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.

Nationally, the 2022 annual mean wage for select nursing careers was as follows:

Nursing career2022 annual mean wage
Nursing assistants
$36,220
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (LPN/LVN)
$55,860
Registered nurses (RN)
$89,010
Nurse practitioners (NP)
$124,680
Nurse midwives
$122,450
Nurse anesthetists
$205,770
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
$84,180

Annual mean wages for the above nursing careers were retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wages Estimates.

Mean nursing salary by state

StateNursing assistantsLPN/LVNsRNsNurse practitionersNurse midwivesNurse anesthetistsNursing instructors/teachers, postsecondary
Alabama
$28,550
$45,260
$66,910
$106,610
N/A
$191,200
$81,530
Alaska
$44,420
$66,710
$103,310
$116,390
$115,060
N/A
$85,780
Arizona
$37,620
$61,920
$86,740
$121,410
$108,190
$179,730
$79,780
Arkansas
$29,970
$45,990
$66,530
$107,110
N/A
N/A
$60,890
California
$43,570
$69,930
$133,340
$158,130
$169,530
$246,510
$104,150
Colorado
$39,050
$60,310
$86,590
$116,440
$113,950
$185,860
$78,480
Connecticut
$38,280
$62,620
$94,260
$131,490
$112,960
$240,580
$99,850
Delaware
$36,670
$57,360
$85,020
$120,570
$109,180
$198,070
$85,790
Florida
$33,390
$53,780
$79,910
$110,310
$97,690
$174,390
$80,160
Georgia
$32,850
$50,830
$85,180
$115,440
$122,990
$190,800
$67,230
Guam
$30,590
$41,810
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Hawaii
$39,870
$55,730
$113,220
$128,310
$156,020
N/A
$70,500
Idaho
$35,560
$54,710
$78,610
$117,720
$59,080
$181,110
$73,320
Illinois
$36,750
$58,840
$82,220
$122,310
$123,200
$238,440
$76,620
Indiana
$34,250
$55,850
$75,580
$121,730
$113,900
$220,020
$87,740
Iowa
$35,120
$51,400
$69,370
$128,180
$102,460
$211,010
$76,030
Kansas
$33,490
51,700
$71,990
$111,670
N/A
$169,410
$70,770
Kentucky
$32,180
$49,570
$77,620
$109,290
N/A
$235,260
$73,980
Louisiana
$28,190
$47,430
$75,920
$118,210
$119,520
$179,140
$81,430
Maine
$38,170
$55,830
$77,410
$118,300
$134,440
$214,930
$73,680
Maryland
$37,180
$60,180
$87,990
$119,650
$120,170
$182,710
$80,990
Massachusetts
$41,390
$68,170
$104,150
$138,700
$143,870
$204,690
$106,690
Michigan
$35,960
$57,180
$80,660
$113,780
$118,420
$199,690
$77,020
Minnesota
$42,480
$54,870
$88,860
$128,160
$116,780
$222,540
$77,040
Mississippi
$27,140
$45,020
$67,930
$117,260
N/A
$184,390
$68,380
Missouri
$32,760
$49,500
$71,860
$113,180
$107,660
$205,190
$70,770
Montana
$37,710
$52,420
$78,350
$119,960
N/A
$203,430
$81,940
Nebraska
$35,020
$52,080
$73,510
$118,970
N/A
$225,590
$73,270
Nevada
$41,110
$63,910
$96,310
$136,230
N/A
N/A
$105,610
New Hampshire
$39,050
$63,550
$83,420
$125,780
$115,490
$215,970
$81,070
New Jersey
$39,480
$61,990
$96,670
$143,250
$119,760
$232,630
$95,010
New Mexico
$34,090
$59,400
$85,580
$129,560
$112,600
$215,240
$73,800
New York
$43,450
$57,560
$100,130
N/A
$129,610
$238,710
$100,200
North Carolina
$31,780
$53,010
$77,420
$114,450
$113,890
$214,740
$71,700
North Dakota
$38,200
$53,080
$75,000
$113,940
N/A
Equal to or greater than $239,200
$74,050
Ohio
$34,110
$52,330
$78,450
$117,440
$124,560
$197,630
$82,840
Oklahoma
$30,210
$48,090
$76,920
$121,740
N/A
$168,470
$63,640
Oregon
$42,960
$66,190
$106,610
$136,250
$136,150
$205,920
$93,270
Pennsylvania
$36,400
$54,520
$80,630
$120,550
$113,580
$203,620
$88,690
Puerto Rico
$23,700
$26,170
$37,360
N/A
N/A
$63,570
$38,590
Rhode Island
$39,490
$66,770
$88,250
$125,250
$120,120
N/A
$87,940
South Carolina
$32,490
$51,060
$74,330
$109,130
$88,680
$195,840
$77,590
South Dakota
$32,330
$46,000
$64,500
$115,610
N/A
$223,200
$66,680
Tennessee
$31,600
$46,540
$72,480
$99,330
$97,920
$174,170
$78,850
Texas
$32,150
$52,850
$84,320
$124,660
$93,280
$208,940
$81,270
Utah
$33,380
$55,790
$76,400
$115,610
N/A
N/A
$83,090
Vermont
$37,280
$57,150
$79,990
$116,610
N/A
$228,710
N/A
Virgin Islands
$38,170
$48,380
$69,200
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Virginia
$33,070
$52,790
$81,860
$116,980
$106,790
$215,530
$80,780
Washington
$42,430
$69,950
$101,670
$135,590
$135,780
$222,610
$81,940
District of Columbia
$43,820
$62,010
$98,230
$131,270
$96,320
N/A
$101,680
West Virginia
$32,470
$45,530
$72,230
$106,790
$165,780
$229,430
$75,200
Wisconsin
$36,750
$52,610
$81,000
$121,210
$118,430
$230,270
$81,930
Wyoming
$35,720
$54,880
$81,010
$115,230
N/A
$205,270
$63,550

Information on state by state nursing career mean salaries was retrieved from the May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.

The program cards featured on this page were last updated in February 2021. For the most current program information, please refer to the official website of the respective school.  

Sponsored online nursing programs

Simmons University

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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

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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
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St. John Fisher University

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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

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Highest nursing salaries

Some nursing careers command a higher salary in specific states. Moreover, nurses may earn higher salaries in metropolitan areas. These variations could be dependent on need for nurses, funding, type of employment, and education level of the employee.

Highest-paying states for nursing assistants

Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for nursing assistants was retrieved from the May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for nursing assistants.

State2022 annual mean wage
1. Alaska
$44,420
2. District of Columbia
$43,820
3. California
$43,570
4. New York
$43,450
5. Oregon
$42,960
Metropolitan area2022 annual mean wage
1. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
$52,280
2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$45,100
3. Minneapolis-St.Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
$51,600
4. Salem, OR
$44,900
5. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
$44,720

Highest-paying states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for LPN and LVN careers was retrieved from the May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.

State2022 annual mean wage
1. Washington
$69,960
2. California
$69,930
3. Massachusetts
$68,170
4. Rhode Island
$66,770
5. Alaska
$66,710
Metropolitan area2022 annual mean wage
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$80,590
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
$80,470
3. Santa Rosa, CA
$76,710
4. Napa, CA
$76,370
5. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
$76,240

Highest-paying states for registered nurses

Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for registered nurses was retrieved from the May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wages Estimates for registered nurses.

State2022 annual mean wage
1. California
$133,340
2. Hawaii
$113,220
3. Oregon
$106,610
4. Massachusetts
$104,150
5. Alaska
$103,310
Metropolitan area2022 annual mean wage
1. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
$164,760
2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$160,020
3. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
$158,340
4. Santa Rosa, CA
$151,150
5.  Santa Cruz-Watsonville
$149,750

Highest-paying states for nurse practitioners

Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for nurse practitioners was retrieved from the May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for nurse practitioners.

State2022 annual mean wage
1. California
$158,130
2. New Jersey
$143,250
3. Massachusetts
$138,700
4. Oregon
$136,250
5. Nevada
$136,230
Metropolitan area2022 annual mean wage
1.   San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$199,630
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
$190,070
3. Napa, CA
$189,190
4. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
$180,990
5. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
$170,320

Highest-paying states for nurse midwives

Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for nurse-midwives was retrieved from the May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for nurse midwives.

State2022 annual mean wage
1. California
$169,530
2. West Virginia
$165,780
3. Hawaii
$156,020
4. Massachusetts
$143,870
5. Oregon
$136,150
Metropolitan area2022 annual mean wage
1. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
$191,470
2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$184,180
3.  Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA
$182,440
4. Charleston, WV
$180,890
5.  Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$169,190

Highest-paying states for nurse anesthetists

Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for nurse anesthetists was retrieved from the May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for nurse anesthetists. Data is only shown for places where there were exact figures available.

State2022 annual mean wage
1. California
$246,510
2. Connecticut
$240,580
3. New York
$238,710
4. Illinois
$238,440
5. Kentucky
$235,260
Metropolitan area2022 annual mean wage
1. Carbondale-Marion, IL
$321,730
2. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT
$278,790
3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$268,850
4. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$260,500

Nursing schedule, location, and career paths

  • Nurses are often able to choose between shifts of varying lengths and at different points in the day.
  • Nurses may work in hospitals, schools, homes, or other healthcare facilities.
  • Nurses may enter a number of healthcare industries and may pursue a wide variety of specialties, some of which come with higher wages and improved benefits.

Nursing job opportunities

Nursing benefits

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

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

Last updated November 2023.