Highest Paying States For Registered Nurses

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its latest Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Report. Not surprisingly, healthcare workers report some of the highest wages in the country. Here are all 50 states (plus Washington DC), ranked by median salary for registered nurses in 2016.

51. South Dakota
Median RN Salary: $54,380
Median Hourly: $26.14
Number of RNs in South Dakota:  12,130

50.  Iowa
Median RN Salary: $55,310
Median Hourly: $26.59
Number of RNs in Iowa:  32,370

49. Alabama
Median RN Salary: $55,500
Median Hourly: $26.68
Number of RNs in Alabama:  47,440

48. Mississippi
Median RN Salary: $55,870
Median Hourly: $26.86
Number of RNs in Mississippi:  28,590

47. Arkansas
Median RN Salary: $56,700
Median Hourly: $27.26
Number of RNs in Arkansas:  23,380

46. Kansas
Median RN Salary: $57,200
Median Hourly: $27.50
Number of RNs in Kansas:  27,130

45. Tennessee
Median RN Salary: $57,590
Median Hourly: $27.69
Number of RNs in Tennessee:  47,440

44. West Virginia
Median RN Salary: $58,200
Median Hourly: $27.98
Number of RNs in West Virginia:  20,880

43. Indiana
Median RN Salary: $58,810
Median Hourly: $28.27
Number of RNs in Indiana:  63,870

42. Missouri
Median RN Salary: $58,820
Median Hourly: $28.28
Number of RNs in Missouri:  67,920

41. Kentucky
Median RN Salary: $58,930
Median Hourly: $28.33
Number of RNs in Kentucky:  45,500

40. Nebraska
Median RN Salary: $59,180
Median Hourly: $28.45
Number of RNs in Nebraska:  21,240

39. Oklahoma
Median RN Salary: $59,270
Median Hourly: $28.49
Number of RNs in Oklahoma:  27,660
 
38. North Carolina
Median RN Salary: $59,590
Median Hourly: $28.65
Number of RNs in North Carolina:  99,050

37. North Dakota
Median RN Salary: $59,840
Median Hourly: $28.77
Number of RNs in North Dakota: 8,710

36. Utah
Median RN Salary: $60,810
Median Hourly: $29.23
Number of RNs in Utah: 21,470

35. Louisiana
Median RN Salary: $60,820
Median Hourly: $29.24
Number of RNs in Louisiana: 44,780

34. South Carolina
Median RN Salary: $60,980
Median Hourly: $29.32
Number of RNs in South Carolina: 41,800

33. Wyoming
Median RN Salary: $61,450
Median Hourly: $29.54
Number of RNs in Wyoming: 4,970

32. Maine
Median RN Salary: $61,890
Median Hourly: $29.76
Number of RNs in Maine: 14,190

31. Idaho
Median RN Salary: $62,190
Median Hourly: $29.90
Number of RNs in Idaho: 12,330

30. Ohio
Median RN Salary: $62,310
Median Hourly: $29.95
Number of RNs in Ohio: 128,030

29. Montana
Median RN Salary: $62,360
Median Hourly: $29.98
Number of RNs in Montana: 9,800

28. Florida
Median RN Salary: $62,720
Median Hourly: $30.15
Number of RNs in Florida: 174,710

27. Georgia
Median RN Salary: $64,340
Median Hourly: $30.93
Number of RNs in Georgia: 73,330

26. Virginia
Median RN Salary: $64,470
Median Hourly: $31.00
Number of RNs in Virginia: 63,820

25. Vermont
Median RN Salary: $65,230
Median Hourly: $31.36
Number of RNs in Vermont: 5,850

24. Wisconsin
Median RN Salary: $66,430
Median Hourly: $31.94
Number of RNs in Wisconsin: 55,410

23. Pennsylvania
Median RN Salary: $66,660
Median Hourly: $32.05
Number of RNs in Pennsylvania: 139,480

22. New Hampshire
Median RN Salary: $66,700
Median Hourly: $32.07
Number of RNs in New Hampshire: 13,260

21. Michigan
Median RN Salary: $67,450
Median Hourly: $32.43
Number of RNs in Michigan: 92,670

20. New Mexico
Median RN Salary: $67,580
Median Hourly: $32.49
Number of RNs in New Mexico: 16,200

19. Texas
Median RN Salary: $68,680
Median Hourly: $33.02
Number of RNs in Texas: 207,810

18. Illinois
Median RN Salary: $68,710
Median Hourly: $33.03
Number of RNs in Illinois: 121,670

17. Colorado
Median RN Salary: $68,750
Median Hourly: $33.05
Number of RNs in Colorado: 47,590

16. Delaware
Median RN Salary: $69,310
Median Hourly: $33.32
Number of RNs in Delaware: 11,320

15.  Arizona
Median RN Salary: $72,680
Median Hourly: $34.94
Number of RNs in Arizona: 52,610

14. Maryland
Median RN Salary: $73,440
Median Hourly: $35.31
Number of RNs in Maryland: 53,330

13. Rhode Island
Median RN Salary: $74,320
Median Hourly: $35.73
Number of RNs in Rhode Island: 12,150

12. Minnesota
Median RN Salary: $74,460
Median Hourly: $35.80
Number of RNs in Minnesota: 61,830

11. Connecticut
Median RN Salary: $77,650
Median Hourly: $35.33
Number of RNs in Connecticut: 61,830

10. Washington
Median RN Salary: $78,440
Median Hourly: $37.71
Number of RNs in Washington: 55,350

9. New Jersey
Median RN Salary: $79,790
Median Hourly: $38.36
Number of RNs in New Jersey: 79,400

8. District of Columbia
Median RN Salary: $80,010
Median Hourly: $38.47
Number of RNs in DC: 10,320

7. New York
Median RN Salary: $80,380
Median Hourly: $38.65
Number of RNs in New York: 180,730

6. Nevada
Median RN Salary: $83,940
Median Hourly: $40.36
Number of RNs in Nevada: 20,250

5. Massachusetts
Median RN Salary: $84,410
Median Hourly: $40.58
Number of RNs in Massachusetts: 20,250

4. Alaska
Median RN Salary: $85,300
Median Hourly: $40.01
Number of RNs in Alaska: 5,570

3. Oregon
Median RN Salary: $88,010
Median Hourly: $42.32
Number of RNs in Oregon: 35,220

2. Hawaii
Median RN Salary: $91,020
Median Hourly: $43.76
Number of RNs in Hawaii: 11,300

1. California
Median RN Salary: $100,460
Median Hourly: $48.30
Number of RNs in California: 274,650

You may view the original article with posted job openings in each state at the Nurse.org website