How Much Does a Nurse Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$97,550
Nurses in the U.S. earn a median of $97,550 a year, or $46.90 an hour. Half of nurses earn more than $97,550 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $137,470.
Pay percentiles for nurses
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33.14 | $68,940 |
| 25th | $38.62 | $80,330 |
| 50th (median) | $46.90 | $97,550 |
| 75th | $54.02 | $112,350 |
| 90th | $66.09 | $137,470 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for nurses
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $140,270 | $67.44 | +44% |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | $65.54 | +40% |
| Oregon | $129,010 | $62.02 | +32% |
| Washington | $124,200 | $59.71 | +27% |
| Alaska | $109,480 | $52.64 | +12% |
| New York | $109,440 | $52.62 | +12% |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | $51.20 | +9% |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | $50.27 | +7% |
| Nevada | $103,670 | $49.84 | +6% |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | $49.39 | +5% |
| United States | $97,550 | $46.90 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many nurses are there?
BLS counts about 3,379,720 nurses employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Registered Nurses”. The most jobs are in California (338,940), Texas (271,380) and Florida (229,940).
The mean (average) annual wage is $101,420, higher than the median of $97,550.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $8,129
- Biweekly
- $3,752
- Weekly
- $1,876
- Daily (8 hours)
- $375
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do nurses make an hour?
The median hourly wage for nurses is $46.90. The middle 50% earn between $38.62 and $54.02 an hour.
Which state pays nurses the most?
California has the highest median wage for nurses at $140,270, +44% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for nurses?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of nurses earn less than $68,940 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.