Career site Nurse.org released a new report featuring "real-world" salary rankings by state for registered nurses.
The list considers base pay along with cost of living -- a more meaningful salary comparison for nurses looking to advance their careers by relocating.
"We realized that nurses could benefit more from salary data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics if it contained a cost-of-living dimension. The combined data would offer a more accurate view of how far their salaries might go," said Phillip Lee, Product Manager for Nurse.org.
"A nurse making $80,000 in New York technically earns more than a nurse making $70,000 in Texas," explains Lee, "but when you factor in New York's 40% increased cost-of-living, it's a completely different story."
To address this gap, data analysts at Nurse.org compared salaries to regional cost-of-living data. The result is a real-world look at earning power. Nurses can now use the data to compare their current salary to their true earning potential in another state.
The report contains some surprises. California, despite its relatively high cost of living, pays its nurses more than any state on a cost-of-living-adjusted basis. Nevada took the second-highest spot on the list, thanks in part to its lower living costs.
On a non-adjusted basis, California is still number one, but Hawaii takes the second spot. Factor in cost of living, and Hawaii drops well down the list to 13th.
Rounding out the top ten after California and Nevada on the list of top "real-world" nurse salaries is Alaska (No. 3), Oregon (No. 4), Massachusetts (No. 5), Washington State (No. 6), New Jersey (No. 7), Texas (No. 8), Arizona (No. 9), and Minnesota (No. 10).
In addition to adjusted salary data, the rankings report includes effective income tax rates, hourly and annual salary, and number of RNs employed in each state.
With this report, Nurse.org wishes to help the estimated 2.7 million working nurses in the U.S. work where they want to without sacrificing quality of life.
See how your state ranks below:
- South Dakota
Average RN Salary: $55,100
Average Hourly: $26.14
Number of RNs in South Dakota: 12,130
Cost of Living Index: 102.8
Effective Tax Rate: 9.77%
- Iowa
Average RN Salary: $55,040
Average Hourly: $26.59
Number of RNs in Iowa: 32,370
Cost of Living Index: 91.7
Effective Tax Rate: 12.84%
- North Dakota
Average RN Salary: $58,890
Average Hourly: $28.77
Number of RNs in North Dakota: 8,710
Cost of Living Index: 98.8
Effective Tax Rate: 10.03%
- West Virginia
Average RN Salary: $58,010
Average Hourly: $27.98
Number of RNs in West Virginia: 20,880
Cost of Living Index: 95.7
Effective Tax Rate: 10.38%
- Alabama
Average RN Salary: $56,890
Average Hourly: $26.68
Number of RNs in Alabama: 47,440
Cost of Living Index: 91.2
Effective Tax Rate: 9.43%
- Vermont
Average RN Salary: $65,840
Average Hourly: $31.36
Number of RNs in Vermont: 5,850
Cost of Living Index: 122.4
Effective Tax Rate: 10.89%
- Kansas
Average RN Salary: $57,410
Average Hourly: $27.50
Number of RNs in Kansas: 27,130
Cost of Living Index: 90.4
Effective Tax Rate: 12.28%
- Arkansas
Average RN Salary: $56,870
Average Hourly: $27.26
Number of RNs in Arkansas: 23,380
Cost of Living Index: 88.5
Effective Tax Rate: 12.28%
- Tennessee
Average RN Salary: $57,560
Average Hourly: $27.69
Number of RNs in Tennessee: 47,440
Cost of Living Index: 89.8
Effective Tax Rate: 7.97%
- Maine
Average RN Salary: $64,310
Average Hourly: $29.76
Number of RNs in Maine: 14,190
Cost of Living Index: 112
Effective Tax Rate: 11.63%
- Mississippi
Average RN Salary: $56,980
Average Hourly: $26.86
Number of RNs in Mississippi: 28,590
Cost of Living Index: 86
Effective Tax Rate: 12.14%
- South Carolina
Average RN Salary: $$61,110
Average Hourly: $29.32
Number of RNs in South Carolina: 41,800
Cost of Living Index: 100.5
Effective Tax Rate: 8.84%
- Kentucky
Average RN Salary: $58,770.00
Average Hourly: $28.33
Number of RNs in Kentucky: 45,500
Cost of Living Index: 90.8
Effective Tax Rate: 12.01%
- Nebraska
Average RN Salary: $58,970
Average Hourly: $28.45
Number of RNs in Nebraska: 21,240
Cost of Living Index: 91.3
Effective Tax Rate: 13.80%
- New Hampshire
Average RN Salary: $67,190
Average Hourly: $32.07
Number of RNs in New Hampshire: 13,260
Cost of Living Index: 119.2
Effective Tax Rate: 10.09%
- Missouri
Average RN Salary: $59,150
Average Hourly: $28.28
Number of RNs in Missouri: 67,920
Cost of Living Index: 90.8
Effective Tax Rate: 11.02%
- North Carolina
Average RN Salary: $60,460
Average Hourly: $28.65
Number of RNs in North Carolina: 99,050
Cost of Living Index: 94.2
Effective Tax Rate: 10.63%
- Oklahoma
Average RN Salary: $59,040
Average Hourly: $28.49
Number of RNs in Oklahoma: 27,660
Cost of Living Index: 88.6
Effective Tax Rate: 10.70%
- Indiana
Average RN Salary: $58,910
Average Hourly: $28.27
Number of RNs in Indiana: 63,870
Cost of Living Index: 87.9
Effective Tax Rate: 11.87%
- Montana
Average RN Salary: $62,650
Average Hourly: $29.98
Number of RNs in Montana: 9,800
Cost of Living Index: 100.8
Effective Tax Rate: 6.89%
- Utah
Average RN Salary: $61,000
Average Hourly: $29.23
Number of RNs in Utah: 21,470
Cost of Living Index: 92.8
Effective Tax Rate: 9.25%
- Louisiana
Average RN Salary: $62,450
Average Hourly: $29.24
Number of RNs in Louisiana: 44,780
Cost of Living Index: 94.4
Effective Tax Rate: 10.33%
- Idaho
Average RN Salary: $61,280
Average Hourly: $29.90
Number of RNs in Idaho: 12,330
Cost of Living Index: 89.6
Effective Tax Rate: 8.48%
- Florida
Average RN Salary: $63,960
Average Hourly: $30.15
Number of RNs in Florida: 174,710
Cost of Living Index: 99
Effective Tax Rate: 8.94%
- Wyoming
Average RN Salary: $62,080
Average Hourly: $29.54
Number of RNs in Wyoming: 4,970
Cost of Living Index: 91.7
Effective Tax Rate: 7.43%
- Ohio
Average RN Salary: $62,800
Average Hourly: $29.95
Number of RNs in Ohio: 128,030
Cost of Living Index: 93
Effective Tax Rate: 13.06%
- Virginia
Average RN Salary: $65,340
Average Hourly: $31.00
Number of RNs in Virginia: 63,820
Cost of Living Index: 100.2
Effective Tax Rate: 10.89%
- District of Columbia
Average RN Salary: $79,560
Average Hourly: $38.47
Number of RNs in DC: 10,320
Cost of Living Index: 149.2
Effective Tax Rate: 10.00%
- Georgia
Average RN Salary: $63,190
Average Hourly: $30.93
Number of RNs in Georgia: 73,330
Cost of Living Index: 91.4
Effective Tax Rate: 10.57%
- Maryland
Average RN Salary: $73,200
Average Hourly: $35.31
Number of RNs in Maryland: 53,330
Cost of Living Index: 125
Effective Tax Rate: 11.92%
- Pennsylvania
Average RN Salary: $67,550
Average Hourly: $32.05
Number of RNs in Pennsylvania: 139,480
Cost of Living Index: 102.8
Effective Tax Rate: 12.33%
- New Mexico
Average RN Salary: $66,030
Average Hourly: $32.49
Number of RNs in New Mexico: 16,200
Cost of Living Index: 95.7
Effective Tax Rate: 10.73%
- Wisconsin
Average RN Salary: $66,400
Average Hourly: $31.94
Number of RNs in Wisconsin: 55,410
Cost of Living Index: 96.9
Effective Tax Rate: 13.60%
- Connecticut
Average RN Salary: $77,330
Average Hourly: $35.33
Number of RNs in Connecticut: 61,830
Cost of Living Index: 130.7
Effective Tax Rate: 13.56%
- New York
Average RN Salary: $78,950
Average Hourly: $38.65
Number of RNs in New York: 180,730
Cost of Living Index: 135.2
Effective Tax Rate: 13.58%
- Colorado
Average RN Salary: $69,990
Average Hourly: $33.05
Number of RNs in Colorado: 47,590
Cost of Living Index: 102.1
Effective Tax Rate: 9.34%
- Rhode Island
Average RN Salary: $76,410
Average Hourly: $35.73
Number of RNs in Rhode Island: 12,150
Cost of Living Index: 122.1
Effective Tax Rate: 13.57%
- Delaware
Average RN Salary: $71,410
Average Hourly: $33.32
Number of RNs in Delaware: 11,320
Cost of Living Index: 102.6
Effective Tax Rate: 6.07%
- Hawaii
Average RN Salary: $90,130
Average Hourly: $43.76
Number of RNs in Hawaii: 11,300
Cost of Living Index: 167.4
Effective Tax Rate: 10.33%
- Illinois
Average RN Salary: $69,760
Average Hourly: $33.03
Number of RNs in Illinois: 121,670
Cost of Living Index: 95.5
Effective Tax Rate: 14.76%
- Michigan
Average RN Salary: $67,690
Average Hourly: $32.43
Number of RNs in Michigan: 92,670
Cost of Living Index: 88.2
Effective Tax Rate: 13.00%
- Minnesota
Average RN Salary: $72,310
Average Hourly: $35.80
Number of RNs in Minnesota: 61,830
Cost of Living Index: 101.1
Effective Tax Rate: 11.59%
- Arizona
Average RN Salary: $71,790
Average Hourly: $34.94
Number of RNs in Arizona: 52,610
Cost of Living Index: 98.1
Effective Tax Rate: 9.60%
- Texas
Average RN Salary: $68,890
Average Hourly: $33.02
Number of RNs in Texas: 207,810
Cost of Living Index: 90.7
Effective Tax Rate: 11.12%
- New Jersey
Average RN Salary: $79,840
Average Hourly: $38.36
Number of RNs in New Jersey: 79,400
Cost of Living Index: 121
Effective Tax Rate: 12.63%
- Washington
Average RN Salary: $78,130
Average Hourly: $37.71
Number of RNs in Washington: 55,350
Cost of Living Index: 107.1
Effective Tax Rate: 11.72%
- Massachusetts
Average RN Salary:$88,650
Average Hourly: $40.58
Number of RNs in Massachusetts: 20,250
Cost of Living Index: 134.7
Effective Tax Rate: 11.52%
- Oregon
Average RN Salary: $83,800
Average Hourly: $42.32
Number of RNs in Oregon: 35,220
Cost of Living Index: 115.4
Effective Tax Rate: 9.22%
- Alaska
Average RN Salary: $88,510
Average Hourly: $40.01
Number of RNs in Alaska: 5,570
Cost of Living Index: 131.6
Effective Tax Rate: 5.64%
- Nevada
Average RN Salary: $81,460
Average Hourly: $40.36
Number of RNs in Nevada: 20,250
Cost of Living Index: 104.5
Effective Tax Rate: 7.66%
- California
Average RN Salary: $101,260
Average Hourly: $48.30
Number of RNs in California: 274,650
Cost of Living Index: 134.8
Effective Tax Rate: 8.79%
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and don’t forget to check out ModernNurse Jobs for the latest job postings.
Fla. is a horrible place to live and work as a nurse! The beaches are flat and boring, 2 seasons…hot summer and hurricane. Glad to live in WA. State where I make triple the salary!
I am an LPN for 30 years. I have been fortunate that my salary has been decent for me especially being a single mom of 4. I always look at other opportunities just for curiosity. It amazes me that some places in my state offer anywhere from $18,000-$35,000 less a year. What a massive difference. How do they expect anyone to survive on basically minimum wage. It amazes me that someone working in a fast food restaurant is earning the same as a nurse. Nothing against employees in other jobs but a nurse who actually is responsible for someone’s life should be properly compensated. My daughter was blown away when she noticed a job advertisement for the asst manager of a laundry room in a hospital setting and the base salary was more than $20,000 a year than most nurse’s are making. Something is drastically wrong with this picture.
I agree with M Brennan- Fla RN’s too many in the job market and consequently I am making what most LPN’s in other states make and I have been nursing for 33 years . If it wasn’t for my elderly parents , I would have left a long time ago.
Florida is rediculously expensive, especially compared to cost of living. Housing is more expansive than Georgia , North or South Carolina and yet pay is about the same or less. The excuse? The beach, Disney World? Give me a break. Make matters worse, pay will continue to be low because many nurses nearing retirement come down to Florida and accept the lower wage just to be able to live in Florida. New grads also accept the lower wages becuase not doing so may lead to not getting a job in Florida. You will have to work a lot of overtime or 2-3 jobs to make a living as a nurse in Florida, or have a spouse that makes very well financially. Florida is opportunistic toward new nurses and older nurses, the lower wages will trap you here, I know becuase my savings got washed away due to having to dip inside just to pay the rediculous expensive rent here. I would not recommend Florida, unless you live in Miami, every where else is too expensive for nurses.
Florida has new BSN NURSES IN VOLUSIA COUNTY STARTING AROUND 15TO 18 DOLLARS AN HOUR .FLAGLER AROUND I9 DOLLARS AN hour.These are for new graduates.one hospitals reason is [ well u have the beach]. Senior nurses coming from the north make half of what they made up north.They all said the same thing that they have the beach..Cheaper to live here not.Housing taxes cheaper but come no where near making up the difference in salaries.Can’t speak for other counties but Miami area highest paid.Increaced dangerous clientele. Best you’ve In hated community.Taxes high.
How about an LPN comparison? Thanks!
As an LPN for over 30 years I have been lucky to earn a decent salary (although as a single mom it is still difficult). Most jobs in my state offer anywhere from $18,000-$35,000 less a year. My daughter noticed a job posting for asst manager of a laundry room in a hospital setting. The base salary was more than $20,000 above my salary. I am responsible for someone’s life. Where is the appropriate comparison? Some LPN position are minimum wage. They can work in a fast food restaurant or local market and make the same salary. There has to be a better system.