Average Nurse Salary by State in 2024: Which US States Pay RNs and APRNs the Best?

Becoming a nurse requires a calling and a passion for offering assistance and care to a broad range of patients in need. However, one important factor in choosing nursing as a career is the salary you may expect to earn in your future work environment. And, while figuring out how much you can make as a nurse will be important for planning your education, as well as deciding in which state you will practice, figuring out the job salaries for each state and role can be time-consuming and tedious.

We at Nightingale College created a curated guide about nurse salaries by state, occupation, and level of education, including any other considerations that will affect your future wage. Thus, you can browse Annual, monthly, and hourly salary estimates for roles including licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners, compare the benefits for different career paths, and inform your expectations.

While knowing your earning potential is incredibly important when choosing a career, it’s just as useful to know how your paycheck will hold up in terms of where you live. That’s why your nursing salary adjusted to the cost of living is a criterion you also need to consider. We want you to have all the facts, which is why we included the adjusted salaries so that you realistically know how much money you will earn.

Average Nurse Salary by State

Below you will find an interactive map that provides an overview of annual nursing salaries throughout the United States. We have included salaries for LPNs, registered nurses, BSN RNs, and for some of the most sought-after MSN nursing roles.

Use the drop-down menu to select the average salary for each nursing role. You can also select the option to view the nursing wages adjusted for the local cost of living.

Let us discuss different levels of nursing and their corresponding salary expectations. As a general rule, the more you advance your education, the higher your income potential will be. Here are some of the most common nursing levels and the national average salaries for each of them:

Nursing Role	2024 Hourly Wage	2024 Annual Salary
Licensed Practical Nurses / Licensed Vocational Nurses (PN Diploma)	$29.23	$60,790
Registered Nurses (ADN/ASN/BSN)	$45.42	$94,480
Nurse Case Managers (BSN/MSN)	$64.64	$134,400
Informatics Nurses (BSN/MSN)	$33.78	$70,260
ICU Nurses (BSN)	$57	$118,725
Travel Nurses (ADN/ASN/BSN)	$59	$121,710
Perioperative Nurses (BSN)	$46.94	$97,635
Oncology Nurses (BSN)	$43.8	$91,094
Nurse Educator (MSN)	$41.60	$86,530
Nurse Midwives (MSN)	$63.26	$131,570
Nurse Practitioners (MSN)	$61.78	$128,490
Nurse Anesthetists (MSN)	$102.98	$214,200
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (MSN)	$58.19	$138,518

Nurses can make anywhere from over $60,000 per year to six figures. Let’s see how each of these nursing jobs gets paid by state, at a local level.

Licensed Practical Nurse Salary by State

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), licensed practical nurses make an average of $60,790 per year, which corresponds to an hourly wage of $29.23 or a monthly salary of $5,066.53.

LPN employment is also expected to grow steadily throughout the decade. BLS job outlook projections indicate a 5% growth from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations (3%). On a year-to-year basis, there are approximately 54,400 new job openings for licensed practical nurses.

Find out more about the LPN role, including the job outlook and work settings specific to it.

Highest Paying States for LPN

The states where licensed practical nurses make the most money are the following:

California – $76,580 per year
Rhode Island – $75,470 per year
Washington – $75,410 per year
Alaska – $74,260 per year
Massachusetts – $73,400 per year
New Hampshire – $71,770 per year
Maine – $71,430 per year
Oregon – $71,180 per year
Connecticut – $68,150 per year
District of Columbia – $68,150 per year

Below, you can find the LPN salary breakdown by state for the annual, adjusted, hourly, and monthly wages that you can expect:

State	Annual LPN Salary	Annual LPN Salary (adjusted)	Monthly LPN Pay	Hourly LPN Wage
Alabama	$48,320	$54,723	$3,647	$23.23
Alaska	$74,260	$59,313	$5,605	$35.70
Arizona	$66,720	$61,550	$5,037	$32.08
Arkansas	$49,360	$55,461	$3,726	$23.73
California	$76,580	$55,292	$5,781	$36.82
Colorado	$64,710	$61,570	$4,884	$31.11
Connecticut	$68,150	$60,417	$5,143	$32.76
Delaware	$63,490	$62,799	$4,792	$30.52
District of Columbia	$68,120	$46,403	$5,142	$32.75
Florida	$57,140	$56,743	$4,313	$27.47
Georgia	$55,090	$60,672	$4,159	$26.49
Hawaii	$62,020	$34,398	$4,682	$29.82
Idaho	$54,600	$55,375	$4,121	$26.25
Illinois	$64,630	$70,174	$4,878	$31.07
Indiana	$59,460	$65,341	$4,489	$28.59
Iowa	$55,870	$61,872	$4,217	$26.86
Kansas	$55,610	$63,846	$4,198	$26.74
Kentucky	$55,100	$59,891	$4,159	$26.49
Louisiana	$51,700	$56,813	$3,901	$24.85
Maine	$71,430	$64,995	$5,391	$34.34
Maryland	$66,460	$57,047	$5,016	$31.95
Massachusetts	$73,400	$50,102	$5,541	$35.29
Michigan	$61,910	$68,333	$4,674	$29.77
Minnesota	$58,870	$62,561	$4,443	$28.30
Mississippi	$49,050	$56,837	$3,702	$23.58
Missouri	$55,220	$62,395	$4,168	$26.55
Montana	$55,450	$53,887	$4,186	$26.66
Nebraska	$56,120	$61,738	$4,236	$26.98
Nevada	$66,580	$65,921	$5,026	$32.01
New Hampshire	$71,770	$62,901	$5,418	$34.51
New Jersey	$66,620	$58,490	$5,029	$32.03
New Mexico	$56,130	$59,713	$4,237	$26.99
New York	$63,020	$50,056	$4,757	$30.30
North Carolina	$57,760	$60,609	$4,360	$27.77
North Dakota	$57,530	$60,814	$4,343	$27.66
Ohio	$57,660	$60,887	$4,352	$27.72
Oklahoma	$51,880	$60,186	$3,916	$24.94
Oregon	$71,180	$62,058	$5,373	$34.22
Pennsylvania	$58,800	$61,506	$4,438	$28.27
Rhode Island	$75,470	$68,175	$5,696	$36.28
South Carolina	$56,430	$59,213	$4,259	$27.13
South Dakota	$49,580	$53,658	$3,743	$23.84
Tennessee	$50,430	$55,847	$3,807	$24.25
Texas	$56,490	$60,939	$4,264	$27.16
Utah	$57,430	$55,649	$4,335	$27.61
Vermont	$65,170	$56,522	$4,919	$31.33
Virginia	$57,810	$56,732	$4,363	$27.79
Washington	$75,410	$65,009	$5,693	$36.26
West Virginia	$50,090	$57,115	$3,781	$24.08
Wisconsin	$57,190	$60,137	$4,318	$27.50
Wyoming	$58,030	$62,803	$4,380	$27.90

Read more about LPN salaries to understand better how your wage can vary by location and what other factors affect it.

Registered Nurse Salary by State

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses make an average of $94,480 per year, which is equivalent to an hourly wage of $45.42 and a monthly salary of $7,872.8.

Considering the job outlook, the BLS statistics show an employment rise of 6% throughout the decade, which is double the 3% job increase for all healthcare occupations. Numerically, the increase amounts to 177,400 additional jobs by 2032. Additionally, RNs have 193,100 new job openings each year.

Read more about job outlook for registered nurses to understand how the benefits and obligations of an RN vary based on their role and work setting.

States With the Highest Salaries for RNs

Here are the states with the highest annual salaries for registered nurses across the US, according to the BLS.

California – $137,690 per year
Hawaii – $119,710 per year
Oregon – $113,440 per year
Washington – $111,030 per year
Alaska – $109,210 per year
Massachusetts – $108,850 per year
New York – $106,620 per year
New Jersey – $101,960 per year
Connecticut – $101,840 per year
Nevada – $97,700 per year

If you want to explore what you may earn annually, monthly or hourly, you can browse the registered nurse salary by state below,

State	Annual RN Salary	Annual RN Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly RN Pay	RN Wage Per Hour
Alabama	$71,370	$80,827	$5,948	$34.31
Alaska	$109,210	$87,228	$9,101	$52.50
Arizona	$91,430	$84,345	$7,619	$43.96
Arkansas	$72,900	$81,910	$6,075	$35.05
California	$137,690	$99,415	$11,474	$66.20
Colorado	$91,730	$87,279	$7,644	$44.10
Connecticut	$101,840	$90,284	$8,487	$48.96
Delaware	$94,670	$72,786	$7,889	$45.51
District of Columbia	$106,850	$93,640	$7,943	$50.59
Florida	$84,760	$84,171	$7,063	$40.75
Georgia	$90,000	$99,119	$7,500	$43.27
Hawaii	$119,710	$66,395	$9,976	$57.55
Idaho	$83,090	$84,270	$6,924	$39.95
Illinois	$87,650	$95,168	$7,304	$42.14
Indiana	$82,700	$90,879	$6,892	$39.76
Iowa	$74,610	$82,625	$6,218	$35.87
Kansas	$76,240	$87,532	$6,353	$36.65
Kentucky	$81,770	$88,880	$6,814	$39.31
Louisiana	$80,760	$88,747	$6,730	$38.83
Maine	$84,340	$76,742	$7,028	$40.55
Maryland	$92,090	$79,047	$7,674	$44.27
Massachusetts	$108,850	$74,300	$9,071	$52.33
Michigan	$86,210	$95,155	$7,184	$41.45
Minnesota	$94,830	$100,776	$7,903	$45.59
Mississippi	$75,510	$87,497	$6,293	$36.30
Missouri	$77,590	$87,672	$6,466	$37.30
Montana	$82,950	$80,612	$6,913	$39.88
Nebraska	$79,780	$87,767	$6,648	$38.36
Nevada	$97,700	$96,733	$8,142	$46.97
New Hampshire	$89,410	$78,361	$7,451	$42.99
New Jersey	$101,960	$89,517	$8,497	$49.02
New Mexico	$92,140	$98,021	$7,678	$44.30
New York	$106,620	$84,686	$8,885	$51.26
North Carolina	$82,530	$86,600	$6,878	$39.68
North Dakota	$79,190	$83,710	$6,599	$38.07
Ohio	$84,430	$89,155	$7,036	$40.59
Oklahoma	$82,110	$95,255	$6,843	$39.48
Oregon	$113,440	$98,901	$9,453	$54.54
Pennsylvania	$875,300	$91,559	$7,294	$42.08
Rhode Island	$95,070	$85,881	$7,923	$45.71
South Carolina	$81,390	$85,404	$6,795	$35.74
South Dakota	$69,030	$74,708	$5,753	$33.19
Tennessee	$78,240	$86,645	$6,520	$37.62
Texas	$90,210	$97,314	$7,518	$43.37
Utah	$83,100	$80,523	$6,925	$39.95
Vermont	$88,380	$76,652	$7,365	$42.49
Virginia	$88,350	$86,703	$7,363	$42.48
Washington	$111,030	$95,716	$9,253	$53.38
West Virginia	$72,230	$86,648	$6,019	$34.73
Wisconsin	$87,220	$91,714	$7,268	$41.93
Wyoming	$83,990	$90,898	$6,999	$40.38

Discover more about the highest paying nursing jobs in the industry for RNs and all other roles.

BSN salary by state

BSN Nurse Salary by State

As we have established before, the more you learn, the more you earn, and this is especially true for getting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

And, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide specific information about the salaries of BSN-educated nurses, the BSN Nursing portal points out that BSN-educated nurses are the top 25% earners in the field. Therefore, the data showing the 75th percentile salary range is a good indicator of the average annual salary of BSN nurses.

In addition to enjoying higher salaries, BSN RNs also have tremendous job prospects. Over 80% of employers in the healthcare industry have a strong preference for hiring BSN trained nurses, while over 42% already require that their new hires have a BSN degree. Compared to ADN nurses, BSN nurses are typically associated with better results and fewer medical mistakes, so the need for them will only increase over the decade.

Read more about the differences in nursing practice from our article on ADN vs. BSN patient outcomes.

Highest Paying States for BSN Nurses

Here are the 10 highest paying states for BSN-level nurses across the US:

California – $133,990 per year
Hawaii – $129,210 per year
Oregon – $110,940 per year
Washington – $107,720 per year
Alaska – $106,410 per year
New York – $104,570 per year
Connecticut – $100,620 per year
New Jersey – $100,160 per year
Massachusetts – $99,730 per year

You can find the BSN nursing salary for each state below. The values correspond to the 75% percentile of earners in each state.

State	Annual BSN Salary	Annual BSN Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly BSN Salary	Hourly BSN Wage
Alabama	$65,900	$74,632	$5,971	$38.03
Alaska	$106,410	$84,992	$9,440	$60.13
Arizona	$88,310	$81,467	$7,753	$49.38
Arkansas	$72,920	$81,933	$6,148	$39.16
California	$133,990	$96,744	$12,701	$80.90
Colorado	$86,900	$82,683	$7,709	$49.10
Connecticut	$100,620	$89,202	$8,279	$52.73
Delaware	$93,200	$92,186	$7,863	$50.08
District of Columbia	$106,850	$121,008	$8,065	$51.37
Florida	$80,960	$80,397	$7,118	$45.34
Georgia	$83,620	$92,093	$7,676	$48.89
Hawaii	$129,210	$71,664	$10,422	$66.38
Idaho	$80,130	$81,268	$7,211	$45.93
Illinois	$82,470	$89,544	$7,646	$48.70
Indiana	$78,530	$86,297	$7,098	$45.21
Iowa	$71,570	$79,258	$6,076	$38.70
Kansas	$75,780	$87,003	$6,178	$39.35
Kentucky	$77,830	$84,598	$6,982	$44.47
Louisiana	$76,650	$84,231	$6,599	$42.03
Maine	$81,610	$74,258	$7,082	$45.11
Maryland	$89,340	$76,687	$7,688	$48.97
Massachusetts	$99,730	$68,075	$9,973	$63.52
Michigan	$81,710	$90,188	$7,373	$46.96
Minnesota	$97,300	$103,401	$7,885	$50.22
Mississippi	$69,370	$80,382	$6,068	$38.65
Missouri	$77,190	$87,220	$6,399	$40.76
Montana	$79,170	$76,939	$7,034	$44.80
Nebraska	$78,100	$85,919	$6,459	$41.14
Nevada	$96,210	$95,257	$8,073	$51.42
New Hampshire	$86,620	$75,916	$7,655	$48.76
New Jersey	$100,160	$87,937	$8,577	$54.63
New Mexico	$83,970	$89,330	$7,798	$49.67
New York	$104,570	$83,058	$9,517	$60.62
North Carolina	$79,580	$83,505	$7,065	$45.00
North Dakota	$74,930	$79,207	$6,230	$39.68
Ohio	$79,940	$84,414	$7,128	$45.40
Oklahoma	$78,760	$91,369	$6,749	$42.99
Oregon	$110,940	$96,722	$9,491	$60.45
Pennsylvania	$82,780	$86,590	$7,596	$48.38
Rhode Island	$94,840	$85,673	$8,172	$52.05
South Carolina	$78,380	$82,246	$6,611	$42.11
South Dakota	$67,030	$72,543	$5,997	$38.20
Tennessee	$76,200	$84,385	$6,244	$39.77
Texas	$85,110	$91,812	$7,638	$48.65
Utah	$79,790	$77,316	$7,019	$44.71
Vermont	$81,900	$71,032	$7,596	$48.38
Virginia	$84,100	$82,532	$7,483	$47.66
Washington	$107,720	$92,862	$9,673	$61.61
West Virginia	$78,730	$89,772	$6,335	$40.35
Wisconsin	$83,300	$87,592	$7,440	$47.39
Wyoming	$79,970	$86,548	$6,828	$43.49

Read our dedicated BSN salary guide to find out more about your expected pay after earning your Bachelor’s degree.

Here are some of the highest paying BSN jobs that you may access once you earn your bachelor’s in nursing:

Nurse Case Manager Salary

On average and on a national level, nurse case managers make $134,400 per year or $64.64 per hour. However, depending on the industry you end up working in as a nurse case manager, your salary can reach $254,660 per year or $122.43 per hour.

Below, you can find the nurse case manager salary for each US state, according to the BLS:

State	Annual Nurse Case Manager Salary	Annual Nurse Case Manager Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly Nurse Case Manager Pay	Hourly Nurse Case Manager Wage
Alabama	$99,270	$112,424	$8,128	$51.77
Alaska	$148,550	$118,650	$12,877	$82.02
Arizona	$135,310	$124,825	$11,891	$75.74
Arkansas	$97,250	$109,270	$7,941	$50.58
California	$156,140	$112,736	$15,099	$96.17
Colorado	$143,120	$136,175	$12,408	$79.03
Connecticut	$148,370	$131,534	$12,463	$79.38
Delaware	$164,190	$162,404	$13,174	$83.91
District of Columbia	$170,710	$193,330	$12,885	$82.07
Florida	$124,070	$123,208	$10,309	$65.66
Georgia	$146,700	$161,564	$12,803	$81.55
Hawaii	$137,740	$76,395	$12,210	$77.77
Idaho	$124,500	$126,268	$10,185	$64.87
Illinois	$131,980	$143,301	$11,425	$72.77
Indiana	$112,690	$123,835	$9,753	$62.12
Iowa	$109,880	$121,683	$9,117	$58.07
Kansas	$115,480	$132,583	$10,017	$63.80
Kentucky	$109,640	$119,174	$9,539	$60.76
Louisiana	$113,400	$124,615	$9,524	$60.66
Maine	$118,410	$107,743	$9,894	$63.02
Maryland	$150,590	$129,262	$12,769	$81.33
Massachusetts	$158,540	$108,218	$13,293	$84.67
Michigan	$118,870	$131,203	$9,938	$63.30
Minnesota	$129,350	$137,460	$10,276	$65.45
Mississippi	$95,140	$110,243	$7,933	$50.53
Missouri	$116,370	$131,492	$9,853	$62.76
Montana	$144,990	$140,904	$10,857	$69.15
Nebraska	$115,090	$126,612	$9,645	$61.43
Nevada	$120,770	$119,574	$10,210	$65.03
New Hampshire	$150,090	$131,543	$12,161	$77.46
New Jersey	$162,430	$142,608	$12,681	$80.77
New Mexico	$130,790	$139,138	$10,401	$66.25
New York	$179,160	$142,303	$15,746	$100.29
North Carolina	$127,620	$133,914	$10,390	$66.18
North Dakota	$132,940	$140,529	$11,167	$71.13
Ohio	$118,940	$125,597	$10,136	$64.56
Oklahoma	$113,940	$132,181	$9,434	$60.09
Oregon	$149,450	$130,296	$12,876	$82.01
Pennsylvania	$125,860	$131,653	$10,365	$66.02
Rhode Island	$134,620	$121,608	$11,756	$74.88
South Carolina	$126,830	$133,085	$10,598	$67.50
South Dakota	$131,910	$142,760	$10,981	$69.94
Tennessee	$124,190	$137,530	$10,343	$65.88
Texas	$120,200	$129,666	$9,991	$63.64
Utah	$122,550	$118,750	$10,384	$66.14
Vermont	$130,510	$113,192	$10,912	$69.50
Virginia	$136,370	$133,827	$11,864	$75.57
Washington	$152,880	$131,793	$12,830	$81.72
West Virginia	$130,850	$149,202	$11,486	$73.16
Wisconsin	$148,460	$156,109	$12,194	$77.67
Wyoming	$107,750	$116,613	$9,663	$61.55

Informatics Nurse Salary

Informatics nurses make on average $70,260 per year or $33.78 per hour, according to the BLS.

Below you can find the informatics nurse salary for each US state:

State	Annual Nurse Case Manager Salary	Annual Nurse Case Manager Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly Nurse Case Manager Salary	Hourly Nurse Case Manager Wage
Alabama	$53,000	$60,023	$4,771	$30.39
Alaska	$60,110	$48,011	$4,982	$31.73
Arizona	$54,250	$50,046	$4,478	$28.52
Arkansas	$64,690	$72,685	$6,167	$39.28
California	$101,030	$72,946	$9,825	$62.58
Colorado	$67,800	$64,510	$6,159	$39.23
Connecticut	$55,670	$49,353	$4,600	$29.30
Delaware	$63,850	$63,155	$5,018	$31.96
District of Columbia	$86,750	$59,094	$7,512	$47.85
Florida	$70,680	$70,189	$6,696	$42.65
Georgia	$59,750	$65,804	$5,911	$37.65
Hawaii	$63,200	$35,053	$5,497	$35.01
Idaho	$60,150	$61,004	$5,847	$37.24
Illinois	$56,500	$61,346	$5,008	$31.90
Indiana	$59,430	$65,308	$5,316	$33.86
Iowa	$68,240	$75,570	$6,271	$39.94
Kansas	$70,340	$80,758	$6,814	$43.40
Kentucky	$60,140	$65,370	$5,870	$37.39
Louisiana	$53,050	$58,297	$4,614	$29.39
Maine	$72,760	$66,206	$6,663	$42.44
Maryland	$80,170	$68,815	$7,418	$47.25
Massachusetts	$85,740	$58,526	$7,768	$49.48
Michigan	$69,060	$76,225	$6,296	$40.10
Minnesota	$84,870	$90,191	$7,321	$46.63
Mississippi	$53,360	$61,831	$4,774	$30.41
Missouri	$50,350	$56,893	$4,074	$25.95
Montana	$70,130	$68,154	$5,957	$37.94
Nebraska	$52,380	$57,624	$5,203	$33.14
Nevada	$75,800	$75,050	$7,290	$46.43
New Hampshire	$78,030	$68,387	$7,068	$45.02
New Jersey	$78,110	$68,578	$7,870	$50.13
New Mexico	$46,610	$49,585	$3,616	$23.03
New York	$74,690	$59,325	$7,098	$45.21
North Carolina	$49,720	$52,172	$4,540	$28.92
North Dakota	$60,160	$63,594	$5,679	$36.17
Ohio	$69,360	$73,242	$6,594	$42.00
Oklahoma	$49,430	$57,343	$4,434	$28.24
Oregon	$79,420	$69,241	$7,555	$48.12
Pennsylvania	$71,420	$74,707	$7,103	$45.24
Rhode Island	$106,400	$96,116	$9,736	$62.01
South Carolina	$51,010	$53,526	$4,522	$28.80
South Dakota	$59,330	$64,210	$5,087	$32.40
Tennessee	$59,780	$66,202	$6,355	$40.48
Texas	$77,270	$83,355	$7,403	$47.15
Utah	$58,170	$56,366	$5,071	$32.30
Vermont	$71,830	$62,298	$6,297	$40.11
Virginia	$68,190	$66,919	$6,134	$39.07
Washington	$63,830	$55,026	$5,285	$33.66
West Virginia	$57,340	$65,382	$4,707	$29.98
Wisconsin	$61,500	$64,669	$5,500	$35.03
Wyoming	-	-	-	-

ICU Nurse Salary

While being an ICU nurse is a demanding job, being one of the RN positions with the highest level of responsibility, the salaries are proportionally high. On average and nationwide, ICU nurses make $118,725 per year or $57 per hour, according to job search engine ZipRecruiter.

Below, you can find how much ICU nurses make in every state in the US, according to data published by ZipRecruiter:

State	Annual ICU Nurse Salary	Annual ICU Nurse Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly ICU Nurse Pay	Hourly ICU Nurse Wage
New York	$133,481	$151,168	$11,123	$64.17
Vermont	$131,307	$104,878	$10,942	$63.13
Maine	$125,716	$115,974	$10,476	$60.44
Pennsylvania	$122,244	$137,353	$10,187	$58.77
Washington	$121,507	$87,731	$10,125	$58.42
Massachusetts	$119,692	$113,884	$9,974	$57.54
New Hampshire	$119,313	$105,774	$9,942	$57.36
New Jersey	$119,178	$117,881	$9,931	$57.30
Alaska	$119,019	$118,192	$9,918	$57.22
Oregon	$117,737	$129,666	$9,811	$56.60
North Dakota	$117,600	$65,225	$9,800	$56.54
Wisconsin	$117,283	$118,948	$9,773	$56.39
Wyoming	$116,637	$126,642	$9,719	$56.08
Hawaii	$115,358	$126,767	$9,613	$55.46
Colorado	$114,548	$126,853	$9,545	$55.07
Indiana	$114,520	$131,481	$9,543	$55.06
New Mexico	$112,706	$122,507	$9,392	$54.19
Nevada	$112,537	$123,667	$9,378	$54.10
Minnesota	$112,427	$102,299	$9,368	$54.05
Arizona	$112,152	$96,268	$9,346	$53.92
South Dakota	$111,145	$75,867	$9,262	$53.44
Montana	$110,462	$121,923	$9,205	$53.11
Ohio	$109,531	$116,399	$9,127	$52.66
Alabama	$109,083	$126,400	$9,090	$52.44
Rhode Island	$109,053	$123,224	$9,087	$52.43
Delaware	$108,608	$105,547	$9,050	$52.22
Virginia	$107,414	$118,167	$8,951	$51.64
Connecticut	$107,017	$105,957	$8,918	$51.45
Iowa	$106,921	$93,708	$8,910	$51.40
Mississippi	$105,800	$92,888	$8,816	$50.87
Illinois	$105,726	$112,474	$8,810	$50.83
California	$105,520	$83,813	$8,793	$50.73
Maryland	$105,276	$110,468	$8,773	$50.61
Tennessee	$104,575	$110,544	$8,714	$50.28
Utah	$104,253	$110,088	$8,687	$50.12
Nebraska	$103,300	$119,838	$8,608	$49.66
Missouri	$101,946	$88,881	$8,495	$49.01
Georgia	$101,618	$106,295	$8,468	$48.85
South Carolina	$100,920	$91,165	$8,410	$48.52
Idaho	$100,702	$105,668	$8,391	$48.41
Oklahoma	$100,038	$108,266	$8,336	$48.10
Texas	$99,807	$110,528	$8,317	$47.98
Kansas	$99,599	$107,442	$8,299	$47.88
North Carolina	$98,837	$95,772	$8,236	$47.52
Louisiana	$98,157	$85,132	$8,179	$47.19
Kentucky	$94,983	$93,212	$7,915	$45.67
Michigan	$94,911	$81,820	$7,909	$45.63
West Virginia	$94,411	$107,652	$7,867	$45.39
Arkansas	$90,219	$94,868	$7,518	$43.37
Florida	$89,931	$97,328	$7,494	$43.24

Learn more about the ICU nurse salaries across the US.

Travel Nurse Salary

Travel nurses are BSN-trained professionals that provide quality care to a broad spectrum of patients, by traveling to and working with different healthcare facilities across the country. Generally, a travel RN acts as a temporary employee who fills short-term employment gaps, making them essential, considering the nationwide nursing shortage.

Since travel nurses are generally temporary employees and do not have the guarantee of year-round employment, their payment is highly dependent on their ongoing placement opportunities. However, considering that you would perform your travel nursing duties with the same frequency as any other, you can expect to earn $121,710 per year or $59 per hour as a travel nurse.

Below you can also find estimates for the travel nursing salary for each state, as reported by ZipRecruiter. Remember, however, that, as a travel nurse, you will require increased mobility, and your month-to-month salary can vary depending on your place of employment:

State	Annual Travel Nurse Salary	Annual Travel Nurse Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly Travel Nurse Pay	Hourly Travel Nurse Wage
Alabama	$110,469	$125,106	$9,205	$53.11
Alaska	$121,382	$96,950	$10,115	$58.36
Arizona	$113,577	$104,776	$9,464	$54.60
Arkansas	$92,113	$103,498	$7,676	$44.29
California	$130,341	$94,109	$10,861	$62.66
Colorado	$116,968	$111,292	$9,747	$56.23
Connecticut	$108,976	$96,610	$9,081	$52.39
Delaware	$110,939	$109,732	$9,244	$53.34
Florida	$91,074	$90,441	$7,589	$43.79
Georgia	$102,909	$113,336	$8,575	$49.48
Hawaii	$117,602	$65,226	$9,800	$56.54
Idaho	$125,217	$126,995	$10,434	$60.20
Illinois	$107,945	$117,204	$8,995	$51.90
Indiana	$115,975	$127,445	$9,664	$55.76
Iowa	$108,771	$120,455	$9,064	$52.29
Kansas	$101,486	$116,517	$8,457	$48.79
Kentucky	$96,957	$105,388	$8,079	$46.61
Louisiana	$99,788	$109,657	$8,315	$47.98
Maine	$126,575	$115,173	$10,547	$60.85
Maryland	$107,540	$92,309	$8,961	$51.70
Massachusetts	$122,156	$83,383	$10,179	$58.73
Michigan	$96,919	$106,975	$8,076	$46.60
Minnesota	$114,294	$121,460	$9,524	$54.95
Mississippi	$107,802	$124,915	$8,983	$51.83
Missouri	$104,121	$117,651	$8,676	$50.06
Montana	$111,865	$108,712	$9,322	$53.78
Nebraska	$105,533	$116,098	$8,794	$50.74
Nevada	$114,771	$113,635	$9,564	$55.18
New Hampshire	$120,647	$105,738	$10,053	$58.00
New Jersey	$120,934	$106,176	$10,077	$58.14
New Mexico	$114,453	$121,759	$9,537	$55.03
New York	$64.92	$52	$11,252	$135,031
North Carolina	$100,940	$105,918	$8,411	$48.53
North Dakota	$119,877	$126,720	$9,989	$57.63
Ohio	$111,315	$117,545	$9,276	$53.52
Oklahoma	$102,199	$118,560	$8,516	$49.13
Oregon	$119,997	$104,618	$9,999	$57.69
Pennsylvania	$123,669	$129,361	$10,305	$59.46
Rhode Island	$111,146	$100,403	$9,262	$53.44
South Carolina	$103,067	$108,150	$8,588	$49.55
South Dakota	$113,297	$122,616	$9,441	$54.47
Tennessee	$106,277	$117,693	$8,856	$51.09
Texas	$102,065	$110,102	$8,505	$49.07
Utah	$106,005	$102,718	$8,833	$50.96
Vermont	$63.80	$55	$11,058	$132,707
Virginia	$109,735	$107,689	$9,144	$52.76
Washington	$124,240	$107,103	$10,353	$59.73
West Virginia	$95,511	$108,906	$7,959	$45.92
Wisconsin	$119,111	$125,248	$9,925	$57.27
Wyoming	$118,043	$127,752	$9,836	$56.75

Learn more about how much travel nurses make and the travel nursing jobs that you may access.

Operating Room Registered Nurse Salary

According to the recruitment platform Vivian, operating room registered nurses (also known as perioperative nurses) make $97,635 per year or $46.94 per hour, which is 4% higher than the US average.

Below you can find the average salaries for operating room nurses for each state, as reported by ZipRecruiter:

State	Annual Perioperative Nurse Salary	Annual Perioperative Nurse Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly Perioperative Nurse Pay	Hourly Perioperative Nurse Wage
Alabama	$122,475	$138,703	$12,518	$72.22
Alaska	$131,539	$105,063	$12,340	$71.20
Arizona	$125,920	$116,162	$11,464	$66.14
Arkansas	$99,458	$111,751	$11,200	$64.62
California	$115,855	$83,650	$11,125	$64.18
Colorado	$126,240	$120,114	$11,101	$64.05
Connecticut	$118,680	$105,213	$11,005	$63.49
Delaware	$119,601	$118,300	$10,961	$63.24
Florida	$100,971	$100,269	$10,928	$63.05
Georgia	$114,093	$125,653	$10,904	$62.91
Hawaii	$127,608	$70,775	$10,859	$62.65
Idaho	$110,589	$112,159	$10,842	$62.56
Illinois	$116,554	$126,552	$10,715	$61.82
Indiana	$128,580	$141,297	$10,634	$61.35
Iowa	$118,838	$131,604	$10,520	$60.69
Kansas	$110,300	$126,636	$10,493	$60.54
Kentucky	$104,759	$113,868	$10,480	$60.47
Louisiana	$109,270	$120,077	$10,429	$60.17
Maine	$113,477	$103,255	$10,364	$59.80
Maryland	$115,922	$99,504	$10,335	$59.63
Massachusetts	$132,066	$90,147	$10,247	$59.12
Michigan	$104,590	$115,442	$10,206	$58.88
Minnesota	$125,155	$133,002	$10,167	$58.66
Mississippi	$117,173	$135,774	$10,058	$58.03
Missouri	$112,299	$126,892	$9,966	$57.50
Montana	$124,024	$120,529	$9,903	$57.13
Nebraska	$113,720	$125,105	$9,890	$57.06
Nevada	$124,374	$123,143	$9,854	$56.85
New Hampshire	$134,411	$117,801	$9,764	$56.33
New Jersey	$133,216	$116,959	$9,712	$56.04
New Mexico	$125,768	$133,796	$9,707	$56.01
New York	$150,227	$119,322	$9,666	$55.77
North Carolina	$108,889.00	$114,259	$9,660	$55.73
North Dakota	$130,115	$137,542	$9,654	$55.70
Ohio	$122,012	$128,841	$9,507	$54.85
Oklahoma	$110,129	$127,760	$9,476	$54.67
Oregon	$130,314	$113,613	$9,456	$54.56
Pennsylvania	$137,570	$143,902	$9,358	$53.99
Rhode Island	$120,702	$109,035	$9,265	$53.45
South Carolina	$111,184	$116,667	$9,215	$53.17
South Dakota	$122,972	$133,087	$9,191	$53.03
Tennessee	$116,492	$129,006	$9,177	$52.95
Texas	$109,627	$118,260	$9,135	$52.71
Utah	$116,003.00	$112,406	$9,105	$52.53
Vermont	$148,089	$128,438	$9,074	$52.35
Virginia	$118,249	$116,044	$8,853	$51.08
Washington	$133,500	$115,086	$8,729	$50.37
West Virginia	$106,246	$121,147	$8,715	$50.28
Wisconsin	$130,854	$137,596	$8,414	$48.54
Wyoming	$131,146	$141,933	$8,288	$47.82

You can also explore all BSN jobs and evaluate their benefits and responsibilities.

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MSN Nurse Salary by State

If you further your education by getting a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, you will also advance your career and increase your projected salary, by accessing different specializations.

To understand the impact of advancing your education, read our BSN vs. MSN degree comparison.

The average salaries, as well as job outlook for MSN nurses, vary greatly among specialties. Below, we will give a closer look at some of the most sought after MSN jobs as well as the expected salaries for each.

Nurse Educator Salary

The national average salary for nurse educators is $86,530 per year. Nursing instructors are in particularly high demand. The nursing faculty shortage is one of the leading causes of the countrywide nursing shortage, making the job outlook for nurse educators all the more promising.

Below you can find a nurse educator salary by state breakdown. Since a nurse educator does not work year-round or full time, the BLS only estimates the nurse educator salary for each state only on an annual basis:

State	Annual MSN Nurse Educator Salary	Annual MSN Nurse Educator Salary (Adjusted)
Alabama	$87,360	$98,935
Alaska	$98,870	$78,970
Arizona	$80,710	$74,456
Arkansas	$66,920	$75,191
California	$94,530	$68,253
Colorado	$83,270	$79,229
Connecticut	$97,050	$86,037
Delaware	$97,050	$95,994
District of Columbia	$111,130	$125,855
Florida	$84,740	$84,151
Georgia	$75,490	$83,139
Hawaii	$97,990	$54,348
Idaho	$79,810	$80,943
Illinois	$81,720	$88,730
Indiana	$79,620	$87,495
Iowa	$71,690	$79,391
Kansas	$72,260	$82,962
Kentucky	$79,370	$86,272
Louisiana	$78,780	$86,571
Maine	$79,240	$72,102
Maryland	$88,610	$76,060
Massachusetts	$87,140	$59,481
Michigan	$84,440	$93,201
Minnesota	$84,730	$90,043
Mississippi	$68,620	$79,513
Missouri	$76,000	$85,876
Montana	$85,120	$82,721
Nebraska	$78,220	$86,051
Nevada	$99,320	$98,337
New Hampshire	$87,260	$76,477
New Jersey	$101,540	$89,148
New Mexico	$72,850	$77,500
New York	$102,980	$81,795
North Carolina	$76,970	$80,766
North Dakota	$82,580	$87,294
Ohio	$80,430	$84,931
Oklahoma	$65,490	$75,974
Oregon	$109,110	$95,126
Pennsylvania	$85,540	$89,477
Rhode Island	$82,820	$74,815
South Carolina	$81,230	$85,236
South Dakota	$67,200	$72,727
Tennessee	$84,810	$93,920
Texas	$93,750	$101,133
Utah	$92,580	$89,709
Vermont	$82,070	$71,180
Virginia	$79,950	$78,459
Washington	$85,320	$73,552
West Virginia	$81,800	$93,273
Wisconsin	$78,810	$82,871
Wyoming	$72,710	$78,690

Learn more about how to become a nurse educator, as well as the nurse educator salaries you can expect.

Nurse Practitioner Salary

Nurse practitioners are some of the highest-paid MSN nurses. On average, NPs earn around $128,490 annually or $61.78 per hour. Nurse practitioners are easily the nursing specialty with the best career outlook. The NP employment rate is expected to grow by 45% by 2032, creating more than 118,600 new jobs.

You can find the nurse practitioner salary for every state below, as reported by the BLS:

State	Annual MSN Nurse Practitioner Salary	Annual MSN Nurse Practitioner Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly MSN Nurse Practitioner Pay	Hourly MSN Nurse Practitioner Wage
Alabama	$110,020	$124,598	$8,304	$52.89
Alaska	$126,170	$100,775	$9,524	$60.66
Arizona	$132,560	$122,288	$10,006	$63.73
Arkansas	$113,410	$127,427	$8,561	$54.53
California	$161,540	$116,635	$12,193	$77.66
Colorado	$121,990	$116,070	$9,208	$58.65
Connecticut	$136,980	$121,436	$10,340	$65.86
Delaware	$131,110	$129,683	$9,896	$63.03
District of Columbia	$134,850	$152,718	$10,178	$64.83
Florida	$119,710	$118,878	$13,356	$57.55
Georgia	$121,150	$133,425	$15,403	$58.25
Hawaii	$132,610	$73,550	-	$63.76
Idaho	$124,550	$126,318	$13,480	$59.88
Illinois	$126,900	$137,785	$21,228	$61.01
Indiana	$123,320	$135,516	$15,637	$59.29
Iowa	$130,820	$144,873	$17,188	$62.89
Kansas	$119,270	$136,935	$13,937	$57.34
Kentucky	$110,370	$119,967	$14,012	$53.06
Louisiana	$118,670	$130,407	$16,513	$57.06
Maine	$122,940	$111,865	$17,155	$59.11
Maryland	$127,990	$109,863	$14,147	$61.54
Massachusetts	$144,010	$98,300	$20,569	$69.24
Michigan	$120,680	$133,201	$16,534	$58.02
Minnesota	$135,010	$143,475	$16,730	$64.91
Mississippi	$117,490	$136,141	$15,193	$56.49
Missouri	$116,680	$131,842	$17,397	$56.10
Montana	$124,640	$121,127	$19,358	$59.92
Nebraska	$121,680	$133,861	$16,067	$58.50
Nevada	$148,670	$147,198	-	$71.48
New Hampshire	$130,740	$114,584	$18,088	$62.86
New Jersey	$145,030	$127,331	$19,030	$69.73
New Mexico	$136,770	$145,500	$16,074	$65.76
New York	$142,830	$113,447	$19,335	$68.67
North Carolina	$121,590	$127,587	$16,799	$58.46
North Dakota	$127,760	$135,053	$17,735	$61.42
Ohio	$122,870	$129,747	$15,909	$59.07
Oklahoma	$124,330	$144,234	$15,731	$59.77
Oregon	$144,950	$126,373	$16,248	$69.69
Pennsylvania	$127,450	$133,316	$15,843	$61.27
Rhode Island	$133,460	$120,560	-	$64.16
South Carolina	$116,940	$122,707	$17,656	$56.22
South Dakota	$120,980	$130,931	$15,934	$58.17
Tennessee	$103,720	$114,862	$14,703	$49.86
Texas	$130,010	$140,248	$16,325	$62.51
Utah	$127,820	$123,857	$9,503	$61.45
Vermont	$126,100	$109,367	$19,233	$60.62
Virginia	$120,870	$118,616	$17,531	$58.11
Washington	$145,400	$125,345	$18,595	$69.90
West Virginia	$113,450	$129,361	$17,543	$54.54
Wisconsin	$128,330	$134,942	$18,656	$61.70
Wyoming	$123,560	$133,723	$17,268	$59.40

Find out more about nurse practitioner salaries in the US.

Certified Nurse Midwife Salary

Nurse midwives make an average Annual salary of $131,570 per year. That breaks down to $63.26 per hour. They also have great job prospects. BLS projections indicate that the job outlook for midwifery will grow by 6% throughout the decade.

Here are the salary of a nurse midwife for each of the states in the US, according to the BLS:

State	Annual MSN Nurse Midwife Salary	Annual MSN Nurse Midwife Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly MSN Nurse Midwife Pay	Hourly MSN Nurse Midwife Wage
Alabama	-	-	-	-
Alaska	$128,800	$102,875	$9,721	$61.92
Arizona	$119,190	$109,954	$8,996	$57.30
Arkansas	-	-	-	-
California	$183,740	$132,664	$13,869	$88.34
Colorado	$126,100	$119,981	$9,517	$60.62
Connecticut	$122,530	$108,626	$9,249	$58.91
Delaware	$121,690	$120,366	$9,185	$58.50
District of Columbia	$109,970	$124,541	$8,301	$52.87
Florida	$99,310	$98,620	$7,497	$47.75
Georgia	$124,020	$136,586	$9,362	$59.63
Hawaii	$161,820	$89,750	$12,215	$77.80
Idaho	$78,530	$79,645	$5,928	$37.76
Illinois	$123,820	$134,441	$9,346	$59.53
Indiana	$120,090	$131,967	$9,065	$57.74
Iowa	$124,040	$137,364	$9,363	$59.64
Kansas	-	-	-	-
Kentucky	-	-	-	-
Louisiana	-	-	-	-
Maine	$140,440	$127,789	$10,601	$67.52
Maryland	$128,400	$110,215	$9,692	$61.73
Massachusetts	$154,080	$105,174	$11,631	$74.08
Michigan	$120,370	$132,859	$9,086	$57.87
Minnesota	$121,860	$129,501	$9,199	$58.59
Mississippi	-	-	-	-
Missouri	$122,900	$138,870	$9,277	$59.09
Montana	-	-	-	-
Nebraska	-	-	-	-
Nevada	-	-	-	-
New Hampshire	$128,650	$112,752	$9,710	$61.85
New Jersey	$133,980	$117,629	$10,112	$64.41
New Mexico	$116,780	$124,234	$8,814	$56.14
New York	$135,120	$107,323	$10,199	$64.96
North Carolina	$118,660	$124,512	$8,957	$57.05
North Dakota	-	-	-	-
Ohio	$124,140	$131,088	$9,370	$59.68
Oklahoma	-	-	-	-
Oregon	$139,490	$121,613	$10,528	$67.06
Pennsylvania	$121,410	$126,998	$9,164	$58.37
Rhode Island	$125,820	$113,659	$9,497	$60.49
South Carolina	$95,940	$100,672	$7,241	$46.12
South Dakota	-	-	-	-
Tennessee	$103,430	$114,540	$7,806	$49.72
Texas	$112,660	$121,532	$8,503	$54.16
Utah	$133,930	$129,777	$10,109	$64.39
Vermont	-	-	-	-
Virginia	$118,750	$116,536	$8,963	$57.09
Washington	$130,990	$112,922	$9,888	$62.98
West Virginia	-	-	-	-
Wisconsin	$128,550	$135,174	$9,704	$61.81
Wyoming	-	-	-	-

Find out more about nurse midwife salaries across the US.

Certified Nurse Anesthetist Salary

Nurse anesthetists are by far the best paid advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). On a national level, nurse anesthetists earn an average of $214,200 annually, which corresponds to a mean hourly wage of $102.98. Also, they have excellent job prospects. BLS estimates indicate that there will be over 4,500 new job openings on average for nurse anesthetists every year, with a 9% increase over the decade.

Below you can find the nurse anesthetist salary for every US state, as reported by the BLS:

State	Annual MSN Nurse Anesthetist Salary	Annual MSN Nurse Anesthetist Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly MSN Nurse Anesthetist Pay	Hourly MSN Nurse Anesthetist Wage
Alabama	$173,370	$196,342	$13,086	$83.35
Alaska	-	-	-	-
Arizona	-	-	-	-
Arkansas	-	-	-	-
California	$250,920	$181,170	$18,940	$120.64
Colorado	$215,870	$205,395	$16,295	$103.79
Connecticut	$247,740	$219,628	$18,700	$119.11
Delaware	$207,030	$204,777	$15,626	$99.53
District of Columbia	-	-	-	-
Florida	$176,950	$175,720	$13,356	$85.07
Georgia	$204,070	$224,747	$15,403	$98.11
Hawaii	-	-	-	-
Idaho	$178,600	$181,136	$13,480	$85.86
Illinois	$281,240	$305,364	$21,228	$135.21
Indiana	$207,180	$227,670	$15,637	$99.60
Iowa	$227,710	$252,171	$17,188	$109.48
Kansas	$184,650	$211,998	$13,937	$88.77
Kentucky	$185,630	$201,772	$14,012	$89.25
Louisiana	$218,770	$240,407	$16,513	$105.18
Maine	$227,270	$206,797	$17,155	$109.27
Maryland	$187,420	$160,876	$14,147	$90.11
Massachusetts	$272,510	$186,014	$20,569	$131.01
Michigan	$219,050	$241,777	$16,534	$105.31
Minnesota	$221,650	$235,547	$16,730	$106.56
Mississippi	$201,280	$233,233	$15,193	$96.77
Missouri	$230,470	$260,418	$17,397	$110.81
Montana	$256,460	$249,232	$19,358	$123.30
Nebraska	$212,860	$234,169	$16,067	$102.34
Nevada	-	-	-	-
New Hampshire	$239,630	$210,018	$18,088	$115.21
New Jersey	$252,130	$221,361	$19,030	$121.21
New Mexico	$212,950	$226,543	$16,074	$102.38
New York	$256,160	$203,463	$19,335	$123.15
North Carolina	$222,560	$233,536	$16,799	$107.00
North Dakota	$234,950	$248,362	$17,735	$112.96
Ohio	$210,760	$222,555	$15,909	$101.33
Oklahoma	$208,410	$241,775	$15,731	$100.20
Oregon	$215,260	$187,672	$16,248	$103.49
Pennsylvania	$209,890	$219,550	$15,843	$100.91
Rhode Island	-	-	-	-
South Carolina	$233,920	$245,456	$17,656	$112.46
South Dakota	$211,090	$228,452	$15,934	$101.49
Tennessee	$194,790	$215,714	$14,703	$93.65
Texas	$216,280	$233,312	$16,325	$103.98
Utah	$125,890	$121,986	$9,503	$60.53
Vermont	$254,790	$220,980	$19,233	$122.50
Virginia	$232,250	$227,920	$17,531	$111.66
Washington	$246,350	$212,371	$18,595	$118.44
West Virginia	$232,410	$265,006	$17,543	$111.74
Wisconsin	$247,160	$259,895	$18,656	$118.83
Wyoming	$228,780	$247,597	$17,268	$109.99

Learn more about nurse anesthetist salaries across the US.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Salary

Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are MSN-level nursing professionals specializing in providing holistic mental health care, including assessment, diagnosis, medication management, and therapy, to patients of all ages experiencing psychiatric disorders. They work collaboratively with other healthcare providers to develop personalized treatment plans and promote mental wellness.

According to job aggregator Indeed.com, PMHNPs earn on average $138,518 per year, which is equivalent to an hourly wage of $58.19. Below, you can find psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner salary estimates for each US state:

State	Annual PMHNPs Salary	Annual PMHNPs Salary (Adjusted)	Monthly PMHNPs Pay	Hourly PMHNPs Wage
Alabama	$119,447	$135,274	$10,493	$60.54
Alaska	$135,790	$108,458	$9,741	$56.20
Arizona	$122,807	$113,291	$10,204	$58.87
Arkansas	$124,675	$140,084	$9,272	$53.50
California	$136,307	$98,417	$10,699	$61.73
Colorado	$157,510	$149,867	$10,602	$61.17
Connecticut	$121,037	$107,302	$11,019	$63.58
Delaware	$147,478	$145,873	$13,125	$75.73
Florida	$98,478	$97,793	$10,233	$59.04
Georgia	$111,275	$122,550	$8,561	$49.40
Hawaii	$131,311	$72,829	$10,450	$60.29
Idaho	$130,545	$132,399	$8,206	$47.35
Illinois	$146,111	$158,644	$11,502	$66.36
Indiana	$125,401	$137,803	$11,315	$65.28
Iowa	$120,236	$133,152	$12,092	$69.76
Kansas	$113,052	$129,796	$10,537	$60.79
Kentucky	$132,239	$143,738	$12,289	$70.90
Louisiana	$109,937	$120,810	$10,942	$63.13
Maine	$132,919.00	$120,945	$10,789	$62.25
Maryland	$142,768	$122,548	$10,861	$62.66
Massachusetts	$137,121	$93,598	$10,019	$57.81
Michigan	$130,342	$143,865	$10,389	$59.94
Minnesota	$125,917	$133,812	$13,233	$76.35
Mississippi	$120,071	$139,132	$10,086	$58.19
Missouri	$139,138	$157,218	$11,838	$68.30
Montana	$120,957	$117,548	$9,421	$54.35
Nebraska	$139,549	$153,519	$11,265	$64.99
Nevada	$128,395	$127,124	$11,897	$68.64
New Hampshire	$129,478	$113,478	$10,882	$62.78
New Jersey	$132,051	$115,936	$11,358	$65.53
New Mexico	$125,437	$133,444	$12,102	$69.82
New York	$145,228	$115,352	$11,076	$63.90
North Carolina	$135,180	$141,847	$10,005	$57.73
North Dakota	$133,797.00	$141,434	$9,742	$56.21
Ohio	$122,457	$129,310	$10,817	$62.41
Oklahoma	$135,143	$156,778	$11,085	$63.96
Oregon	$133,827	$116,676	$11,594	$66.89
Pennsylvania	$133,031	$139,154	$10,878	$62.76
Rhode Island	$123,956	$111,975	$10,079	$58.15
South Carolina	$138,030	$144,837	$11,426	$65.92
South Dakota	$126,452	$136,853	$10,329	$59.59
Tennessee	$116,912	$129,471	$11,261	$64.97
Texas	$129,805	$140,027	$9,953	$57.43
Utah	$116,896	$113,271	$10,453	$60.31
Vermont	$142,058	$123,207	$11,149	$64.33
Virginia	$145,105	$142,399	$9,161	$52.85
Washington	$158,804	$136,900	$11,152	$64.34
West Virginia	$102,742	$117,152	$11,004	$63.49
Wisconsin	$130,589	$137,318	$11,629	$67.09
Wyoming	$127,227	$137,692	$12,175	$70.25

As you can see, earning an MSN degree is incredibly impactful on your career and salary. However, the required full-time education process can be difficult and unaccommodating of your current needs and responsibilities, especially if you are continuing your work.

One easy way of pursuing an MSN degree at your own pace is by enrolling in one of the hybrid 2-year learning programs at Nightingale College:

The MSN FNP Program is a path that combines online instruction, in-person seminars and preceptorship experiences to prepare you for the responsibilities of a family nurse practitioner.
The MSN Ed Program is a path that blends online and in-person instruction that proves ideal if you want to specialize as a nurse educator.

The MSN PMHNP Program is a program that prepares students to become ARPNs, but with a stronger emphasis on psychiatric and mental health concepts, thus being ideal for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners.

Advance your education with our programs!

factors affecting RN salaries in the us

Factors Affecting the Nurse Salary

Your projected nurse salary can vary depending on various factors, including your location, level of education and certification, overall experience in the field, your level of specialization, the industry that you work in, as well as your work schedule.

Location

The nurse salary difference between the lowest and the highest paying states ranges between $28,260 (for LPNs) and $183,377 (for certified nurse anesthetists). Generally, the difference evens out to the double of the projected nurse salary in the lowest paying state.

Metropolitan areas also provide better pay for nurses in general. For example, the difference in the annual salary between the highest paying metropolitan area (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California) and the highest paying non-metropolitan area (the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area) for registered nurses amounts to $43,760 more for the metropolitan area. On average, working in metropolitan areas can add $33,790 more per year to your earnings.

Level of Education and Certification

The average payment for nursing staff with a PN diploma (the lowest level of certification for the nursing field) is $60,790 per year. If you advance to an RN by getting an ADN or by completing a shorter LPN-to-ASN path, you will earn on average $33,690 more per year. If, however, you also complete a BSN program or an RN-to-BSN track, your salary is expected to increase by an additional $10,190 as you would join the top 25% earners in your field. If, then, you also earn an MSN, you can earn anywhere from $34,010 to $119,720 more per year, depending on your specialization.

Specializations

Although your level of education and accreditation are decisive factors for nurse salary estimates, your earning potential can also differ based on the specialization route you take in your educational path.

We can take the various types of MSN programs that you can enroll in as a BSN nurse as examples:

If you pursue the MSN Ed Program, you will have better chances to specialize as a nurse educator, where you will win, on average, $86,570 per year, which is the lowest salary average for MSN-level nurses. Additionally, you will not work year-round.
If you go into the MSN FNP Program, you will be better prepared for the role of family nurse practitioner and may also further specialize in midwifery. Thus, you will be eligible to earn between $128,490 and $131,570 per year.
If you enroll in the MSN PMHNP Program, you can specialize as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and potentially earn $158,140 per year, according to the average salary of NPs for psychiatric and mental health facilities.

In other words, the role you specialize for will affect your salary, duties and future career paths.

Work Experience

In the nursing industry, work experience can make a world of difference, both in matters of patient outcomes and for how much you earn. You may consider the earning differences between wage percentiles for registered nurses to reflect this exact fact:

10% Percentile – $63,720 per year
25% Percentile – $75,990 per year
50% Percentile (Median) – $86,070 per year
75% Percentile – $104,670 per year
90% Percentile – $104,670 per year

In other words, the earning potential for the lowest 10% of RNs is $30,760 less than the national average, while the top 10% of earners make $10,190 more than the mean annual salary.

Industry Differences

Your place of work as well as the industry you are employed in will affect your annual salary. For example, as a registered nurse, you can earn $20,380 more by working a government job, which is the highest paid type of industry. Here is a comparison of some of the highest paying and most frequent industries for registered nurses:

Industry	Number of RNs in the Industry	Average Hourly Wage	Average Annual Salary	Percentage of all RNs
Federal, State, and Local Government	97,940	$55.22	$114,860	3.08%
Employment Services	130,890	$53.00	$110,230	4.12%
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	80	$52.23	$108,640	0.00%
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	200	$51.19	$106,470	0.01%
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods	1,280	$49.97	$103,940	0.04%
Outpatient Care Centers	163,630	$49.35	$102,640	5.15%
Specialty Hospitals	64,060	$47.22	$98,220	2.02%
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	1,749,320	$46.55	$96,830	55.09%
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals	40,830	$45.40	$94,440	1.29%
Home Health Care Services	179,530	$42.04	$87,430	5.65%
Offices of Physicians	220,070	$39.96	$83,110	6.93%

Work Schedule Differences

Most occupations in the industry are standard nine-to-five nursing jobs, but this is not always the case. For instance, although travel nurses are generally better paid, they do not have the guarantee of a stable work schedule. Consequently, their annual salary can be lower than their hourly wage would indicate. That is why you should always check both the annual and hourly salary estimates, in order to make an informed decision regarding your career of choice.

RN manager salary

Key Takeaways for Nurses

Registered Nurses with a BSN degree and an MSN degree will be in high demand in the next decade. And not only is demand growing – so are salaries. Of course, alongside the salary, there are many other things to consider when picking a career. The location, the job benefits, the schedule, the cost of living in the area – these are just a few of the characteristics you have to take into account when pursuing a nursing job. Keep them in mind while planning your career path and you will get the most personal and professional satisfaction out of your career as a Registered Nurse.

Do you want to broaden your horizon, your education and most importantly, your salary? Enroll in Nightingale College’s BSN program and take your career to the next level!

Already a working professional? Get ahead of the game by pursuing a fully online RN-to-BSN degree.