Whether you are a new grad looking for your first nursing job or an experienced nurse thinking about relocating in search of higher wages, there is much to take into consideration. Salary alone does not tell the entire story, and decisions to relocate for a job should not be based solely on salary numbers. Even if the salary for a potential job is higher, the purchasing power will decrease if the cost of living is also higher. When actual salaries are adjusted for regional prices, this will give the job-seeker a more accurate representation of purchasing power for realistic comparisons between locations.
Below is a list of average Registered Nurse salaries per state based on data from the 2017 allnurses Salary Survey. We have also provided price-adjusted salary information, which incorporates the cost of goods and services in an area to produce figures that more accurately represent the real value of your earnings for cross-area comparisons.
In our calculations, we used the Regional Price Parities (RPPs) from the Bureau of Economic Analysis as well as a Federal Income Tax Calculator to estimate total tax burden including income tax, sales tax, fuel tax, and property tax, based on Single IRS Filing Status.
The location for each state is based on the state capitol. To customize your comparison, you may use this same calculator with your specific cities of interest.
Quote
"The RPPs are calculated using price quotes for a wide array of items from the CPI, which are aggregated into broader expenditure categories (such as food, transportation or education). Data on rents are obtained separately from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS).
The expenditure weights for each category are constructed using CPI expenditure weights, BEA's Personal Consumption Expenditures, and ACS rents expenditures."
The location quotient for each state has been added to the information. Location Quotients (LQs) are ratios that allow an area's distribution of employment by industry (nursing) to be compared to a reference, in this case, the U.S. If an LQ is equal to 1, then that location has the same share of employment than the average U.S. If the LQ is greater than 1, it indicates there is a greater share of (nursing) employment that the reference area (U.S. average).
For complete survey results go to:
2017 allnurses Salary Survey Results Part 1: Demographics and Compensation
30% of Nurses Leaving the Workforce - 2017 Salary Survey Results Part 2
AVERAGE RN SALARIES & ADJUSTED SALARIES PER STATE
Alabama (Nursing Jobs in Alabama)
Reported income = $57,456
Est Tax Burden = $16,885
Income after taxes = $40,571
RPP = 87.8
Adjusted Income = $46,208
Number of Active RNs 64,857
Location LQ 1.22
Alaska (Nursing Jobs in Alaska)
Reported income = $84,231
Est Tax Burden = $24,019
Income after Taxes = $60,212
RPP = 105.7
Adjusted Income = $56,965
Number of Active RNs 7,653
Location Quotient 0.85
Arizona (Nursing Jobs in Arizona)
Reported income = $73,835
Est Tax Burden = $17,154
Income after Taxes = $56,681
RPP = 96.4
Adjusted Income = $58,798
Number of Active RNs 54,954
Location Quotient 0.97
Arkansas (Nursing Jobs in Arkansas)
Reported income = $59,879
Est Tax Burden = $18,847
Income after Taxes = $41,032
RPP = 87.5
Adjusted Income = $46,894
Number of Active RNs 34,312
Location Quotient 0.96
California (Nursing Jobs in California)
Reported income = $97,757
Est Tax Burden = $35,606
Income after Taxes = $62,151
RPP = 112.4
Adjusted Income = $55,294
Number of Active RNs 325,394
Location Quotient 0.85
Colorado (Nursing Jobs in Colorado)
Reported income = $67,615
Est Tax Burden = $21,557
Income after Taxes = $46,058
RPP = 102.0
Adjusted Income = $45,155
Number of Active RNs 54,273
Location Quotient 0.93
Connecticut (Nursing Jobs in Connecticut)
Reported income = $78,421
Est Tax Burden = $29,038
Income after Taxes = $49,386
RPP = 108.8
Adjusted Income = $45,392
Number of Active RNs 46,035
Location Quotient 0.97
Delaware (Nursing Jobs in Delaware)
Reported income = $71,646
Est Tax Burden = $21,262
Income after Taxes = $50,384
RPP = 101.9
Adjusted Income = $49,445
Number of Active RNs 8,587
Location Quotient 1.26
District of Columbia (Nursing Jobs in District of Columbia)
Reported income = $73,721
Est Tax Burden = $23,728
Income after Taxes = $49,993
RPP = 118.1
Adjusted Income = $42,331
Number of Active RNs 4,649
Location Quotient 0.72
Florida (Nursing Jobs in Florida)
Reported income = $62,993
Est Tax Burden = $17,616
Income after Taxes = $45,377
RPP = 99.1
Adjusted Income = $45,789
Number of Active RNs 238,289
Florida 1.04
Georgia (Nursing Jobs in Georgia)
Reported income = $65,311
Est Tax Burden = $22,193
Income after Taxes = $43,118
RPP = 92.0
Adjusted Income = $46,867
Number of Active RNs 100,527
Location Quotient 0.86
Hawaii (Nursing Jobs in Hawaii)
Reported income = $98,173
Est Tax Burden = $33,944
Income after Taxes = $64,229
RPP = 116.8
Adjusted Income = $54,991
Number of Active RNs 2,391
Location Quotient 0.88
Idaho (Nursing Jobs in Idaho)
Reported income = $65,036
Est Tax Burden = $21,272
Income after Taxes = $43,764
RPP = 93.4
Adjusted Income = $46,857
Number of Active RNs 17,100
Location Quotient 0.91
Illinois (Nursing Jobs in Illinois)
Reported income = $68,029
Est Tax Burden = $24,337
Income after Taxes = $43,692
RPP = 100.7
Adjusted Income = $43,388
Number of Active RNs 152,240
Location Quotient 0.91
Indiana (Nursing Jobs in Indiana)
Reported income = $61,649
Est Tax Burden = $20,156
Income after Taxes = $41,493
RPP = 91.4
Adjusted Income = $45,397
Number of Active RNs 96,157
Location Quotient 1.05
Iowa (Nursing Jobs in Iowa)
Reported income = $55,026
Est Tax Burden = $18,883
Income after Taxes = $36,143
RPP = 90.3
Adjusted Income = $40,025
Number of Active RNs 41,862
Location Quotient 1.04
Kansas (Nursing Jobs in Kansas)
Reported income = $60,480
Est Tax Burden = $20,560
Income after Taxes = $39,920
RPP = 90.7
Adjusted Income = $44,013
Number of Active RNs 29,161
Location Quotient 0.97
Kentucky (Nursing Jobs in Kentucky)
Reported income = $61,645
Est Tax Burden = $21,584
Income after Taxes = $40,061
RPP = 88.7
Adjusted Income = $45,165
Number of Active RNs59,017
Location Quotient 1.20
Louisiana (Nursing Jobs in Louisiana)
Reported income = $63,083
Est Tax Burden = $17,227
Income after Taxes = $45,856
RPP = 91.4
Adjusted Income = $50,170
Number of Active RNs 33,501
Location Quotient 1.14
Maine (Nursing Jobs in Maine)
Reported income = $65,457
Est Tax Burden = $22,158
Income after Taxes = $43,299
RPP = 97.1
Adjusted Income = $44,592
Number of Active RNs 20,228
Location Quotient 1.17
Maryland (Nursing Jobs in Maryland)
Reported income = $68,822
Est Tax Burden = $23,428
Income after Taxes = $45,394
RPP = 110.3
Adjusted Income = $41,155
Number of Active RNs 70,970
Location Quotient 0.99
Massachusetts (Nursing Jobs in Massachusetts)
Reported income = $79,446
Est Tax Burden = $26,298
Income after Taxes = $53,148
RPP = 107.1
Adjusted Income = $49,624
Number of Active RNs 98,487
Location Quotient 1.21
Michigan (Nursing Jobs in Michigan)
Reported income = $64,412
Est Tax Burden = $20,418
Income after Taxes = $43,994
RPP = 94.1
Adjusted Income = $46,752
Number of Active RNs 123,485
Location Quotient 1.08
Minnesota (Nursing Jobs in Minnesota)
Reported income = $69,810
Est Tax Burden = $24,458
Income after Taxes = $45,352
RPP = 97.6
Adjusted Income = $46,467
Numer of Active RNs 78,872
Location Quotient 1.08
Mississippi (Nursing Jobs in Mississippi)
Reported income = $57,982
Est Tax Burden = $18,293
Income after Taxes = $39,689
RPP = 86.7
Adjusted Income = $45,777
Number of Active RNs 39,328
Location Quotient 1.26
Missouri (Nursing Jobs in Missouri)
Reported income = $62,159
Est Tax Burden = $19,698
Income after Taxes = $42,461
RPP = 89.4
Adjusted Income = $47,495
Number of Active RNs 79,407
Location Quotient 1.14
Montana (Nursing Jobs in Montana)
Reported income = $62,143
Est Tax Burden = $18,905
Income after Taxes = $43,238
RPP = 94.2
Adjusted Income = $45,900
Number of Active RNs 13,274
Location Quotient 1.06
Nebraska (Nursing Jobs in Nebraska)
Reported income = $66,087
Est Tax Burden = $23,939
Income after Taxes = $42,148
RPP = 90.6
Adjusted Income = $46,521
Number of Active RNs 24,900
Location Quotient 1.08
Nevada (Nursing Jobs in Nevada)
Reported income = $76,543
Est Tax Burden = $22,605
Income after Taxes = $53,938
RPP = 97.7
Adjusted Income = $55,208
Number of Active RNs 23,252
Location Quotient 0.78
New Hampshire (Nursing Jobs in New Hampshire)
Reported income = $64,015
Est Tax Burden = $19,761
Income after Taxes = $44,254
RPP = 105.2
Adjusted Income = $42,066
Number of Active RNs 10,383
Location Quotient 1.01
New Jersey (Nursing Jobs in New Jersey)
Reported income = $78,830
Est Tax Burden = $29,341
Income after Taxes = $49,489
RPP = 114.5
Adjusted Income = $43,222
Number of Active RNs 99,159
Location Quotient 0.99
New Mexico (Nursing Jobs in New Mexico)
Reported income = $68,344
Est Tax Burden = $20,787
Income after Taxes = $47,557
RPP = 95.0
Adjusted Income = $50,060
Number of Active RNs 19,850
Location Quotient 0.99
New York (Nursing Jobs in New York)
Reported income = $76,002
Est Tax Burden = $28,660
Income after Taxes = $47,342
RPP = 115.7
Adjusted Income = $40,918
Number of Active RNs 143,800
Location Quotient 0.98
North Carolina (Nursing Jobs in North Carolina)
Reported income = $62,579
Est Tax Burden = $20,141
Income after Taxes = $42,438
RPP = 91.7
Adjusted Income = $46,279
Number of Active RNs 70,925
Location Quotient 1.15
North Dakota (Nursing Jobs in North Dakota)
Reported income = $61,023
Est Tax Burden = $18,662
Income after Taxes = $42,361
RPP = 91.5
Adjusted Income = $46,296
Number of Active RNs 9,573
Location Quotient 1.01
Ohio (Nursing Jobs in Ohio)
Reported income = $62,310
Est Tax Burden = $23,065
Income after Taxes = $39,245
RPP = 89.3
Adjusted Income = $43,847
Number of Active RNs 164,688
Location Quotient 1.18
Oklahoma (Nursing Jobs in Oklahoma)
Reported income = $63,879
Est Tax Burden = $20,881
Income after Taxes = $42,998
RPP = 90.1
Adjusted Income = $47,722
Number of Active RNs 49,083
Location Quotient 0.86
Oregon (Nursing Jobs in Oregon)
Reported income = $85,020
Est Tax Burden = $30,588
Income after Taxes = $54,432
RPP = 99.0
Adjusted Income = $54,982
Number of Active RNs 30,339
Location Quotient 0.97
Pennsylvania (Nursing Jobs in Pennsylvania)
Reported income = $68,062
Est Tax Burden = $23,949
Income after Taxes = $44,113
RPP = 98.2
Adjusted Income = $44,922
Pennsylvania 173,068
Location Quotient 1.19
Rhode Island (Nursing Jobs in Rhode Island)
Reported income = $72,500
Est Tax Burden = $24,769
Income after Taxes = $47,731
RPP = 98.7
Adjusted Income = $48,360
Number of Active RNs 13,096
Location Quotient 1.26
South Carolina (Nursing Jobs in South Carolina)
Reported income = $63,419
Est Tax Burden = $20,398
Income after Taxes = $43,021
RPP = 90.5
Adjusted Income = $47,537
Number of Active RNs 35,657
Location Quotient 1.04
South Dakota (Nursing Jobs in South Dakota)
Reported income = $55,615
Est Tax Burden = $15,621
Income after Taxes = $39,994
RPP = 88.0
Adjusted Income = $45,448
Number of Active RNs 13,137
Location Quotient 1.43
Tennessee (Nursing Jobs in Tennessee)
Reported income = $58,166
Est Total Tax Burden = $16,227
Income after taxes = $41,939
RPP = 90.2
Adjusted Income = $46,496
Number of Active RNs 79,936
Location Quotient 1.02
Texas (Nursing Jobs in Texas)
Reported income = $70,643
Est Tax Burden = $22,772
Income after Taxes = $47,871
RPP = 96.6
Adjusted Income = $49,556
Number of Active Nurses 255,400
Location Quotient 0.87
Utah (Nursing Jobs in Utah)
Reported income = $57,197
Est Tax Burden = $17,525
Income after Taxes = $39,672
RPP = 97.0
Adjusted Income = $40,899
Number of Active Nurses 14,547
Location Quotient 0.77
Vermont (Nursing Jobs in Vermont)
Reported income = $64,891
Est Tax Burden = $22,535
Income after Taxes = $42,356
RPP = 101.2
Adjusted Income = $41,854
Number of Active RNs 7,792
Location Quotient 0.94
Virginia (Nursing Jobs in Virginia)
Reported income = $63,558
Est Tax Burden = $20,719
Income after Taxes = $42,839
RPP = 102.6
Adjusted Income = $41,753
Number of Active RNs 90,732
Location Quotient 0.83
Washington (Nursing Jobs in Washington)
Reported income = $78,821
Est Tax Burden = $23,584
Income after Taxes = $55,237
RPP = 103.8
Adjusted Income = $53,215
Number of Active RNs 46,947
Location Quotient 0.89
West Virginia (Nursing Jobs in West Virginia)
Reported income = $61,224
Est Tax Burden = $18,715
Income after Taxes = $42,509
RPP = 88.9
Adjusted Income = $47,817
Number of Active RNs 21,397
Location Quotient 1.47
Wisconsin (Nursing Jobs in Wisconsin)
Reported income = $64,347
Est Tax Burden = $23,623
Income after Taxes = $40,724
RPP = 93.4
Adjusted Income = $43,602
Number of Active RNs 27,918
Location Quotient 0.97
Wyoming (Nursing Jobs in Wyoming
Reported income = $65,071
Est Tax Burden = $17,272
Income after Taxes = $47,799
RPP = 96.2
Adjusted Income = $49,687
Number of Active RNs 2,882
Location Quotient 0.88
Be sure to read this related article:
2017 Nursing Salaries by State, Degree, and License - Highest & Lowest
References
Bureau of Economic Analysis U.S. Department of Commerce
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Purchasing Power: using wage statistics with regional price parities to create a standard for comparing wages across U.S. areas
