Registered Nurse Salary in the United States (2026)
The median Registered Nurse salary in the US is $97,550 per year - about $8,129/month or $47/hour. Here is the full pay range, by experience level, based on 3,379,720 Registered Nurses tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Registered Nurse salary by experience level
Pay rises sharply with experience. These bands are based on the BLS wage percentiles for Registered Nurses - entry-level roles cluster near the 10th-25th percentile, while senior and lead roles reach the 75th-90th.
Early-career and junior roles (10th-25th percentile).
The median - what a typical Registered Nurse earns.
Senior, lead and specialist roles (75th-90th percentile).
Full Registered Nurse salary distribution
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025. Occupation: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141). bls.gov/oes
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How much does a Registered Nurse make?
A Registered Nurse in the United States earns a median of $97,550 per year as of 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earn under $68,940, while the top 10% earn more than $137,470 - a spread of $68,530 driven mostly by experience, location, industry and company size.
With roughly 3,379,720 people employed in this occupation nationally, Registered Nurse is one of the more established career paths - which means more openings, but also more competition per role. Applying early and at volume is the single biggest lever most candidates ignore.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does a Registered Nurse make in the US?
The median Registered Nurse salary in the United States is $97,550 per year (2025), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That works out to about $47 per hour.
What is the entry-level Registered Nurse salary?
Entry-level Registered Nurse roles typically pay between $68,940 and $80,330 per year, corresponding to the 10th-25th wage percentiles for this occupation.
What is the highest Registered Nurse salary?
The top 10% of Registered Nurses earn more than $137,470 per year. Senior, lead and specialist roles, plus high-cost metros and high-paying industries, push compensation toward the top of the range.
How can I earn more as a Registered Nurse?
The fastest way to raise your pay is to change roles - candidates who move companies typically see larger raises than internal increases. LoopCV helps by automatically applying to Registered Nurse jobs for you every day, so you get more offers to negotiate from.