2027 Salary Guide · Healthcare
Half of the roughly 3.47 million registered nurses in the U.S. earned more than $97,550 in May 2025, according to BLS, or $46.90 an hour. Projected forward at 3.1% a year, that median is about $103,500 for 2027. Where an RN works matters more than almost anything else: the Bay Area median is $186,610, while Pittsburgh's is $82,370.
Local pay
The five highest medians on this list are all on the West Coast, led by the San Francisco Bay Area at $186,610 and San Diego at $139,520. New York City is the largest RN market by far, with about 197,740 nurses at a median of $119,720. Pittsburgh, Nashville and Raleigh sit near the bottom, all under $85,000.
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area | $186,610 +91% | $119,290 – $223,770 | 41,750 |
| San Diego | $139,520 +43% | $102,480 – $175,210 | 28,680 |
| Los Angeles | $135,560 +39% | $100,980 – $174,200 | 109,360 |
| Portland | $130,310 +34% | $97,180 – $155,650 | 24,220 |
| Seattle | $128,260 +31% | $99,020 – $163,890 | 39,900 |
| New York City | $119,720 +23% | $87,180 – $159,240 | 197,740 |
| Boston | $106,180 +9% | $81,880 – $188,670 | 64,240 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | $103,040 +6% | $82,180 – $133,450 | 43,600 |
| Washington, DC | $102,710 +5% | $80,750 – $132,900 | 46,830 |
| Hartford | $101,470 +4% | $80,440 – $125,080 | 13,850 |
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $101,420 +4% | $73,400 – $129,710 | 76,680 |
| Philadelphia | $101,180 +4% | $79,160 – $121,900 | 73,790 |
| Denver | $101,130 +4% | $81,210 – $125,870 | 30,380 |
| Phoenix | $100,830 +3% | $70,730 – $130,930 | 53,700 |
| Chicago | $100,490 +3% | $77,410 – $119,260 | 100,240 |
| Atlanta | $100,490 +3% | $77,510 – $132,230 | 56,460 |
| Albany | $99,970 +2% | $77,150 – $130,970 | 10,230 |
| Providence | $99,880 +2% | $77,410 – $135,240 | 15,180 |
| Houston | $99,830 +2% | $74,860 – $130,440 | 65,910 |
| Baltimore | $99,550 +2% | $77,600 – $125,020 | 30,930 |
| Buffalo | $99,060 +2% | $78,490 – $117,980 | 13,830 |
| Austin | $97,890 +0% | $73,440 – $127,510 | 18,920 |
| Detroit | $97,280 +-0% | $78,140 – $110,650 | 44,310 |
| Miami | $91,380 -6% | $72,640 – $129,150 | 61,670 |
| Charlotte | $90,620 -7% | $69,680 – $110,020 | 27,010 |
| Tampa | $85,470 -12% | $73,290 – $124,470 | 38,720 |
| Raleigh | $84,830 -13% | $72,460 – $110,220 | 12,780 |
| Nashville | $84,040 -14% | $69,480 – $112,030 | 25,100 |
| Pittsburgh | $82,370 -16% | $67,910 – $111,790 | 29,360 |
BLS metro estimates, May 2025. Percent compares the metro median with the national median. "Jobs" is BLS estimated employment in the metro; blank where BLS does not publish it.
By employer
Hospitals employ most RNs and pay close to the national median. From schools to government employers, the median spread is about $32,000.
| Employer type | Share of RN jobs | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Government (excluding schools and hospitals) | 5% | $110,780 |
| Hospitals (state, local and private) | 59% | $100,220 |
| Ambulatory care (clinics, outpatient, home health) | 19% | $91,230 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 6% | $84,300 |
| Schools and colleges | 3% | $78,620 |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses (May 2025 wages). Government includes federal facilities such as VA medical centers.
Pay distribution
BLS reports one occupation for all registered nurses, from staff nurses to charge nurses and specialty RNs. The middle half earned between $80,330 and $112,350; the top tenth cleared $137,470.
Typical for the Registered Nurse title: $80,330 to $112,350 (25th to 75th percentile of Registered Nurses)
| Percentile | BLS, May 2025 | 2027 planning estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $68,940 | $73,500 |
| 25th percentile | $80,330 | $85,500 |
| Median | $97,550 | $103,500 |
| 75th percentile | $112,350 | $119,500 |
| 90th percentile | $137,470 | $146,000 |
Pay levers
BLS does not break RN pay out by degree, unit or shift. These are the factors that are documented to change which jobs a nurse can get, and which employers pay more.
Hospital RNs had a median of $100,220 in May 2025, about $15,900 more than nurses in nursing and residential care. Hospitals are also where specialty units and night shifts are concentrated.
Both degrees lead to the same license. BLS notes that employers, particularly hospitals, may require a bachelor's degree, so the BSN mainly widens the set of higher-paying hospital jobs a nurse can apply for.
Certification is usually voluntary, but some employers require it for specialty units. O*NET lists titles such as Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR) and oncology RN among the reported job titles for this occupation.
Hospital and nursing-home RNs work in shifts to cover the clock, according to BLS. Many employers pay a differential for nights and weekends, so the same base rate can produce a noticeably higher annual total.
Outlook
BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035. Because the occupation is so large, that still means about 180,800 openings a year, most of them to replace nurses who retire or move into other occupations.
BLS Employment Projections via O*NET OnLine. Projections cover Registered Nurses as a whole.
For hiring managers
Nurses compare offers by the hour. The national median was $46.90 an hour in May 2025, with the 90th percentile at $66.09.
A national-median offer is about $89,000 below the Bay Area median and well above Pittsburgh's. Use the metro table on this page.
"RN" alone draws med-surg, ICU, OR and clinic nurses at once. Unit, shift pattern and weekend requirements decide who applies.
Requiring a BSN cuts the pool of experienced ADN nurses. If you will hire ADN nurses with a degree-completion plan, say so.
Short-term gaps such as leave coverage or seasonal census can be filled with contract or temporary RNs while a permanent search runs.
Compare
At the median, RNs earn about $33,150 more than licensed practical nurses and about $34,750 less than nurse practitioners, the most common next step for RNs who go back to school.
| Role | BLS median | 2027 estimate | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $103,500 | Faster than average |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $64,400 | $68,500 | Average |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $140,500 | Much faster than average |
| Healthcare Administrator | $123,860 | $131,500 | Much faster than average |
FAQ
As of May 2025, the BLS median annual wage for registered nurses was $97,550. The middle half earned between $80,330 and $112,350, and the top tenth earned more than $137,470. Adding two years of wage growth at 3.1% a year gives a 2027 planning median of about $103,500.
BLS puts the median RN wage at $46.90 an hour in May 2025. The 10th percentile was $33.14 an hour and the 90th percentile $66.09. Shift differentials and overtime are not included in those rates, so take-home pay for nurses working nights or extra shifts is often higher.
Of the 29 metros in this guide, the San Francisco Bay Area had the highest RN median in May 2025 at $186,610, followed by San Diego ($139,520), Los Angeles ($135,560), Portland ($130,310) and Seattle ($128,260). The lowest were Pittsburgh ($82,370) and Nashville ($84,040).
New-grad RN pay is not a separate BLS figure. The 10th percentile, $68,940 in May 2025, and the 25th percentile, $80,330, are reasonable bounds for first-year hospital offers nationally. New grads in California and Pacific Northwest metros start well above those figures; check the metro table.
BLS does not publish RN pay by degree, and both degrees lead to the same RN license. The difference shows up in access: hospitals, which paid RNs a median of $100,220, may require a bachelor's degree, and management roles increasingly ask for a graduate degree.
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