What you can earn as a nurse depends on your education, experience, role, industry and locale. Your nursing career may begin as a certified nurse assistant or registered nurse, or perhaps you’ve earned a master’s in nursing and became a nurse practitioner.
Whatever your chosen pathway, it could be beneficial to research what the typical salary is for your career in your state of practice. Information on salary for the nursing careers below was last retrieved in February 2021 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Nationally, the 2019 mean pay for these nursing careers was as follows:
| Nursing Career | 2019 Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $30,720 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) | $48,500 |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $77,460 |
| Nurse Practitioners (NP) | $111,840 |
| Nurse Midwife (CNM) | $108,810 |
| Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $181,040 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,160 |
Annual mean salary for the above nursing careers was retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2019 National Occupational Employment and Wages Estimates.
Mean Nursing Salary by State
| State | Nursing Assistant | LPN/LVN | RN | Nurse Practitioner | Nurse Midwife | Nurse Anesthetist | Nursing Instructor/Teacher, Postsecondary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $24,590 | $39,310 | $60,230 | $99,570 | N/A | $157,430 | $71,020 |
| Alaska | $40,320 | $63,850 | $90,500 | $115,890 | $85,920 | N/A | $75,940 |
| Arizona | $32,640 | $54,290 | $78,330 | $111,480 | $117,700 | $144,530 | $81,110 |
| Arkansas | $25,950 | $40,760 | $61,330 | $105,840 | N/A | $182,960 | $55,170 |
| California | $36,630 | $60,240 | $113,240 | $138,660 | $154,500 | $227,290 | $101,930 |
| Colorado | $33,980 | $53,180 | $76,230 | $106,760 | $102,520 | $175,100 | $75,530 |
| Connecticut | $34,360 | $57,380 | $83,440 | $115,140 | $112,920 | $198,750 | $97,350 |
| Delaware | $31,770 | $53,520 | $74,100 | $112,430 | $95,110 | N/A | N/A |
| Florida | $27,790 | $45,580 | $67,610 | $101,510 | $84,270 | $160,030 | $122,050 |
| Georgia | $27,890 | $42,570 | $69,590 | $105,670 | $98,440 | $174,310 | $77,270 |
| Guam | $29,160 | $35,740 | $58,070 | $72,970 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Hawaii | $37,710 | $51,010 | $104,060 | $124,000 | N/A | $190,330 | $82,800 |
| Idaho | $28,950 | $46,430 | $69,480 | $110,860 | N/A | $150,670 | $76,690 |
| Illinois | $29,760 | $53,290 | $73,510 | $107,860 | $104,640 | $199,660 | $69,770 |
| Indiana | $28,610 | $46,050 | $66,560 | $106,380 | $112,010 | $165,770 | $83,880 |
| Iowa | $30,520 | $44,220 | $60,590 | $109,910 | $104,420 | $202,400 | $75,690 |
| Kansas | $27,280 | $44,260 | $62,450 | $100,550 | N/A | $162,010 | $68,090 |
| Kentucky | $27,280 | $42,740 | $63,750 | $99,560 | $105,890 | $167,400 | $72,240 |
| Louisiana | $23,340 | $40,300 | $65,850 | $106,240 | N/A | $158,500 | $67,080 |
| Maine | $30,770 | $46,930 | $69,760 | $106,960 | $115,200 | $188,840 | $59,220 |
| Maryland | $32,450 | $55,020 | $77,910 | $111,800 | $118,240 | $186,310 | $95,830 |
| Massachusetts | $35,040 | $60,340 | $93,160 | $122,240 | $107,150 | $201,890 | $88,260 |
| Michigan | $31,200 | $50,300 | $73,200 | $108,660 | $92,790 | $194,640 | $81,510 |
| Minnesota | $35,150 | $48,460 | $80,130 | $122,850 | $121,980 | $192,290 | $74,090 |
| Mississippi | $23,980 | $39,020 | $59,750 | $110,740 | $119,640 | $177,820 | $74,070 |
| Missouri | $26,490 | $43,410 | $64,160 | $105,050 | $114,140 | $161,420 | $73,300 |
| Montana | $30,440 | $44,730 | $69,340 | $109,120 | N/A | $239,380 | $77,770 |
| Nebraska | $29,920 | $44,450 | $66,640 | $105,450 | N/A | $179,450 | $75,520 |
| Nevada | $34,890 | $58,470 | $88,380 | $115,970 | N/A | N/A | $72,580 |
| New Hampshire | $33,430 | $54,220 | $73,880 | $110,680 | $108,050 | $196,000 | $72,890 |
| New Jersey | $31,190 | $57,510 | $84,280 | $123,810 | $117,280 | $193,900 | $87,120 |
| New Mexico | $28,850 | $48,330 | $73,300 | $111,930 | $98,750 | $162,320 | $67,120 |
| New York | $38,810 | $49,860 | $87,840 | $122,550 | $120,380 | $200,350 | $97,750 |
| North Carolina | $26,540 | $45,880 | $66,440 | $105,890 | $100,730 | $189,060 | $70,300 |
| North Dakota | $34,320 | $46,760 | $66,290 | $110,950 | N/A | $195,010 | $72,180 |
| Ohio | $28,690 | $45,020 | $68,220 | $103,780 | $103,930 | $184,380 | $79,360 |
| Oklahoma | $26,030 | $42,090 | $64,800 | $113,200 | N/A | $175,090 | $58,440 |
| Oregon | $34,780 | $54,740 | $92,960 | $113,430 | $113,580 | $234,750 | $83,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,590 | $49,200 | $71,410 | $101,950 | $98,680 | $174,240 | $81,760 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,540 | $23,170 | $35,040 | N/A | N/A | $54,690 | $35,980 |
| Rhode Island | $33,020 | $59,860 | $82,310 | $115,310 | $108,320 | N/A | $80,220 |
| South Carolina | $26,560 | $42,190 | $64,840 | $100,680 | $99,590 | $165,940 | $74,020 |
| South Dakota | $28,120 | $38,760 | $59,540 | $102,230 | N/A | $190,880 | $73,160 |
| Tennessee | $27,250 | $41,270 | $62,570 | $96,510 | $90,070 | $157,070 | $75,260 |
| Texas | $27,930 | $47,370 | $74,540 | $115,440 | $92,560 | $167,020 | $66,190 |
| Utah | $28,890 | $49,660 | $67,970 | $105,240 | $104,580 | $146,470 | $82,790 |
| Vermont | $31,710 | $50,210 | $70,240 | $105,840 | $94,850 | N/A | N/A |
| Virgin Islands | $31,150 | $48,420 | $68,500 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Virginia | $29,400 | $46,070 | $71,870 | $109,110 | $94,920 | $180,120 | $71,640 |
| Washington | $33,800 | $57,940 | $86,170 | $126,920 | $107,810 | $192,440 | $81,980 |
| Washington, D.C | $35,320 | $54,220 | $94,820 | $111,950 | $95,990 | N/A | $157,560 |
| West Virginia | $26,900 | $37,500 | $63,220 | $103,170 | N/A | $188,580 | $58,590 |
| Wisconsin | $31,280 | $46,550 | $72,610 | $112,130 | $115,100 | $233,600 | $83,690 |
| Wyoming | $31,930 | $46,980 | $68,690 | $118,110 | N/A | $243,310 | $66,880 |
Information on state by state nursing career mean salaries was retrieved from the May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.
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Highest Nursing Salaries
Some nursing careers experience a higher salary in specific states. Moreover, nurses may earn higher salaries in metropolitan areas. These variations could be dependent on need for nurses, funding, type of employment and/or type of education.
Highest-Paying States for Nursing Assistants
Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for nursing assistants was retrieved from BLS Occupational Employment and Wages – Nursing Assistants, May 2019.
| State | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. Alaska | $40,320 |
| 2. New York | $38,810 |
| 3. Hawaii | $37,710 |
| 4. California | $36,630 |
| 5. District of Columbia | $35,320 |
| Metropolitan Area | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. Salinas, CA | $46,170 |
| 2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward | $45,100 |
| 3. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $44,710 |
| 4. Fairbanks, AK | $41,900 |
| 5. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI | $40,080 |
Highest-Paying States for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for LPN and LVN careers was retrieved from BLS Occupational Employment and Wages – Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, May 2019.
| State | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. Alaska | $63,850 |
| 2. Massachusetts | $60,340 |
| 3. California | $60,240 |
| 4. Rhode Island | $59,860 |
| 5. Nevada | $58,470 |
| Metropolitan Area | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $69,490 |
| 2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $68,160 |
| 3. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $67,990 |
| 4. Anchorage, AK | $65,420 |
| 5. Santa Rosa, CA | $65,260 |
Highest-Paying States for Registered Nurses
Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for registered nurses was retrieved from BLS Occupational Employment and Wages – Registered Nurses, May 2019.
| State | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. California | $113,240 |
| 2. Hawaii | $104,060 |
| 3. District of Columbia | $94,820 |
| 4. Massachusetts | $93,160 |
| 5. Oregon | $92,960 |
| Metropolitan Area | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $140,740 |
| 2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $138,000 |
| 3. Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $134,000 |
| 4. Salinas, CA | $133,580 |
| 5. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $131,970 |
Highest-Paying States for Nurse Practitioners
Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for nurse practitioners was retrieved from BLS Occupational Employment and Wages – Nurse Practitioners, May 2019.
| State | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. California | $138,660 |
| 2. Washington | $126,920 |
| 3. Hawaii | $124,000 |
| 4. New Jersey | $123,810 |
| 5. Minnesota | $122,850 |
| Metropolitan Area | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $175,060 |
| 2. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $160,110 |
| 3. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $157,150 |
| 4. Longview, WA | $150,520 |
| 5. Sumter, SC | $147,210 |
Highest-Paying States for Nurse-Midwives
Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for nurse-midwives was retrieved from BLS Occupational Employment and Wages – Nurse Midwives, May 2019.
| State | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. California | $154,500 |
| 2. Minnesota | $121,980 |
| 3. New York | $120,380 |
| 4. Mississippi | $119,640 |
| 5. Maryland | $118,240 |
| Metropolitan Area | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $163,020 |
| 2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $156,450 |
| 3. San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $130,140 |
| 4. Toledo, OH | $129,360 |
| 5. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $122,080 |
Highest-Paying States for Nurse Anesthetists
Information for the below tables on highest-paying states and metro areas for nurse anesthetists was retrieved from BLS Occupational Employment and Wages – Nurse Anesthetists, May 2019.
| State | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. Wyoming | $243,310 |
| 2. Montana | $239,380 |
| 3. Oregon | $234,750 |
| 4. Wisconsin | $233,600 |
| 5. California | $227,290 |
| Metropolitan Area | 2019 Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| 1. Toledo, OH | $266,260 |
| 2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $254,860 |
| 3. Columbus, GA-AL | $247,540 |
| 4. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $240,820 |
| 5. Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | $236,400 |
Nursing Schedule, Location, and Career Paths
- Nurses are often able to choose between shifts of varying lengths and at different points in the day.
- Nurses may work in hospitals, schools, homes or other healthcare facilities.
- Nurses may enter a number of healthcare industries and may pursue a wide variety of specialties, many of which come with higher wages and improved benefits.
Nursing Job Opportunities
- The BLS projects that registered nurse careers positions will increase by 7% between 2019 and 2029.
- Projected growth for nurse practitioners, midwives and anesthetists is 45% from 2019 to 2029, with 322,000 new nurse practitioners.
- In 2034, we may expect an older adult population superseding that of total children under the age of 18. This could lead to more spending and a higher need for medical services that nurses provide and support.
- One million current RNs are projected to leave the workforce by 2030, as a result of retirement or other reasons.
- With a growing shortage for primary care doctors, there is a probable need for primary care, and nurse practitioners can help fill that void.
Nursing Benefits
- Nurses generally receive generous benefit packages that include health insurance, vacation time, holiday pay, childcare and college tuition reimbursement. Benefits vary by location, employer and specialty.
- Various professional organizations exist for all nurses, as well as for each nursing specialty. These groups offer increased benefits and resources in exchange for annual membership fees.
Sponsored Online Nursing Programs
Sponsored
Earn a Master of Science in Nursing online from Simmons University.
- Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP
- Complete in as few as 24 months
- Full-time and part-time tracks available
Earn an MS in Nursing online from Georgetown University.
- Earn your MS in Nursing in as few as 23 months
- Choose from one of four APRN specialty areas: AG-ACNP, FNP, NM/WHNP, or WHNP
- Gain hands-on clinical experience in evidence-based practice
Request info from
Nursing@Georgetown
Earn an M.S. in Nursing online at the Wegmans School of Nursing
- The Wegmans School of Nursing is ranked among the top 100 nursing schools nationally, and is No. 6 in New York state1
- Part-time and accelerated tracks available
- Four program options: PCFNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP
Earn your MSN online from USC’s School of Social Work.
- Prepares RNs to pursue board certification as family nurse practitioners
- Earn a CCNE-accredited MSN in as few as 21 months
- Choose from part-time and full-time study options
1 U.S. News & World Report, 2022 Best Nursing Schools: Master’s. Ranked in 2021.
Sponsored
Information on this page was last updated in February 2021.