Highest-Paying States for RNs

The national average annual salary of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States is $66,530. They make, on average, $31.99 per hour. Salaries range greatly from one state to another, however. Metropolitan areas within states can also pay RNs significantly different salaries within one state. The salaries listed here for the top five highest-paying states are current as of May 2009.

California

California pays RNs the highest average salary in the U.S. Approximately 233,040 RNs are employed in California. The mean annual salary of RNs in California is $85,080. The average hourly wage is $40.90 for RNs in that state. The highest-paying metropolitan area in California and the U.S. for RNs is Visalia-Porterville, California. The annual average salary for RNs there is $111,030. Registered nurses in the Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, California, area make $89,770 per year on average. This area is the fifth-highest-paying metropolitan area for registered nurses in the United States.

Massachusetts

Registered nurses in Massachusetts make $81,780 on average per year. About 83,060 RNs are employed in Massachusetts. The average hourly wage for RNs in Massachusetts is $39.42. RNs in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachusetts/New Hampshire area make $84,170 per year.

Hawaii

Hawaii has about 8,930 registered nurses. The annual mean salary for RNs in Hawaii is $80,020. The mean hourly wage is $38.47. The average annual salary for RNs in Honolulu is $82,150.

Maryland

Maryland registered nurses earn, on average, $76,330 per year. The average hourly wage is $36.70 for the approximately 51,620 RNs in the state. Registered nurses in the Baltimore-Towson metropolitan area earn $79,150 on average each year.

New Jersey

Registered nurses in New Jersey earn a mean annual salary of $74,990. Their average hourly wage is $36.05. Approximately 74,730 RNs are employed in New Jersey. The mean annual salary for RNs in Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey is $71,100.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2009-Registered Nurses
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics- Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics- Baltimore-Towson, MD
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics-Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics-Honolulu, HI

Resources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics