
$48,550
New York
$47,530
Metropolitan area2024 annual mean wage
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$58,190
San Francisco-Oaklant-Fremont, CA
$57,400
Seattle-Tacome-Bellevue, WA
$52,500
Alaska metropolitan area
$51,390
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
$50,580

Highest-paying states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Information for the tables below on the highest-paying states and metro areas for LPN and LVN careers was retrieved from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.

State2024 annual mean wage
Washington
$79,970
California
$79,090
Oregon
$78,160
Alaska
$77,850
Rhode Island
$77,240
Metropolitan area2024 annual mean wage
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$91,650
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$90,610
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$87,210
Napa, CA
$86,470
Vallejo, CA
$84,540

Highest-paying states for registered nurses

Information for the tables below on the highest-paying states and metro areas for registered nurses was retrieved from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wages Estimates for registered nurses.

State2024 annual mean wage
California
$148,330
Hawaii
$123,720
Oregon
$120,470
Washington
$115,740
Massachusetts
$112,610
Metropolitan area2024 annual mean wage
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$189,880
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$178,450
Vallejo, CA
$175,620
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$171,490
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$163,020

Highest-paying states for nurse practitioners

Information for the tables below on the highest-paying states and metro areas for nurse practitioners was retrieved from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for nurse practitioners.

State2024 annual mean wage
California
$173,190
New York
$148,410
Oregon
$148,030
Massachusetts
$145,140
Washington
$143,620
Metropolitan area2024 annual mean wage
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$223,530
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$208,480
Napa, CA
$202,690
Vallejo, CA
$184,590
Monroe, MI
$179,250

Highest-paying states for nurse midwives

Information for the tables below on the highest-paying states and metro areas for nurse-midwives was retrieved from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for nurse midwives.

State2024 annual mean wage
California
$179,630
Arizona
$174,870
Massachusetts
$165,820
Washington
$149,980
Iowa
$149,040
Metropolitan area2024 annual mean wage
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$190,340
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$188,930
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$186,420
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$162,580
Springfield, MA
$158,600

Highest-paying states for nurse anesthetists

Information for the tables below on the highest-paying states and metro areas for nurse anesthetists was retrieved from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for nurse anesthetists. Data is shown only for places where exact figures were available.

State2024 annual mean wage
Massachusetts
$292,390
Washington
$276,110
Vermont
$272,180
Alaska
$268,970
New Jersey
$268,310
Metropolitan area2024 annual mean wage
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
$320,630
Western Washington metropolitan area
$302,020
Morgantown, WV
$301,980
Springfield, MA
$297,460
South Illinois metropolitan area
$295,560

Nursing schedule, location, and career paths

  • Nurses often have the option to choose shifts of varying lengths and at different times of day.
  • Nurses may work in hospitals, schools, homes, or other healthcare facilities.
  • Nurses may enter a variety of healthcare industries and pursue a wide range of specialties, some of which offer higher wages and improved benefits.

Nursing job opportunities

Nursing benefits

  • Various professional organizations exist for all nurses and for each nursing specialty. These groups offer increased benefits and resources in exchange for annual membership fees.

Information last updated: October 2025