Registered Nurse Salary: Median Pay & Hourly Rates (2024)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $73,300 in May 2020. The lowest 10% of earners made less than $53,000, while the highest 10% earned more than $106,540.

The median annual wage for registered nurses varied by industry in 2020 as follows:

* Hospitals: $75,330

* Ambulatory healthcare services: $73,300

* Nursing and residential care facilities: $69,670

* State government: $67,810

* Local government: $65,490

Registered nurses who worked in California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington earned higher wages than the national median.

The job outlook for registered nurses is expected to be excellent over the next decade. The aging population and the increasing demand for healthcare services are expected to create many new jobs for registered nurses.