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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The gap between the highest and lowest-paying cities is striking. The national median salary for Registered Nurses in 2026 is $95,149, with entry-level positions averaging $55,186 and senior roles reaching $142,723. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $173,840, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Healthcare within the broader Healthcare industry, Registered Nurses typically hold BSN or associate's. The employment landscape is shaped by very high demand, and the day-to-day is clinical shift-based. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$105,780 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Registered Nurse in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $173,840 — $105,780 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($68,060). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The three-tier salary picture for Registered Nurses in 2026: $55,186 at entry (P10), $95,149 at midpoint, and $142,723 at the senior end (P90). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The $87,537 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $14,782 above the national median household income of $80,367.
State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $162,360 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $68,607. That $93,753 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Registered Nurse in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $173,840 — $105,780 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($68,060). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Registered Nurse is $55,186, while senior-level (P90) earners average $142,723. That $87,537 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Registered Nurses pull in an average of $142,723. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Registered Nurses average $55,186 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $55,186 | $95,149 | $142,723 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £36,950 | £51,320 | £72,874 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$58,144 | CA$80,756 | CA$114,674 |
| Australia | 13 | A$67,667 | A$93,982 | A$133,455 |
| Sweden | 24 | 390,530 kr | 542,403 kr | 770,212 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $66,810 | $115,190 | $172,785 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $64,563 | $111,315 | $166,973 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $64,206 | $110,700 | $166,050 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $59,450 | $102,500 | $153,750 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $58,737 | $101,270 | $151,905 |
| Washington | 8 | $57,607 | $99,323 | $148,984 |
| New York | 5 | $54,219 | $93,480 | $140,220 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $54,218 | $93,480 | $140,220 |
| Florida | 22 | $53,808 | $92,772 | $139,158 |
| Colorado | 11 | $52,878 | $91,169 | $136,754 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $52,792 | $91,020 | $136,530 |
| Nevada | 5 | $52,697 | $90,856 | $136,284 |
| Arizona | 12 | $52,435 | $90,405 | $135,608 |
| Oregon | 5 | $52,316 | $90,200 | $135,300 |
| Idaho | 3 | $52,157 | $89,927 | $134,890 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $51,745 | $89,216 | $133,824 |
| Utah | 4 | $51,603 | $88,970 | $133,455 |
| Virginia | 7 | $50,753 | $87,506 | $131,259 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $50,097 | $86,373 | $129,560 |
| Alaska | 1 | $49,938 | $86,100 | $129,150 |
| Illinois | 5 | $49,367 | $85,116 | $127,674 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $48,141 | $83,002 | $124,503 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $47,560 | $82,000 | $123,000 |
| Montana | 1 | $47,560 | $82,000 | $123,000 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $47,402 | $81,727 | $122,590 |
| Texas | 40 | $47,168 | $81,324 | $121,985 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $47,085 | $81,180 | $121,770 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $46,847 | $80,770 | $121,155 |
| Georgia | 6 | $46,688 | $80,497 | $120,745 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $46,609 | $80,360 | $120,540 |
| Kansas | 4 | $46,371 | $79,950 | $119,925 |
| Michigan | 6 | $46,213 | $79,677 | $119,515 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $45,658 | $78,720 | $118,080 |
| Maryland | 1 | $45,658 | $78,720 | $118,080 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $45,182 | $77,900 | $116,850 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $45,182 | $77,900 | $116,850 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $43,993 | $75,850 | $113,775 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $43,755 | $75,440 | $113,160 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $43,161 | $74,415 | $111,623 |
| Missouri | 4 | $43,161 | $74,415 | $111,623 |
| Alabama | 5 | $42,994 | $74,128 | $111,192 |
| Indiana | 3 | $42,328 | $72,980 | $109,470 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $42,328 | $72,980 | $109,470 |
| Iowa | 2 | $41,853 | $72,160 | $108,240 |
| Ohio | 6 | $41,773 | $72,023 | $108,035 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $39,950 | $68,880 | $103,320 |
The state salary map for Registered Nurses: California at $115,190, Massachusetts at $111,315, Hawaii at $110,700 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($68,880), Ohio ($72,023), Iowa ($72,160) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $46,310.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($173,840 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $82,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $173,840 | 212 | $82,000 | $102,656 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $162,360 | 198 | $82,000 | $96,337 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $150,880 | 184 | $82,000 | $90,017 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $148,420 | 181 | $82,000 | $88,663 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $145,960 | 178 | $82,000 | $87,308 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $145,140 | 177 | $82,000 | $86,857 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $145,140 | 177 | $82,000 | $86,857 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $141,860 | 173 | $82,000 | $85,051 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $141,860 | 173 | $82,000 | $85,051 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $138,580 | 169 | $82,000 | $83,246 |
Career economics for Registered Nurses: entry level averages $55,186, mid-career hits $95,149, and experienced professionals reach $142,723. That's a 2.6× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires BSN or associate's, and the work is clinical shift-based. The outlook: very high demand. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The weighted national median salary for Registered Nurses is $95,149 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $55,186, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $142,723.
The highest-paying city for Registered Nurses is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $173,840. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($173,840), Santa Clara ($162,360), Irvine ($150,880). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Registered Nurse salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $68,060. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Registered Nurses (10th percentile) average $55,186 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $100,827. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Registered Nurses average $142,723 nationally — $87,537 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Registered Nurses can earn up to $260,760.
The top-paying states for Registered Nurses are California ($115,190 median), Massachusetts ($111,315 median), Hawaii ($110,700 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Registered Nurse involves BSN or associate's. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically clinical shift-based.
With a national median of $95,149 and representation across 288 metro areas, Registered Nurse offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $87,537 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.