Registered Nurses salary in the US
SOC 2018 code 29-1141 · all employees · reference year 2025
Median annual pay (gross)
$97,550
Mean annual pay (gross)
$101,420
The median for this occupation is 1.9× the all-occupation US median ($50,980) in the same 2025 release.
Pay range
| 10th percentile | $68,940 |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $80,330 |
| Median (50th) | $97,550 |
| 75th percentile | $112,350 |
| 90th percentile | $137,470 |
About this occupation
Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care in hospitals, clinics, long-term care and home health. It is one of the largest occupations in the US economy.
Specialisation, shift differentials and region all affect pay. Hospital nurses in states such as California typically report the highest wages, and travel or agency nursing can pay more than staff roles for limited periods.
Source and notes
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, national estimates.
- National estimates for wage-and-salary employees; self-employed workers are excluded. Annual figures are published by BLS and include some bonus and tip pay.
- ISCO-08 group 2: Professionals — a broad grouping for loose cross-country orientation only, not an exact match to other countries' job titles.
- Official figures above are gross (before tax). The optional Net view is an estimate: it uses the PolicyEngine US tax model for the state and filing status you choose. The percentile range always shows gross pay.
- No official breakdown by experience level exists for this data, so none is shown.
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