Nursing Salary by State

Betty Jo Rocchio, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy, a multistate health system based in St. Louis, Missouri, has been a nurse for over 32 years. By five a.m., she’s up and prepping for her weekly flight from Columbus to St. Louis, where she’ll spend the week working and making rounds.

Working in a leadership role gives Rocchio the opportunity to create a culture where nurses and patients can thrive, according to a Johnson & Johnson profile. “What nurses care about most is coming into work, providing great patient care and being able to leave with enough energy for themselves and their families.”

If you’re interested in a rewarding and lucrative career, consider a degree in nursing. Pay ranges can differ depending on your location, work environment and chosen pathway within nursing:

Location matters. Curious about your potential earnings as a nurse? Here’s a general look at salaries throughout the United States, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Licensed Practical Nurse Salary

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) provides patients with essential day-to-day care, such as checking vital signs, changing bandages and recording patient concerns. They work under the supervision of a physician in a doctor’s office, clinic or hospital, and may assist with at-home visits. LPNs also maintain medical records, coordinate between the entire medical care team and ensure that patients and families understand proper care outside of a hospital or clinic.

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for an LPN in 2022 was $54,620. Here’s a list of the top-paying states for licensed practical nurses in 2022:

LPN Salary Washington: $69,950
LPN Salary California: $69,930
LPN Salary Massachusetts: $68,170
LPN Salary Rhode Island: $66,770
LPN Salary Alaska: $66,710

Licensed Practical Nurse Salary by State

As with other nursing disciplines, the salary for LPNs varies by geography, according to 2022 BLS data. Interested to see where your state falls? See the state-by-state breakdown below.

Annual mean salary (in U.S. dollars)

Alabama: $45,260

Alaska: $66,710

Arizona: $61,920

Arkansas: $45,990

California: $69,930

Colorado: $60,310

Connecticut: $62,620

Delaware: $57,360

District of Columbia: $62,010

Florida: $53,780

Georgia: $50,830

Guam: $41,810

Hawaii: $55,730

Idaho: $54,710

Illinois: $58,840

Indiana: $55,850

Iowa: $51,400

Kansas: $51,700

Kentucky: $49,570

Louisiana: $47,430

Maine: $55,830

Maryland: $60,180

Massachusetts: $68,170

Michigan: $57,180

Minnesota: $54,870

Mississippi: $45,020

Missouri: $49,500

Montana: $52,420

Nebraska: $52,080

Nevada: $63,910

New Hampshire: $63,550

New Jersey: $61,990

New Mexico: $59,400

New York: $57,560

North Carolina: $53,010

North Dakota: $53,080

Ohio: $52,330

Oklahoma: $48,090

Oregon: $66,190

Pennsylvania: $54,520

Puerto Rico: $26,170

Rhode Island: $66,770

South Carolina: $51,060

South Dakota: $46,000

Tennessee: $46,540

Texas: $52,850

Utah: $55,790

Vermont: $57,150

Virgin Islands: $48,380

Virginia: $52,790

Washington: $69,950

West Virginia: $45,530

Wisconsin: $52,610

Wyoming: $54,880

Registered Nurse Salary

A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed medical professional that provides patient care in a range of settings, including major hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and schools. They diagnose and treat conditions that fall under their specific focus, such as oncology, pediatrics or geriatrics. Earning your bachelor’s degree in nursing online can prepare you for this career path.

In 2022, the average annual salary for registered nurses was $81,220, according to BLS data. The top five states for RN earnings are:

RN Salary California: $133,340
RN Salary Hawaii: $113,220
RN Salary Oregon: $ 106,610
RN Salary Massachusetts: $104,150
RN Salary Alaska: $103,310

Registered Nurse Salary by State

Annual mean salary (in U.S. dollars)

Alabama: $66,910

Alaska: $103,310

Arizona: $86,740

Arkansas: $66,530

California: $133,340

Colorado: $86,590

Connecticut: $94,260

Delaware: $85,020

District of Columbia: $98,230

Florida: $79,910

Georgia: $85,180

Guam: N/A

Hawaii: $113,220

Idaho: $78,610

Illinois: $82,220

Indiana: $75,580

Iowa: $69,370

Kansas: $71,990

Kentucky: $77,620

Louisiana: $75,920

Maine: $77,410

Maryland: $87,990

Massachusetts: $104,150

Michigan: $80,660

Minnesota: $88,860

Mississippi: $67,930

Missouri: $71,860

Montana: $78,350

Nebraska: $73,510

Nevada: $96,310

New Hampshire: $83,420

New Jersey: $96,670

New Mexico: $85,580

New York: $100,130

North Carolina: $77,420

North Dakota: $75,000

Ohio: $78,450

Oklahoma: $76,920

Oregon: $106,610

Pennsylvania: $80,630

Puerto Rico: $37,360

Rhode Island: $88,250

South Carolina: $74,330

South Dakota: $64,500

Tennessee: $72,480

Texas: $84,320

Utah: $76,400

Vermont: $79,990

Virgin Islands: $69,200

Virginia: $81,860

Washington: $101,670

West Virginia: $72,230

Wisconsin: $81,000

Wyoming: $81,010

Advanced Practice Nurse Salary

Becoming an advanced practice nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), requires furthering your education, specializing in a specific area and obtaining additional certifications and credentials. This might involve earning a master of nursing degree online.

According to the BLS, there are three types of advanced practice nurses:

Certified nurse practitioner: Cares for patients of all ages, diagnoses and treats illnesses and promotes better health outcomes. They may specialize in acute care, psychiatric mental health, women’s health, or family health.

Certified nurse-midwife: Cares for pregnant women and their families. They assist with prenatal care, labor and delivery, helping new mothers adjust to life with a newborn.

Certified nurse anesthetist: Administers anesthesia before and after surgery, monitors patients’ vital signs and provides pain management.

Nurse Practitioner Salaries by State

Interested in annual APRN compensation? Check out the below chart for certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives and certified nurse anesthetists in the U.S. based on 2022 BLS data.

StateCertified Nurse PractitionerCertified Nurse-MidwifeCertified Nurse Anesthetist
Alabama
$106,610
N/A
$191,200
Alaska
$116,390
$115,060
N/A
Arizona
$121,410
$108,190
$179,730
Arkansas
$107,110
N/A
N/A
California
$158,130
$169,530
$246,510
Colorado
$116,440
$113,950
$185,860
Connecticut
$131,490
$112,960
$240,580
Delaware
$120,570
$109,180
$198,070
District of Columbia
$131,270
$96,320
N/A
Florida
$110,310
$97,690
$174,390
Georgia
$115,440
$122,990
$190,800
Guam
N/A
N/A
N/A
Hawaii
$128,310
$156,020
N/A
Idaho
$117,720
$59,080
$181,110
Illinois
$122,310
$123,200
$238,440
Indiana
$121,730
$113,900
$220,020
Iowa
$128,180
$102,460
$211,010
Kansas
$111,670
N/A
$169,410
Kentucky
$109,290
N/A
$235,260
Louisiana
$118,210
$119,520
$179,140
Maine
$118,300
$134,440
$214,930
Maryland
$119,650
$120,170
$182,710
Massachusetts
$138,700
$143,870
$204,690
Michigan
$113,780
$118,420
$199,690
Minnesota
$128,160
$116,780
$222,540
Mississippi
$117,260
N/A
$184,390
Missouri
$113,180
$107,660
$205,190
Montana
$119,960
N/A
$203,430
Nebraska
$118,970
N/A
$225,590
Nevada
$136,230
N/A
N/A
New Hampshire
$125,780
$115,490
$215,970
New Jersey
$143,250
$119,760
$232,630
New Mexico
$129,560
$112,600
$215,240
New York
N/A
$129,610
$238,710
North Carolina
$114,450
$113,890
$214,740
North Dakota
$113,940
N/A
N/A
Ohio
$117,440
$124,560
$197,630
Oklahoma
$121,740
N/A
$168,470
Oregon
$136,250
$136,150
$205,920
Pennsylvania
$120,550
$113,580
$203,620
Puerto Rico
N/A
N/A
$63,570
Rhode Island
$125,250
$120,120
N/A
South Carolina
$109,130
$88,680
$195,840
South Dakota
$115,610
N/A
$223,200
Tennessee
$99,330
$97,920
$174,170
Texas
$124,660
$93,280
$208,940
Utah
$115,610
N/A
N/A
Vermont
$116,610
N/A
$228,710
Virginia
$116,980
$106,790
$215,530
Washington
$135,590
$135,780
$222,610
West Virginia
$106,790
$165,780
$229,430
Wisconsin
$121,210
$118,430
$230,270
Wyoming
$115,230
N/A
$205,270

Disclosure: “Not available” (N/A) indicates that the BLS has not provided data. All data was accessed in 2023.

Last updated: October 2023