Registered Nurses (RNs) play a crucial role in the healthcare system, providing vital care and support to patients across the United States. One key aspect that often piques interest is the hourly wages RNs earn in different states. Understanding the variations in RN hourly wages can provide valuable insights into the cost of living and the overall compensation for these essential healthcare professionals.
Below are the mean hourly wages for Registered Nurses in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., adjusted for cost of living. Becker's Hospital Review calculated these figures using May 2023 salary data from BLS and 2024 cost of living index data from the World Population Review.
|
State |
RN hourly mean wage |
Cost of living index |
RN hourly mean wage, adjusted by cost of living |
|
California |
$66.20 |
134.5 |
$49.22 |
|
Minnesota |
$45.59 |
94.1 |
$48.45 |
|
Georgia |
$43.27 |
91 |
$47.55 |
|
Oregon |
$54.54 |
115.1 |
$47.38 |
|
New Mexico |
$44.30 |
94.2 |
$47.03 |
|
Texas |
$43.37 |
93 |
$46.63 |
|
Illinois |
$42.14 |
90.8 |
$46.41 |
|
Washington |
$53.38 |
115.1 |
$46.38 |
|
Nevada |
$46.97 |
101.3 |
$46.37 |
|
Oklahoma |
$39.48 |
86 |
$45.91 |
|
Michigan |
$41.45 |
92.7 |
$44.71 |
|
Delaware |
$45.51 |
102.6 |
$44.36 |
|
Wisconsin |
$41.93 |
95 |
$44.14 |
|
Wyoming |
$40.38 |
92.8 |
$43.51 |
|
Indiana |
$39.76 |
91.5 |
$43.45 |
|
Connecticut |
$48.96 |
113.1 |
$43.29 |
|
Ohio |
$40.59 |
94 |
$43.18 |
|
New Jersey |
$49.02 |
114.1 |
$42.96 |
|
Nebraska |
$38.36 |
90.1 |
$42.57 |
|
Mississippi |
$36.30 |
85.3 |
$42.56 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$42.08 |
99 |
$42.51 |
|
Alaska |
$52.51 |
124.4 |
$42.21 |
|
Louisiana |
$38.83 |
92 |
$42.21 |
|
Missouri |
$37.30 |
88.4 |
$42.19 |
|
Kentucky |
$39.31 |
93.8 |
$41.91 |
|
Colorado |
$44.10 |
105.5 |
$41.80 |
|
Kansas |
$36.65 |
87.7 |
$41.79 |
|
Tennessee |
$37.61 |
90.4 |
$41.60 |
|
Rhode Island |
$45.71 |
110.5 |
$41.37 |
|
North Carolina |
$39.68 |
96.1 |
$41.29 |
|
Virginia |
$42.48 |
103.1 |
$41.20 |
|
Arizona |
$43.96 |
107.2 |
$41.01 |
|
New York |
$51.26 |
125.1 |
$40.98 |
|
South Carolina |
$39.13 |
96.5 |
$40.55 |
|
West Virginia |
$36.53 |
90.3 |
$40.45 |
|
North Dakota |
$38.07 |
94.6 |
$40.24 |
|
Iowa |
$35.87 |
89.7 |
$39.99 |
|
Florida |
$40.75 |
102.3 |
$39.83 |
|
Utah |
$39.95 |
101.5 |
$39.36 |
|
Arkansas |
$35.05 |
90.3 |
$38.82 |
|
Alabama |
$34.31 |
88.8 |
$38.64 |
|
Montana |
$39.88 |
103.7 |
$38.46 |
|
Idaho |
$39.95 |
106.1 |
$37.65 |
|
New Hampshire |
$42.98 |
115 |
$37.37 |
|
Maryland |
$44.27 |
119.5 |
$37.05 |
|
Vermont |
$42.49 |
114.9 |
$36.98 |
|
Maine |
$40.55 |
111.5 |
$36.37 |
|
South Dakota |
$33.19 |
93.8 |
$35.38 |
|
Massachusetts |
$52.33 |
148.4 |
$35.26 |
|
District of Columbia |
$51.37 |
148.7 |
$34.55 |
|
Hawaii |
$57.55 |
179 |
$32.15 |
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS)