Average Nurse Salary by State in 2026: Which US States Have the Highest LPN, RN, NP, and APRN Salaries?

Average Nurse Salary by State in 2026: Which US States With the Highest LPN, RN and APRN Salaries?

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 you know, realistically, how much money you will earn.

Average Nurse Salary by State

Nurse Salaries: An Overview

Below is an interactive map that provides an overview of annual nursing salaries across the United States. We have included salaries for LPNs, registered nurses, BSN RNs, and 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	2026-2027 Hourly Wage	2026-2027 Annual Salary	Typical Degree	Source
Certified Nursing Assistants	$20.53	$42,700	CNA Certification	BLS data: Nursing Assistants, Orderlies, and Psychiatric Aides (31-1130)
Licensed Practical Nurses / Licensed Vocational Nurses	$32.24	$67,050	PN Diploma	BLS data: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (29-2061)
Registered Nurses	$47.32	$98,430	ADN/ASN/AASN or BSN (preferred)	BLS data: Registered Nurses (29-1141)
Nurse Managers	$67.77	$140,970	BSN or MSN in Administration (preferred	BLS data: Medical and Health Services Managers (11-9111)
Informatics Nurses	$36.04	$74,970	BSN or MSN in Informatics (preferred)	BLS proxy: Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars (29-9021)
ICU Nurses	$41.00	$85,205	BSN	Salary aggregator: ZipRecruiter
Travel Nurses	$49.72	$95,189	ADN/ASN/AASN or BSN (preferred)	Salary aggregator: Indeed.com
Perioperative Nurses	$49.63	$91,928	BSN	Salary aggregator: Indeed.com
Nurse Educator	-	$86,410	MSN-Ed	BLS data: Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (25-1072)
Nurse Midwives	$65.86	$136,980	MSN-CNM	BLS data: Nurse Midwives (29-1161)
Nurse Practitioners	$66.01	$137,300	MSN (multiple)	BLS data: Nurse Practitioners (29-1171)
Nurse Anesthetists	$119.38	$248,320	DNP/DNAP	BLS data: Nurse Anesthetists (29-1151)
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners	$73.00	$151,074	MSN-PMHNP	BLS proxy: Nurse Practitioners (29-1171) in Mental Health facilities and services (NAICS: 621330, 621420, 623220)

Average Nurse Salary by State

Nurse salaries can vary widely, with some professionals making from $60,000 per year to six figures.

Below, you can see the nurse salary by state for all US states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The industry and substate data for Colorado were suspended due to quality concerns.

Certified Nursing Assistant Salary by State

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are trained healthcare professionals who provide basic patient care under the supervision of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses. The role is an entry-level position requiring the least preparation in the industry, with a state-approved CNA program typically taking 4 to 12 weeks for completion. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the current national salary for nurse assistants at $42,700 per year, or $20.53 per hour.

Below you can find the current estimates for the certified nursing assistant salary by state, as presented by the BLS:

State	Annual Nursing Assistant Salary	Adjusted Annual Nursing Assistant Salary	Hourly Nursing Assistant Wage
Alabama	$33,670	$38,002	$16.19
Alaska	$48,920	$39,167	$23.52
Arizona	$44,820	$40,488	$21.55
Arkansas	$33,970	$37,913	$16.33
California	$50,190	$35,271	$24.13
Colorado	$47,400	$46,154	$22.79
Connecticut	$45,440	$40,319	$21.85
Delaware	$42,290	$41,501	$20.33
District of Columbia	$47,930	$34,532	$23.04
Florida	$39,160	$38,317	$18.83
Georgia	$38,760	$41,903	$18.64
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	$45,710	$24,708	$21.98
Idaho	$39,100	$39,139	$18.80
Illinois	$45,230	$47,761	$21.75
Indiana	$40,200	$44,176	$19.33
Iowa	$41,490	$46,254	$19.95
Kansas	$39,730	$44,741	$19.10
Kentucky	$39,170	$42,346	$18.83
Louisiana	$32,250	$34,940	$15.51
Maine	$47,510	$42,044	$22.84
Maryland	$43,310	$37,530	$20.82
Massachusetts	$47,700	$33,782	$22.93
Michigan	$41,490	$46,049	$19.95
Minnesota	$46,030	$48,658	$22.13
Mississippi	$32,890	$37,675	$15.81
Missouri	$38,410	$43,157	$18.47
Montana	$43,160	$45,194	$20.75
Nebraska	$42,390	$45,778	$20.38
Nevada	$44,900	$44,810	$21.59
New Hampshire	$49,290	$44,246	$23.70
New Jersey	$46,810	$40,669	$22.50
New Mexico	$41,400	$44,184	$19.90
New York	$48,800	$39,009	$23.46
North Carolina	$39,280	$40,164	$18.89
North Dakota	$43,330	$47,407	$20.83
Ohio	$40,520	$42,969	$19.48
Oklahoma	$35,920	$41,767	$17.27
Oregon	$52,160	$46,655	$25.08
Pennsylvania	$43,960	$45,226	$21.14
Puerto Rico	$28,520	$28,406	$13.71
Rhode Island	$46,360	$41,917	$22.29
South Carolina	$37,390	$39,483	$17.98
South Dakota	$39,510	$42,992	$19.00
Tennessee	$38,230	$42,337	$18.38
Texas	$38,780	$42,106	$18.65
Utah	$40,450	$39,579	$19.45
Vermont	$46,850	$41,241	$22.52
Virgin Islands	$38,310	$34,514	$18.42
Virginia	$42,160	$41,825	$20.27
Washington	$52,230	$45,776	$25.11
West Virginia	$37,490	$42,458	$18.02
Wisconsin	$44,600	$45,650	$21.44
Wyoming	$41,470	$44,258	$19.94

Licensed Practical Nurse Salary by State

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, licensed practical nurses earn an average of $67,050 per year, which corresponds to an hourly wage of $32.24.

LPN employment is also expected to grow steadily throughout the decade. The most recent BLS job outlook projections indicate a 3% growth from 2024 to 2034, which is slightly slower than the average for all occupations (4%). 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:

Washington – $83,900 per year
California – $82,340 per year
Oregon – $81,420 per year
Rhode Island – $80,120 per year
Alaska – $80,000 per year
Massachusetts – $79,270 per year
New Hampshire – $76,570 per year
Arizona – $76,120 per year
New Jersey – $74,600 per year
Nevada – $74,470 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 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary	Adjusted Annual Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary	Hourly Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Wage
Alabama	$55,310	$62,427	$26.59
Alaska	$80,000	$64,051	$38.46
Arizona	$76,120	$68,762	$36.60
Arkansas	$55,690	$62,154	$26.77
California	$82,340	$57,864	$39.59
Colorado	$70,820	$68,958	$34.05
Connecticut	$72,580	$64,401	$34.89
Delaware	$69,500	$68,204	$33.42
District of Columbia	$74,030	$53,336	$35.59
Florida	$62,150	$60,812	$29.88
Georgia	$61,640	$66,638	$29.64
Guam	$46,630	$37,605	$22.42
Hawaii	$71,560	$38,681	$34.41
Idaho	$63,860	$63,924	$30.70
Illinois	$73,430	$77,540	$35.30
Indiana	$65,840	$72,352	$31.66
Iowa	$63,420	$70,702	$30.49
Kansas	$62,660	$70,563	$30.12
Kentucky	$60,460	$65,362	$29.07
Louisiana	$56,590	$61,311	$27.21
Maine	$72,110	$63,814	$34.67
Maryland	$74,170	$64,272	$35.66
Massachusetts	$79,270	$56,140	$38.11
Michigan	$67,340	$74,739	$32.37
Minnesota	$64,900	$68,605	$31.20
Mississippi	$51,450	$58,935	$24.74
Missouri	$62,410	$70,124	$30.00
Montana	$62,350	$65,288	$29.98
Nebraska	$64,560	$69,719	$31.04
Nevada	$74,470	$74,321	$35.81
New Hampshire	$76,570	$68,734	$36.81
New Jersey	$74,600	$64,813	$35.86
New Mexico	$58,630	$62,572	$28.19
New York	$69,170	$55,292	$33.26
North Carolina	$63,720	$65,153	$30.64
North Dakota	$62,230	$68,085	$29.92
Ohio	$62,020	$65,769	$29.82
Oklahoma	$56,800	$66,047	$27.31
Oregon	$81,420	$72,826	$39.15
Pennsylvania	$65,930	$67,829	$31.70
Puerto Rico	$37,640	$37,490	$18.10
Rhode Island	$80,120	$72,441	$38.52
South Carolina	$63,170	$66,705	$30.37
South Dakota	$54,990	$59,837	$26.44
Tennessee	$56,470	$62,536	$27.15
Texas	$62,770	$68,154	$30.18
Utah	$62,110	$60,773	$29.86
Vermont	$70,110	$61,717	$33.71
Virgin Islands	$65,720	$59,207	$31.60
Virginia	$66,300	$65,774	$31.88
Washington	$83,900	$73,532	$40.34
West Virginia	$56,190	$63,635	$27.02
Wisconsin	$65,870	$67,421	$31.67
Wyoming	$63,300	$67,556	$30.44

Read more about LPN salaries to better understand how they can vary by location and what other factors affect them.

Registered Nurse Salary by State

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses earn an average of $101,420 per year, equivalent to an hourly wage of $48.76. Notably, the annual mean wage of RNs has increased from previous years, exceeding the $100,000 mark at the national level.

Compared with previous years, job market growth for registered nurses decreased slightly by 1%. Considering the job outlook, BLS statistics show a 5% employment increase over the decade, higher than the 3% increase for all occupations but below the 8% increase for all healthcare practitioners who diagnose and treat. Numerically, the increase amounts to 166,100 additional jobs by 2033. Additionally, RNs have 189,100 new job openings each year.

Read more about the job outlook for registered nurses to understand how the benefits and obligations of an RN vary across roles and work settings.

States With the Highest Salaries for RNs

At the state level, most salary estimates increased in accordance with national growth. Notably, the top 10 highest-paying states in the US did not change from year to year.

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

California – $150,280 per year
Hawaii – $124,340 per year
Oregon – $123,140 per year
Washington – $121,540 per year
Massachusetts – $117,960 per year
Alaska – $114,870 per year
New York – $113,440 per year
New Jersey – $110,100 per year
District of Columbia – $106,980 per year
Nevada – $105,710 per year
Connecticut – $105,250 per year
Minnesota – $103,420 per year
Rhode Island – $101,260 per year

All RN salary estimates for other states are below $100,000. 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 Registered Nurse Salary	Adjusted Annual Registered Nurse Salary	Hourly Registered Nurse Wage
Alabama	$77,020	$86,930	$37.03
Alaska	$114,870	$91,970	$55.23
Arizona	$99,730	$90,090	$47.95
Arkansas	$81,520	$73,441	$39.19
California	$150,280	$105,608	$72.25
Colorado	$99,370	$96,758	$47.78
Connecticut	$105,250	$84,879	$50.60
Delaware	$99,460	$97,605	$47.82
District of Columbia	$106,980	$77,075	$51.43
Florida	$90,650	$88,699	$43.58
Georgia	$95,080	$102,789	$45.71
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	$124,340	$67,211	$59.78
Idaho	$92,710	$92,803	$44.57
Illinois	$94,360	$99,641	$45.36
Indiana	$89,150	$97,967	$42.86
Iowa	$80,540	$89,788	$38.72
Kansas	$82,360	$92,748	$39.60
Kentucky	$86,140	$93,124	$41.41
Louisiana	$84,190	$91,213	$40.48
Maine	$91,700	$81,150	$44.09
Maryland	$99,010	$85,797	$47.60
Massachusetts	$117,960	$83,541	$56.71
Michigan	$94,300	$104,661	$45.34
Minnesota	$103,420	$109,323	$49.72
Mississippi	$78,950	$90,435	$37.96
Missouri	$85,900	$96,517	$41.30
Montana	$91,510	$95,822	$43.99
Nebraska	$88,330	$95,389	$42.47
Nevada	$105,710	$105,499	$50.82
New Hampshire	$97,900	$87,882	$47.07
New Jersey	$110,100	$95,656	$52.93
New Mexico	$95,290	$101,697	$45.81
New York	$113,440	$90,679	$54.54
North Carolina	$90,470	$92,505	$43.50
North Dakota	$83,600	$91,466	$40.19
Ohio	$87,730	$93,033	$42.18
Oklahoma	$85,060	$98,907	$40.90
Oregon	$123,140	$110,143	$59.20
Pennsylvania	$94,020	$96,728	$45.20
Puerto Rico	$46,190	$46,006	$22.21
Rhode Island	$101,260	$91,555	$48.68
South Carolina	$87,670	$92,577	$42.15
South Dakota	$77,140	$83,939	$37.09
Tennessee	$85,390	$94,563	$41.05
Texas	$95,380	$103,561	$45.86
Utah	$90,950	$88,992	$43.72
Vermont	$96,650	$85,079	$46.47
Virgin Islands	$89,910	$81,000	$43.23
Virginia	$93,850	$93,105	$45.12
Washington	$121,540	$106,521	$58.43
West Virginia	$86,970	$86,624	$41.81
Wisconsin	$94,690	$96,919	$45.53
Wyoming	$88,600	$94,557	$42.60

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

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 on the salaries of BSN-educated nurses, the BSN Nursing portal notes that BSN-educated nurses are among the top 25% earners in the field. Therefore, the data on 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 hold a BSN. 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

While the highest-paying states for BSN nurses remained the same, BSN salaries in New York grew disproportionately, surpassing those in Alaska and DC, both of which had previously had higher salaries. Here are the 10 highest-paying states for BSN-level nurses across the US:

California – $173,170 per year
Hawaii – $144,140 per year
Massachusetts – $136,110 per year
Oregon – $134,420 per year
Washington – $134,240 per year
New York – $129,660 per year
Alaska – $129,100 per year
District of Columbia – $127,800 per year
New Jersey – $127,730 per year
Connecticut – $121,840 per year

Below, you can find the current BSN salary estimates for all US states and territories.

State	Annual Registered Nurse Salary	Adjusted Annual Registered Nurse Salary	Hourly Registered Nurse Wage
Alabama	$83,380	$94,108	$40.09
Alaska	$129,100	$103,363	$62.07
Arizona	$108,580	$98,085	$52.20
Arkansas	$90,280	$100,759	$43.40
California	$173,170	$121,694	$83.25
Colorado	$108,930	$106,066	$52.37
Connecticut	$121,840	$108,110	$58.58
Delaware	$111,720	$109,637	$53.71
District of Columbia	$127,800	$92,075	$61.44
Florida	$101,180	$99,002	$48.64
Georgia	$106,330	$114,951	$51.12
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	$144,140	$77,914	$69.30
Idaho	$102,320	$102,422	$49.19
Illinois	$105,960	$111,890	$50.94
Indiana	$100,410	$110,341	$48.28
Iowa	$85,940	$95,808	$41.32
Kansas	$94,700	$106,644	$45.53
Kentucky	$97,200	$105,081	$46.73
Louisiana	$93,600	$101,408	$45.00
Maine	$101,460	$89,788	$48.78
Maryland	$107,340	$93,016	$51.61
Massachusetts	$136,110	$96,395	$65.44
Michigan	$103,450	$114,817	$49.74
Minnesota	$114,760	$121,311	$55.17
Mississippi	$84,500	$96,793	$40.62
Missouri	$98,560	$110,742	$47.39
Montana	$100,800	$105,550	$48.46
Nebraska	$99,640	$107,603	$47.90
Nevada	$120,270	$120,030	$57.82
New Hampshire	$108,400	$97,307	$52.12
New Jersey	$127,730	$110,973	$61.41
New Mexico	$102,750	$109,658	$49.40
New York	$129,660	$103,645	$62.34
North Carolina	$102,040	$104,335	$49.06
North Dakota	$93,080	$101,838	$44.75
Ohio	$99,030	$105,016	$47.61
Oklahoma	$98,910	$115,012	$47.55
Oregon	$134,420	$120,233	$64.63
Pennsylvania	$104,730	$107,747	$50.35
Puerto Rico	$49,340	$49,143	$23.72
Rhode Island	$107,100	$96,835	$51.49
South Carolina	$97,230	$102,672	$46.75
South Dakota	$84,280	$91,708	$40.52
Tennessee	$95,250	$105,482	$45.79
Texas	$105,100	$114,115	$50.53
Utah	$105,130	$102,867	$50.54
Vermont	$105,210	$92,614	$50.58
Virgin Islands	$102,250	$92,117	$49.16
Virginia	$103,030	$102,212	$49.53
Washington	$134,240	$117,651	$64.54
West Virginia	$99,770	$112,990	$47.97
Wisconsin	$102,610	$105,026	$49.33
Wyoming	$101,100	$107,898	$48.61

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 jobs you may access once you earn your bachelor’s in nursing.

Nurse Manager Salary

On average, and at the national level, nurse managers earn $140,970 per year, or $67.77 per hour, representing one of the highest-paying jobs that you can do with a BSN. However, depending on the industry you end up working in as a nurse manager, your salary can reach $224,340 per year or $107.86 per hour.

Below, you can find the nurse case manager salary for each US state, according to the BLS (figures for Medical and Health Services Managers):

State	Annual Nurse Manager Salary	Adjusted Annual Nurse Manager Salary	Hourly Nurse Manager Wage
Alabama	$105,940	$119,571	$50.93
Alaska	$159,080	$127,366	$76.48
Arizona	$144,130	$130,199	$69.29
Arkansas	$101,500	$113,281	$48.80
California	$159,170	$111,855	$76.52
Colorado	$150,380	$146,426	$72.30
Connecticut	$148,630	$131,881	$71.46
Delaware	$166,210	$163,111	$79.91
District of Columbia	$162,210	$116,866	$77.99
Florida	$135,410	$132,495	$65.10
Georgia	$152,220	$164,562	$73.19
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	$156,310	$84,492	$75.15
Idaho	$125,550	$125,676	$60.36
Illinois	$139,160	$146,948	$66.90
Indiana	$124,860	$137,209	$60.03
Iowa	$116,020	$129,342	$55.78
Kansas	$125,580	$141,419	$60.38
Kentucky	$123,590	$133,611	$59.42
Louisiana	$125,410	$135,872	$60.29
Maine	$140,150	$124,027	$67.38
Maryland	$148,720	$128,873	$71.50
Massachusetts	$161,150	$114,129	$77.48
Michigan	$127,430	$141,432	$61.26
Minnesota	$134,720	$142,410	$64.77
Mississippi	$109,680	$125,636	$52.73
Missouri	$121,880	$136,944	$58.60
Montana	$124,400	$130,262	$59.81
Nebraska	$126,560	$136,674	$60.85
Nevada	$129,560	$129,301	$62.29
New Hampshire	$155,100	$139,228	$74.57
New Jersey	$178,050	$154,692	$85.60
New Mexico	$134,280	$143,308	$64.56
New York	$184,960	$147,850	$88.92
North Carolina	$135,710	$138,763	$65.25
North Dakota	$124,000	$135,667	$59.62
Ohio	$127,900	$135,631	$61.49
Oklahoma	$115,820	$134,674	$55.68
Oregon	$167,090	$149,454	$80.33
Pennsylvania	$117,690	$121,080	$56.58
Puerto Rico	$104,270	$103,855	$50.13
Rhode Island	$131,360	$118,770	$63.15
South Carolina	$129,160	$136,389	$62.10
South Dakota	$130,720	$142,242	$62.85
Tennessee	$128,340	$142,126	$61.70
Texas	$128,860	$139,913	$61.95
Utah	$134,450	$131,556	$64.64
Vermont	$152,120	$133,908	$73.14
Virgin Islands	$108,280	$97,550	$52.06
Virginia	$142,340	$141,210	$68.43
Washington	$162,380	$142,314	$78.07
West Virginia	$136,050	$154,077	$65.41
Wisconsin	$152,150	$155,732	$73.15
Wyoming	$117,280	$125,165	$56.39

Explore nurse manager salaries by state, along with additional data on wage estimates.

Informatics Nurse Salary

Informatics nurses make, on average, $74,970 per year or $36.04 per hour, according to the BLS (Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars).

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

State	Annual Informatics Nurse Salary	Adjusted Annual Informatics Nurse Salary	Hourly Informatics Nurse Wage
Alabama	-	-	-
Alaska	$77,720	$62,226	$37.37
Arizona	$60,940	$55,050	$29.30
Arkansas	$84,750	$94,587	$40.75
California	$103,250	$72,558	$49.64
Colorado	$81,850	$79,698	$39.35
Connecticut	$76,280	$67,684	$36.67
Delaware	$63,400	$62,218	$30.48
District of Columbia	$80,650	$58,105	$38.78
Florida	$79,520	$77,808	$38.23
Georgia	$74,300	$80,324	$35.72
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	$66,570	$35,984	$32.01
Idaho	$68,180	$68,248	$32.78
Illinois	$62,280	$65,766	$29.94
Indiana	$56,540	$62,132	$27.18
Iowa	$78,050	$87,012	$37.52
Kansas	$64,870	$73,052	$31.19
Kentucky	$60,650	$65,568	$29.16
Louisiana	$67,960	$73,629	$32.67
Maine	$64,690	$57,248	$31.10
Maryland	$82,640	$71,612	$39.73
Massachusetts	$88,600	$62,748	$42.60
Michigan	$71,140	$78,957	$34.20
Minnesota	$91,280	$96,490	$43.89
Mississippi	$52,740	$60,412	$25.36
Missouri	$63,350	$71,180	$30.46
Montana	$75,610	$79,173	$36.35
Nebraska	$60,930	$65,799	$29.29
Nevada	$66,600	$66,467	$32.02
New Hampshire	$81,370	$73,043	$39.12
New Jersey	$78,380	$68,097	$37.68
New Mexico	$44,140	$47,108	$21.22
New York	$82,170	$65,683	$39.50
North Carolina	$68,960	$70,511	$33.15
North Dakota	$72,010	$78,786	$34.62
Ohio	$69,160	$73,340	$33.25
Oklahoma	$49,470	$57,523	$23.79
Oregon	$92,260	$82,522	$44.35
Pennsylvania	$65,360	$67,243	$31.42
Puerto Rico	$32,130	$32,002	$15.45
Rhode Island	$90,150	$81,510	$43.34
South Carolina	$49,480	$52,249	$23.79
South Dakota	$62,970	$68,520	$30.28
Tennessee	$65,850	$72,924	$31.66
Texas	$78,930	$85,700	$37.95
Utah	$73,720	$72,133	$35.44
Vermont	$77,910	$68,583	$37.46
Virgin Islands	-	-	-
Virginia	$71,070	$70,506	$34.17
Washington	$69,530	$60,938	$33.43
West Virginia	$60,720	$68,766	$29.19
Wisconsin	$86,830	$88,874	$41.74
Wyoming	$86,570	$92,391	$41.62

ICU Nurse Salary

While being an ICU nurse is a demanding job and one of the RN positions with the highest level of responsibility, the salaries are correspondingly high. On average nationwide, ICU nurses earn $85,205 per year, or $41 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 Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrar Salary	Adjusted Annual Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrar Salary	Hourly Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrar Wage
Alabama	$77,229	$87,166	$37.13
Alaska	$91,761	$73,468	$44.12
Arizona	$79,402	$71,727	$38.17
Arkansas	$70,456	$78,634	$33.87
California	$84,089	$59,093	$40.43
Colorado	$89,595	$87,240	$43.07
Connecticut	$81,054	$71,920	$38.97
Delaware	$85,279	$83,689	$41.00
District of Columbia	$96,284	$69,369	$46.29
Florida	$63,673	$62,302	$30.61
Georgia	$71,946	$77,779	$34.59
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	$88,525	$47,851	$42.56
Idaho	$80,169	$80,249	$38.54
Illinois	$82,566	$87,187	$39.70
Indiana	$81,078	$89,097	$38.98
Iowa	$80,030	$89,220	$38.48
Kansas	$75,990	$85,574	$36.53
Kentucky	$74,003	$80,003	$35.58
Louisiana	$72,861	$78,939	$35.03
Maine	$82,495	$73,004	$39.66
Maryland	$82,695	$71,659	$39.76
Massachusetts	$93,055	$65,903	$44.74
Michigan	$74,264	$82,424	$35.70
Minnesota	$83,451	$88,215	$40.12
Mississippi	$80,695	$92,434	$38.80
Missouri	$79,923	$89,801	$38.42
Montana	$78,205	$81,890	$37.60
Nebraska	$81,239	$87,731	$39.06
Nevada	$86,765	$86,592	$41.71
New Hampshire	$82,863	$74,383	$39.84
New Jersey	$86,503	$75,155	$41.59
New Mexico	$82,570	$88,122	$39.70
New York	$93,217	$74,514	$44.82
North Carolina	$77,435	$79,177	$37.23
North Dakota	$90,154	$98,637	$43.34
Ohio	$81,004	$85,900	$38.94
Oklahoma	$78,673	$91,480	$37.82
Oregon	$90,086	$80,578	$43.31
Pennsylvania	$85,410	$87,870	$41.06
Puerto Rico	-	-	-
Rhode Island	$83,442	$75,445	$40.12
South Carolina	$79,066	$83,491	$38.01
South Dakota	$85,205	$92,715	$40.96
Tennessee	$77,334	$85,641	$37.18
Texas	$79,382	$86,191	$38.16
Utah	$77,568	$75,898	$37.29
Vermont	$90,595	$79,749	$43.56
Virgin Islands	-	-	-
Virginia	$84,474	$83,804	$40.61
Washington	$96,503	$84,578	$46.40
West Virginia	$65,963	$74,703	$31.71
Wisconsin	$86,002	$88,027	$41.35
Wyoming	$81,901	$87,408	$39.38

Learn more about the ICU nurse salaries across the US.

Travel Nurse Salary

Travel nurses are BSN-trained professionals who 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 serves as a temporary employee who fills short-term employment gaps, making them essential given 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 (according to ZipRecruiter).

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:

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 Indeed.com, operating room registered nurses (also known as perioperative nurses) make $91,866 per year or $38.00 per hour, which is higher than the US average for RNs.

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

State	Annual Perioperative/Surgical Nurse Salary	Adjusted Annual Perioperative/Surgical Nurse Salary	Hourly Perioperative/Surgical Nurse Wage
Alabama	$106,095	$119,746	$51.01
Alaska	$126,059	$100,928	$60.61
Arizona	$109,079	$98,536	$52.44
Arkansas	$96,791	$108,026	$46.53
California	$115,519	$81,180	$55.54
Colorado	$123,082	$119,846	$59.17
Connecticut	$111,350	$98,802	$53.53
Delaware	$117,153	$114,969	$56.32
District of Columbia	$132,272	$95,297	$63.59
Florida	$87,472	$85,589	$42.05
Georgia	$98,837	$106,851	$47.52
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	$121,612	$65,736	$58.47
Idaho	$110,134	$110,244	$52.95
Illinois	$113,426	$119,774	$54.53
Indiana	$111,383	$122,399	$53.55
Iowa	$109,943	$122,567	$52.86
Kansas	$104,393	$117,560	$50.19
Kentucky	$101,663	$109,906	$48.88
Louisiana	$100,094	$108,444	$48.12
Maine	$113,330	$100,292	$54.49
Maryland	$113,604	$98,444	$54.62
Massachusetts	$127,835	$90,535	$61.46
Michigan	$102,022	$113,232	$49.05
Minnesota	$114,642	$121,186	$55.12
Mississippi	$110,856	$126,983	$53.30
Missouri	$109,795	$123,365	$52.79
Montana	$107,436	$112,498	$51.65
Nebraska	$111,603	$120,522	$53.66
Nevada	$119,195	$118,957	$57.31
New Hampshire	$113,834	$102,185	$54.73
New Jersey	$118,836	$103,246	$57.13
New Mexico	$113,432	$121,059	$54.53
New York	$128,059	$102,365	$61.57
North Carolina	$106,377	$108,770	$51.14
North Dakota	$123,851	$135,504	$59.54
Ohio	$111,281	$118,007	$53.50
Oklahoma	$108,078	$125,672	$51.96
Oregon	$123,758	$110,696	$59.50
Pennsylvania	$117,333	$120,713	$56.41
Puerto Rico	-	-	-
Rhode Island	$114,630	$103,644	$55.11
South Carolina	$108,619	$114,698	$52.22
South Dakota	$117,052	$127,369	$56.27
Tennessee	$106,239	$117,651	$51.08
Texas	$109,052	$118,406	$52.43
Utah	$106,561	$104,267	$51.23
Vermont	$124,456	$109,556	$59.83
Virgin Islands	-	-	-
Virginia	$116,048	$115,127	$55.79
Washington	$132,573	$116,190	$63.74
West Virginia	$90,618	$102,625	$43.57
Wisconsin	$118,147	$120,928	$56.80
Wyoming	$112,513	$120,078	$54.09

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

If you want to advance your education and also increase your expected salary, Nightingale College provides a three-year BSN program — a flexible and accessible hybrid program that focuses on concept-based theory, intervention skill-based and case-based preparation, as well as direct focused client care, to prepare you for taking the NCLEX-RN.

Reach your fullest career potential with our programs!

BSN salary by state

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.

You can also read our comprehensive, dedicated MSN salary overview.

Nurse Educator Salary

The national average estimated salary for nurse educators in 2026 is $86,410 per year. Nursing instructors are in particularly high demand. The nursing faculty shortage is a leading cause of the nationwide nursing shortage, making the job outlook for nurse educators all the more promising.

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

State	Annual Nurse Educator Salary	Adjusted Annual Nurse Educator Salary	Hourly Nurse Educator Wage
Alabama	$82,800	$93,454	*
Alaska	$97,020	$77,678	*
Arizona	$84,560	$76,387	*
Arkansas	$67,790	$75,658	*
California	$96,830	$68,046	*
Colorado	$86,560	$84,284	*
Connecticut	$94,470	$83,824	*
Delaware	$99,500	$97,645	*
District of Columbia	$109,610	$78,970	*
Florida	$83,110	$81,321	*
Georgia	$78,320	$84,670	*
Guam	-	-	*
Hawaii	$125,620	$67,903	*
Idaho	$93,950	$94,044	*
Illinois	$78,320	$82,703	*
Indiana	$78,950	$86,758	*
Iowa	$78,050	$87,012	*
Kansas	$69,990	$78,818	*
Kentucky	$76,560	$82,768	*
Louisiana	$87,790	$95,114	*
Maine	$84,150	$74,469	*
Maryland	$88,480	$76,672	*
Massachusetts	$95,000	$67,280	*
Michigan	$81,190	$90,111	*
Minnesota	$87,310	$92,294	*
Mississippi	$78,460	$89,874	*
Missouri	$80,930	$90,933	*
Montana	$76,960	$80,586	*
Nebraska	$89,010	$96,123	*
Nevada	$89,750	$89,571	*
New Hampshire	$81,420	$73,088	*
New Jersey	$83,650	$72,676	*
New Mexico	$75,960	$81,067	*
New York	$91,290	$72,974	*
North Carolina	$85,230	$87,147	*
North Dakota	$85,640	$93,698	*
Ohio	$73,110	$77,529	*
Oklahoma	$70,440	$81,907	*
Oregon	$84,450	$75,537	*
Pennsylvania	$80,100	$82,407	*
Puerto Rico	$66,660	$66,394	*
Rhode Island	$81,060	$73,291	*
South Carolina	$88,730	$93,696	*
South Dakota	$74,120	$80,653	*
Tennessee	$82,240	$91,074	*
Texas	$96,030	$104,267	*
Utah	$79,910	$78,190	*
Vermont	$76,960	$67,746	*
Virgin Islands	-	-	*
Virginia	$85,480	$84,802	*
Washington	$92,500	$81,069	*
West Virginia	$67,250	$76,161	*
Wisconsin	$87,000	$89,048	*
Wyoming	$71,940	$76,777	*

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 $137,300 annually or $66.01 per hour. Nurse practitioners are easily the nursing specialty with the best career outlook. The NP employment rate is expected to grow by 40% by 2034, with approximately 128,400 new jobs being created throughout the decade and 32,700 openings per year for all APRNs.

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

State	Annual Nurse Practitioner Salary	Adjusted Annual Nurse Practitioner Salary	Hourly Nurse Practitioner Wage
Alabama	$110,970	$125,248	$53.35
Alaska	$149,120	$119,392	$71.69
Arizona	$140,600	$127,010	$67.59
Arkansas	$130,260	$145,379	$62.63
California	$176,760	$124,216	$84.98
Colorado	$132,540	$129,056	$63.72
Connecticut	$142,340	$126,300	$68.43
Delaware	$132,900	$130,422	$63.89
District of Columbia	$146,470	$105,526	$70.42
Florida	$130,410	$127,603	$62.70
Georgia	$128,800	$139,243	$61.93
Guam	$123,960	$99,968	$59.59
Hawaii	$142,910	$77,249	$68.71
Idaho	$133,420	$133,554	$64.14
Illinois	$130,940	$138,268	$62.95
Indiana	$126,600	$139,121	$60.86
Iowa	$136,940	$152,664	$65.84
Kansas	$127,940	$144,077	$61.51
Kentucky	$125,010	$135,146	$60.10
Louisiana	$126,630	$137,194	$60.88
Maine	$134,210	$118,770	$64.53
Maryland	$133,360	$115,563	$64.12
Massachusetts	$152,320	$107,875	$73.23
Michigan	$132,790	$147,381	$63.84
Minnesota	$135,890	$143,647	$65.33
Mississippi	$125,340	$143,574	$60.26
Missouri	$130,970	$147,157	$62.97
Montana	$135,290	$141,665	$65.04
Nebraska	$131,710	$142,235	$63.32
Nevada	$137,410	$137,136	$66.06
New Hampshire	$138,070	$123,941	$66.38
New Jersey	$155,750	$135,317	$74.88
New Mexico	$143,510	$153,159	$68.99
New York	$153,900	$123,022	$73.99
North Carolina	$130,870	$133,814	$62.92
North Dakota	$126,370	$138,260	$60.76
Ohio	$122,910	$130,339	$59.09
Oklahoma	$134,200	$156,047	$64.52
Oregon	$155,780	$139,338	$74.89
Pennsylvania	$132,070	$135,874	$63.50
Puerto Rico	-	-	-
Rhode Island	$143,150	$129,430	$68.82
South Carolina	$124,170	$131,119	$59.70
South Dakota	$125,160	$136,192	$60.17
Tennessee	$115,510	$127,918	$55.53
Texas	$131,420	$142,693	$63.18
Utah	$137,060	$134,110	$65.90
Vermont	$139,400	$122,711	$67.02
Virgin Islands	-	-	-
Virginia	$129,060	$128,036	$62.05
Washington	$152,180	$133,374	$73.16
West Virginia	$126,780	$143,579	$60.95
Wisconsin	$135,160	$138,342	$64.98
Wyoming	$132,680	$141,601	$63.79

Find out more about nurse practitioner salaries in the US.

Certified Nurse Midwife Salary

Nurse-midwives earn an average annual salary of $136,980. That breaks down to $65.86 per hour. They also have great job prospects. BLS projections indicate that the job outlook for midwifery will grow by 11% throughout the decade.

With a previous yearly decrease of $3,460, the most recent annual salary estimate increased by $8,870 in 2025-2026.

Here are the salaries of a nurse-midwife for the states where estimates are available, according to the BLS:

State	Annual Nurse-Midwife Salary	Adjusted Annual Nurse-Midwife Salary	Hourly Nurse Nurse-Midwife Wage
Alabama	-	-	-
Alaska	$144,130	$115,396	$69.29
Arizona	$159,910	$144,453	$76.88
Arkansas	-	-	-
California	$194,730	$136,845	$93.62
Colorado	$138,520	$134,878	$66.60
Connecticut	$131,680	$116,841	$63.31
Delaware	$130,610	$128,175	$62.79
District of Columbia	$119,310	$85,958	$57.36
Florida	$111,870	$109,462	$53.78
Georgia	$119,120	$128,778	$57.27
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	$165,360	$89,384	$79.50
Idaho	-	-	-
Illinois	$113,800	$120,169	$54.71
Indiana	$114,640	$125,978	$55.12
Iowa	$123,000	$137,124	$59.13
Kansas	-	-	-
Kentucky	-	-	-
Louisiana	$116,840	$126,587	$56.17
Maine	$131,090	$116,009	$63.02
Maryland	$141,880	$122,946	$68.21
Massachusetts	$162,420	$115,028	$78.09
Michigan	$125,240	$139,001	$60.21
Minnesota	$135,380	$143,108	$65.09
Mississippi	-	-	-
Missouri	$131,470	$147,719	$63.21
Montana	-	-	-
Nebraska	$137,300	$148,272	$66.01
Nevada	-	-	-
New Hampshire	$136,610	$122,630	$65.68
New Jersey	$159,170	$138,288	$76.52
New Mexico	$122,130	$130,342	$58.72
New York	$143,360	$114,596	$68.93
North Carolina	$123,920	$126,708	$59.58
North Dakota	$99,740	$109,125	$47.95
Ohio	$125,210	$132,778	$60.20
Oklahoma	-	-	-
Oregon	$146,010	$130,599	$70.20
Pennsylvania	$116,390	$119,743	$55.96
Puerto Rico	-	-	-
Rhode Island	$135,610	$122,613	$65.20
South Carolina	$120,550	$127,297	$57.96
South Dakota	-	-	-
Tennessee	$115,780	$128,217	$55.66
Texas	$122,910	$133,453	$59.09
Utah	$128,650	$125,881	$61.85
Vermont	$148,100	$130,370	$71.20
Virgin Islands	-	-	-
Virginia	$139,620	$138,512	$67.12
Washington	$140,860	$123,453	$67.72
West Virginia	-	-	-
Wisconsin	$127,300	$130,297	$61.20
Wyoming	-	-	-

Find out more about nurse midwife salaries across the US.

Certified Nurse Anesthetist Salary

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are by far the best paid advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). At the national level, nurse anesthetists earn an average of $248,320 annually, increasing by more than $15,000 from year to year. The mean hourly wage is $119.38. Also, they have excellent job prospects. The BLS estimates indicate that there will be over 4,600 new job openings for nurse anesthetists over the decade, a 9% increase, which amounts to a 1% decrease from previous yearly estimates.

One important change is that you cannot become a nurse anesthetist with an MSN degree. As of 2025, aspiring CRNAs require a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) to practice, according to the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA CRNA).

Below you can find the nurse anesthetist salary for every US state where the BLS collected data:

State	Annual Nurse Anesthetist Salary	Adjusted Annual Nurse Anesthetist Salary	Hourly Nurse Anesthetist Wage
Alabama	$189,120	$213,454	$90.92
Alaska	$311,110	$249,087	$149.57
Arizona	$256,610	$231,807	$123.37
Arkansas	$198,540	$221,585	$95.45
California	$283,780	$199,424	$136.43
Colorado	-	-	-
Connecticut	$225,810	$200,364	$108.56
Delaware	-	-	-
District of Columbia	-	-	-
Florida	$239,830	$234,667	$115.30
Georgia	$226,330	$244,681	$108.81
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	-	-	-
Idaho	$265,850	$266,116	$127.81
Illinois	$251,600	$265,681	$120.96
Indiana	-	-	-
Iowa	$253,510	$282,620	$121.88
Kansas	$206,320	$232,342	$99.19
Kentucky	$229,690	$248,314	$110.43
Louisiana	$243,240	$263,532	$116.94
Maine	$259,370	$229,531	$124.70
Maryland	$218,050	$188,951	$104.83
Massachusetts	$303,310	$214,809	$145.82
Michigan	$253,760	$281,643	$122.00
Minnesota	$259,210	$274,006	$124.62
Mississippi	$217,470	$249,107	$104.55
Missouri	$271,780	$305,371	$130.66
Montana	$270,330	$283,068	$129.96
Nebraska	$255,610	$276,037	$122.89
Nevada	-	-	-
New Hampshire	$277,740	$249,318	$133.53
New Jersey	$290,920	$252,754	$139.87
New Mexico	$149,980	$160,064	$72.11
New York	$285,020	$227,834	$137.03
North Carolina	$226,780	$231,881	$109.03
North Dakota	$248,580	$271,969	$119.51
Ohio	$236,830	$251,145	$113.86
Oklahoma	$190,820	$221,884	$91.74
Oregon	$280,010	$250,456	$134.62
Pennsylvania	$233,320	$240,041	$112.17
Puerto Rico		$0
Rhode Island	-	-	-
South Carolina	$276,380	$291,848	$132.87
South Dakota	$249,720	$271,730	$120.06
Tennessee	$218,870	$242,381	$105.23
Texas	$255,820	$277,763	$122.99
Utah	$139,750	$136,742	$67.19
Vermont	$289,870	$255,167	$139.36
Virgin Islands	-	-	-
Virginia	$254,820	$252,798	$122.51
Washington	$273,760	$239,930	$131.61
West Virginia	$275,100	$311,552	$132.26
Wisconsin	$272,470	$278,884	$130.99
Wyoming	$260,650	$278,175	$125.31

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 who specialize 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 an average of $151,074 per year, equivalent to an hourly wage of $73.00. Below, you can find psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner salary estimates for each US state where data is provided by the BLS:

State	Annual Psychiatric-Mental Health Practitioner Salary	Adjusted Annual Psychiatric-Mental Health Practitioner Salary	Hourly Psychiatric-Mental Health Practitioner Wage
Alabama	$124,685	$140,728	$59.95
Alaska	$165,330	$132,370	$79.49
Arizona	$172,004	$155,379	$82.69
Arkansas	-	-	-
California	$179,377	$126,056	$86.24
Colorado	$139,750	$136,076	$67.19
Connecticut	$152,647	$135,446	$73.39
Delaware	-	-	-
District of Columbia	$168,710	$121,549	$81.11
Florida	$146,049	$142,905	$70.22
Georgia	$119,918	$129,641	$57.65
Guam	-	-	-
Hawaii	-	-	-
Idaho	$155,330	$155,485	$74.68
Illinois	$151,558	$160,040	$72.87
Indiana	$140,247	$154,118	$67.43
Iowa	$121,160	$135,072	$58.25
Kansas	$143,090	$161,137	$68.79
Kentucky	$121,803	$131,679	$58.56
Louisiana	$156,830	$169,913	$75.40
Maine	$131,978	$116,795	$63.45
Maryland	$151,559	$131,333	$72.87
Massachusetts	$150,277	$106,429	$72.25
Michigan	$127,007	$140,962	$61.06
Minnesota	$156,075	$164,984	$75.04
Mississippi	$109,130	$125,006	$52.47
Missouri	$127,730	$143,517	$61.41
Montana	-	-	-
Nebraska	-	-	-
Nevada	-	-	-
New Hampshire	$146,460	$131,472	$70.41
New Jersey	$192,969	$167,653	$92.77
New Mexico	-	-	-
New York	$170,562	$136,340	$82.00
North Carolina	$142,858	$146,071	$68.68
North Dakota	-	-	-
Ohio	$141,325	$149,868	$67.95
Oklahoma	$143,210	$166,523	$68.85
Oregon	-	-	-
Pennsylvania	$153,574	$157,998	$73.84
Puerto Rico	-	-	-
Rhode Island	-	-	-
South Carolina	-	-	-
South Dakota	-	-	-
Tennessee	$123,592	$136,868	$59.42
Texas	$152,616	$165,707	$73.38
Utah	$159,556	$156,121	$76.71
Vermont	$133,720	$117,711	$64.29
Virgin Islands	-	-	-
Virginia	$149,404	$148,219	$71.83
Washington	$168,628	$147,789	$81.07
West Virginia	$135,370	$153,307	$65.08
Wisconsin	$142,160	$145,507	$68.35
Wyoming	-	-	-

As you can see, earning an MSN degree has a significant impact 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 PMHNP Program prepares students to become ARPNs, with a stronger emphasis on psychiatric and mental health concepts, making it ideal for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners.

Advance your education with our programs!

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 salary difference between the lowest- and highest-paying states ranges from $37,640 (for LPNs) to $311,110 (for certified nurse anesthetists). Generally, the difference evens out to double the projected nurse salary in the lowest-paying state.

Metropolitan areas also provide better pay for nurses in general. For example, the difference in registered nurse annual salary between the highest-paying metropolitan area ($194,950 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California) and the highest-paying non-metropolitan area ($137,690 in the North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area) for registered nurses is $57,260. On average, working in metropolitan areas can add $27,950 more per year to your earnings ($114,337 versus $86,387), which is a slight decrease from the $33,790 difference from previous years.

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 $64,400 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 $33,150 more per year, reaching $97,550 per year. If, however, you also complete a BSN program, your salary is expected to increase by an additional $14,800 as you would join the top 25% earners in your field, reaching a salary of $112,350 per year. If, then, you also earn an MSN, you can earn anywhere from $48,800 to $192,969 more per year, depending on your specialization. Additionally, we have recently seen that the highest nursing specialty covered now requires a DNP/DNAP degree for certification, further enforcing that educational advancement is a central part of a functional nursing career ladder.

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 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 $101,340 and $174,420 per year.
If you enroll in the MSN PMHNP Program, you can specialize as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and potentially earn $151,074 per year, according to the average salary of NPs for psychiatric and mental health facilities.

In other words, the role you specialize in will affect your salary, duties, and future career advancement opportunities.

Work Experience

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

10th Percentile – $68,940 per year
25th Percentile – $80,330 per year
50th Percentile (Median) – $97,550 per year
75th Percentile – $112,350 per year
90th Percentile – $137,470 per year

In other words, the earning potential for the lowest 10% of RNs (usually, entry-level professionals) is $28,610 less than the national median, while the top 10% of earners (experienced BSN holders) make $39,920 more than the mean annual salary.

Industry Differences

Your place of work, as well as the industry in which you are employed, will affect your annual salary. For example, as a registered nurse, you can earn $23,710 over the national average by working in the Federal Executive Branch, the highest-paid industry. Here is a comparison of some of the highest-paying industries for registered nurses:

Industry	Annual median wage	Difference from the national median wage
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)	$121,260	+$23,710
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$114,680	+$17,130
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$113,760	+$16,210
Facilities Support Services	$109,940	+$12,390
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)	$108,670	+$11,120
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$106,910	+$9,360
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals	$102,840	+$5,290
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$102,580	+$5,030
Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds	$100,550	+$3,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$100,210	+$2,660
Management of Companies and Enterprises	$100,010	+$2,460
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution	$99,810	+$2,260
Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only)	$99,760	+$2,210
Technical and Trade Schools	$99,620	+$2,070
Outpatient Care Centers	$99,350	+$1,800

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 to make an informed decision about your chosen career.

Key Takeaways for Nurses

Registered Nurses with a BSN and an MSN will be in high demand over the next decade. And not only is demand growing, but so are salaries. Of course, alongside salary, there are many other factors to consider when choosing a career. The location, job benefits, schedule, and cost of living in the area are just a few of the factors you need to consider when pursuing a nursing job. Keep them in mind as you plan your career path, and you will get the most personal and professional satisfaction from your career as a registered nurse.

New to nursing? Enroll in Nightingale College’s BSN program and take your career to the next level!

Do you want to broaden your horizons, advance your education, and, most importantly, increase your salary? Enroll in one of Nightingale College's MSN-level programs: the MSN FNP or the MSN PMHNP.