How Much Do Nurses Make? An Overview of Salaries by Role and State

feature-image
author-image
Lindsay Smith
Last updated at February 19, 2022

Whether you're looking for a career that will help you make a difference in the world, want to see yourself as a respected professional, or love the idea of having an active and exciting career, you will have considered becoming a nurse. So how much do nurses make?

There are dozens of exciting specialties in nursing, and the demand is only growing since the US population is aging. There are over 46 million senior citizens in the USA, and by 2030, there will be 18 million more. 

One in five people will be over 65 in 2050. This leaves nurses with little to worry about in terms of job stability. Becoming a nurse now will set you up for a fruitful lifelong career. 

But the best part about starting a career in nursing is the high pay, and excellent benefits nurses receive. Becoming a nurse and working in healthcare facilities is hard work — but not without its benefits and perks.

Getting a nursing career shouldn't be too difficult since nursing training is accessible. 

Scoping out the field is essential before coming up with a career plan. And taking a look at the many different positions in nursing and the respective salaries is the right way to start.

Nursing Roles and Salaries

Indeed.com analyzed the salaries of over 220,000 nurses in the country and found that a nurse earns an average salary of $83,772 annually. This works out to a $39 hourly wage.

Nurses often work overtime and get compensated generously for their work. The average nurse earns $11,500 working overtime, according to the report by Indeed.com.

With the average American earning a salary of $35,805 (per FRED Economic Data, 2020), nurses earn a comfortable living right from when they begin their careers.

One of the best things about working as a nurse is receiving some exceptional competitive benefits. These include:

  • Loan forgiveness    
  • Vision, dental, health, and life insurance 
  • Dependent care reimbursement
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Access to retirement options, often with employers offering matching investments

It's important to remember that nurse salaries vary widely depending upon the position, education level, experience level, type of healthcare facility, and location of the facility.

Let's look at the salaries of nurses in different roles.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are registered nurses with master's degrees. These healthcare professionals are trained to work with a specific population of patients. APRNs are responsible for providing patient care by assessing, diagnosing, and prescribing medication. 

There are different kinds of APRNs, each tested by separate national competency tests and playing critical roles in the healthcare system:

  1. Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP)
  2. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
  3. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
  4. Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM)

We discuss the details of these roles in the next sections.

Salary

Advanced practice registered nurses make an average annual salary of $97,263. It's important to note that APRNs in different roles earn different annual salaries, and the salaries also differ by state. We outline the relevant salary by state data of APRN roles in a section below.

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners independently provide advanced level care to patients in one of six populations. In addition to providing comprehensive patient care in internal medicine, they also provide care in pediatrics, family practices, geriatrics, and women's health. 

A certified nurse practitioner can practice as a primary or acute care provider. Both primary and acute care CNPs require unique certifications before they can practice.  

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

According to new data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioner salaries average $114,510.

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$88,838$42.71
Alaska$117,966$56.71
Arizona$94,296$45.33
Arkansas$99,796$47.98
California$103,627$49.82
Colorado$105,823$50.88
Connecticut$99,322$47.75
Delaware$104,543$50.26
Florida$85,736$41.22
Georgia$90,966$43.73
Hawaii$102,415$49.24
Idaho$97,240$46.75
Illinois$99,258$47.72
Indiana$93,692$45.04
Iowa$89,758$43.15
Kansas$91,012$43.76
Kentucky$102,271$49.17
Louisiana$91,005$43.75
Maine$96,337$46.32
Maryland$111,741$53.72
Massachusetts$124,953$60.07
Michigan$99,199$47.69
Minnesota$93,838$45.11
Mississippi$85,255$40.99
Missouri$104,436$50.21
Montana$95,276$45.81
Nebraska$109,601$52.69
Nevada$117,034$56.27
New Hampshire$108,201$52.02
New Jersey$95,877$46.09
New Mexico$88,444$42.52
New York$111,971$53.83
North Carolina$90,090$43.31
North Dakota$96,768$46.52
Ohio$92,998$44.71
Oklahoma$101,866$48.97
Oregon$92,452$44.45
Pennsylvania$95,673$46.00
Rhode Island$98,106$47.17
South Carolina$105,722$50.83
South Dakota$93,942$45.16
Tennessee$93,676$45.04
Texas$94,061$45.22
Utah$91,914$44.19
Vermont$101,896$48.99
Virginia$108,164$52.00
Washington$115,127$55.35
West Virginia$97,320$46.79
Wisconsin$93,106$44.76
Wyoming$100,286$48.21

Clinical Nurse Specialist

A clinical nurse specialist is responsible for treating illnesses, disease management, and prevention of illnesses among individuals, families, and communities. Clinical nurse specialists can specialize in neonatal, pediatric, and adult care. 

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

Clinical nurse specialists make an average of $111,215 yearly. The top 10% of nurses working in the role earn upwards of $130,000 annually.

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$67,071$32.25
Alaska$121,351$58.34
Arizona$74,795$35.96
Arkansas$84,025$40.40
California$117,590$56.53
Colorado$95,115$45.73
Connecticut$118,985$57.20
Delaware$108,033$51.94
Florida$116,589$56.05
Georgia$67,227$32.32
Hawaii$71,580$34.41
Idaho$52,366$25.18
Illinois$100,185$48.17
Indiana$106,287$51.10
Iowa$87,552$42.09
Kansas$99,070$47.63
Kentucky$86,121$41.40
Louisiana$72,060$34.64
Maine$118,070$56.76
Maryland$101,531$48.81
Massachusetts$136,736$65.74
Michigan$102,232$49.15
Minnesota$140,374$67.49
Mississippi$86,948$41.80
Missouri$74,017$35.59
Montana$83,712$40.25
Nebraska$99,075$47.63
Nevada$88,623$42.61
New Hampshire$119,259$57.34
New Jersey$108,962$52.39
New Mexico$81,160$39.02
New York$113,721$54.67
North Carolina$95,531$45.93
North Dakota$136,898$65.82
Ohio$93,012$44.72
Oklahoma$69,075$33.21
Oregon$109,656$52.72
Pennsylvania$92,842$44.64
Rhode Island$113,076$54.36
South Carolina$74,174$35.66
South Dakota$84,256$40.51
Tennessee$72,704$34.95
Texas$77,885$37.44
Utah$76,184$36.63
Vermont$136,014$65.39
Virginia$104,982$50.47
Washington$111,213$53.47
West Virginia$119,657$57.53
Wisconsin$124,695$59.95
Wyoming$110,382$53.07

Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Certified registered nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia-related care to patients across populations. The patients these nurses work with may be perfectly healthy and undergo surgery or have severe and immediate illnesses or injuries that require medical procedures. A certified registered nurse anesthetist can work in various settings, including surgical suites.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

A survey by Salary.com indicates that the typical Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist earns an average salary of $233,522 every year. However, the salary extends to beyond $269,000 per year for the most qualified and experienced CRNAs in the country.

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$160,476$77.15
Alaska$198,179$95.28
Arizona$170,335$81.89
Arkansas$171,056$82.24
California$183,763$88.35
Colorado$181,841$87.42
Connecticut$206,624$99.34
Delaware$180,781$86.91
Florida$154,874$74.46
Georgia$164,320$79.00
Hawaii$209,171$100.56
Idaho$172,131$82.76
Illinois$170,130$81.79
Indiana$169,243$81.37
Iowa$189,808$91.25
Kansas$187,407$90.10
Kentucky$174,641$83.96
Louisiana$194,651$93.58
Maine$171,240$82.33
Maryland$193,353$92.96
Massachusetts$212,652$102.24
Michigan$170,568$82.00
Minnesota$200,717$96.50
Mississippi$175,632$84.44
Missouri$180,135$86.60
Montana$172,106$82.74
Nebraska$190,020$91.36
Nevada$196,618$94.53
New Hampshire$194,664$93.59
New Jersey$211,338$101.60
New Mexico$192,553$92.57
New York$201,682$96.96
North Carolina$155,225$74.63
North Dakota$197,921$95.15
Ohio$199,912$96.11
Oklahoma$176,608$84.91
Oregon$189,605$91.16
Pennsylvania$172,344$82.86
Rhode Island$201,199$96.73
South Carolina$182,157$87.58
South Dakota$192,141$92.38
Tennessee$201,386$96.82
Texas$166,229$79.92
Utah$195,963$94.21
Vermont$183,067$88.01
Virginia$187,529$90.16
Washington$202,956$97.57
West Virginia$175,311$84.28
Wisconsin$202,455$97.33
Wyoming$180,842$86.94

Nurse Midwife

Nurse midwives provide a full range of patient care to women in all stages of life. They are best known for providing family planning services, preconception care, and prenatal and postpartum care. 

In most healthcare settings, nurse midwives also assist in childbirth and help mothers care for the newborn. Besides a hospital, a nurse-midwife may work at a private office or a public health clinic.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

Nurse midwives play a critical role in healthcare and are paid an average annual salary of $114,841. The top 10% of nurses in the role earn upwards of $144,000, whereas midwives earn $97,183 yearly on the low end.

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$79,812$38.37
Alaska$104,687$50.33
Arizona$84,714$40.73
Arkansas$88,858$42.72
California$92,800$44.62
Colorado$94,263$45.32
Connecticut$89,449$43.00
Delaware$93,221$44.82
Florida$77,025$37.03
Georgia$81,722$39.29
Hawaii$111,146$53.44
Idaho$87,054$41.85
Illinois$88,378$42.49
Indiana$84,171$40.47
Iowa$80,800$38.85
Kansas$81,986$39.42
Kentucky$91,003$43.75
Louisiana$81,899$39.37
Maine$86,307$41.49
Maryland$99,651$47.91
Massachusetts$111,123$53.42
Michigan$88,373$42.49
Minnesota$84,448$40.60
Mississippi$76,799$36.92
Missouri$93,086$44.75
Montana$85,595$41.15
Nebraska$97,775$47.01
Nevada$103,860$49.93
New Hampshire$97,138$46.70
New Jersey$86,213$41.45
New Mexico$79,556$38.25
New York$100,543$48.34
North Carolina$80,285$38.60
North Dakota$105,301$50.63
Ohio$83,681$40.23
Oklahoma$90,873$43.69
Oregon$101,115$48.61
Pennsylvania$85,910$41.30
Rhode Island$107,298$51.59
South Carolina$94,215$45.30
South Dakota$102,226$49.15
Tennessee$84,291$40.52
Texas$84,184$40.47
Utah$82,722$39.77
Vermont$91,456$43.97
Virginia$96,492$46.39
Washington$102,994$49.52
West Virginia$87,389$42.01
Wisconsin$83,752$40.27
Wyoming$90,068$43.30

OR Nurse

OR nurses are healthcare professionals who provide care to patients before, during, and after invasive surgeries. These nurses work with patients of all ages and are responsible for evaluating patients and educating them about the procedure. 

They are also responsible for developing a care plan, ensuring the OR is sterilized and ready for procedures, starting IV lines, and assisting surgeons during medical procedures.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

Per the 2019 AORN Salary and Compensation Survey, OR nurses earn an average annual salary of $73,400. However, if an OR nurse is also a charge nurse, they can earn an annual salary of upwards of $82,000.

According to ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
New York$100,688$48.41
New Hampshire$97,606$46.93
Vermont$92,264$44.36
Wyoming$89,898$43.22
Maine$89,723$43.14
Massachusetts$89,589$43.07
West Virginia$87,490$42.06
Hawaii$87,172$41.91
Washington$87,086$41.87
Pennsylvania$86,009$41.35
Connecticut$85,199$40.96
Montana$85,006$40.87
New Jersey$84,320$40.54
Arizona$84,131$40.45
Rhode Island$83,649$40.22
Indiana$83,592$40.19
Alaska$82,910$39.86
North Dakota$82,415$39.62
Nevada$82,258$39.55
Maryland$82,176$39.51
Tennessee$81,493$39.18
Minnesota$81,456$39.16
Wisconsin$81,398$39.13
Georgia$81,159$39.02
Ohio$80,900$38.89
Nebraska$80,840$38.87
South Dakota$80,008$38.47
Virginia$79,781$38.36
Utah$79,674$38.30
Alabama$79,262$38.11
California$79,085$38.02
Louisiana$78,996$37.98
Oregon$78,828$37.90
Kansas$77,733$37.37
Iowa$77,533$37.28
New Mexico$77,363$37.19
South Carolina$77,243$37.14
Colorado$77,000$37.02
Delaware$76,805$36.93
Florida$76,492$36.77
Missouri$76,429$36.74
Oklahoma$75,134$36.12
Idaho$74,012$35.58
Kentucky$73,708$35.44
Mississippi$72,829$35.01
Arkansas$72,338$34.78
Michigan$72,251$34.74
Illinois$71,946$34.59
Texas$71,416$34.33
North Carolina$65,823$31.65

ICU Nurse

ICU nurses, also called critical care nurses, work in the intensive care unit, working with neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations depending on their specialization. Their responsibilities include stabilizing patients, making physical assessments, monitoring patients, administering life-saving treatment as required, and documenting patient care. 

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

The average salary for an ICU nurse is $103,953 annually. However, more experienced nurses make upwards of $200,000 annually. 

According to ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
New York$114,269$54.94
New Hampshire$110,772$53.26
Vermont$104,709$50.34
Wyoming$102,025$49.05
Maine$101,826$48.95
Massachusetts$101,673$48.88
West Virginia$99,291$47.74
Hawaii$98,931$47.56
Washington$98,833$47.52
Pennsylvania$97,611$46.93
Connecticut$96,691$46.49
Montana$96,472$46.38
New Jersey$95,695$46.01
Arizona$95,480$45.90
Rhode Island$94,933$45.64
Indiana$94,868$45.61
Alaska$94,094$45.24
North Dakota$93,532$44.97
Nevada$93,353$44.88
Maryland$93,261$44.84
Tennessee$92,486$44.46
Minnesota$92,444$44.44
Wisconsin$92,378$44.41
Georgia$92,106$44.28
Ohio$91,813$44.14
Nebraska$91,746$44.11
South Dakota$90,800$43.65
Virginia$90,543$43.53
Utah$90,421$43.47
Alabama$89,953$43.25
California$89,752$43.15
Louisiana$89,652$43.10
Oregon$89,462$43.01
Kansas$88,219$42.41
Iowa$87,991$42.30
New Mexico$87,799$42.21
South Carolina$87,663$42.15
Colorado$87,388$42.01
Delaware$87,167$41.91
Florida$86,810$41.74
Missouri$86,739$41.70
Oklahoma$85,269$40.99
Idaho$83,996$40.38
Kentucky$83,651$40.22
Mississippi$82,654$39.74
Arkansas$82,096$39.47
Michigan$81,997$39.42
Illinois$81,650$39.25
Texas$81,050$38.97
North Carolina$74,702$35.91

PACU Nurse

PACU nurses specialize in caring for patients waking up from anesthesia. These nurses monitor patients after their medical procedures, assess their condition, and administer medication if the patient suffers the side effects of anesthesia. They are also responsible for keeping the patient's medical records updated.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

The typical PACU nurse earns an annual salary of $85,000. The top 10% of nurses in this specialty earn around $128,000 yearly. 

According to ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
New York$108,132$51.99
New Hampshire$104,948$50.46
Vermont$99,343$47.76
Wyoming$96,431$46.36
West Virginia$93,950$45.17
Massachusetts$93,863$45.13
Pennsylvania$92,360$44.40
Hawaii$91,622$44.05
Montana$91,020$43.76
Washington$90,756$43.63
Arizona$90,084$43.31
Connecticut$89,830$43.19
New Jersey$89,787$43.17
Indiana$89,507$43.03
Rhode Island$87,982$42.30
Alaska$87,044$41.85
Georgia$86,901$41.78
North Dakota$86,643$41.66
Wisconsin$86,474$41.57
Tennessee$86,407$41.54
Nevada$86,358$41.52
Minnesota$86,293$41.49
Maryland$85,876$41.29
Ohio$85,776$41.24
Alabama$84,869$40.80
Nebraska$84,457$40.60
Utah$84,358$40.56
South Dakota$84,113$40.44
Louisiana$83,687$40.23
Virginia$83,350$40.07
Oregon$82,912$39.86
California$82,347$39.59
New Mexico$82,205$39.52
Iowa$81,976$39.41
Florida$81,902$39.38
Kansas$81,815$39.33
South Carolina$80,775$38.83
Colorado$80,555$38.73
Delaware$80,272$38.59
Missouri$79,910$38.42
Oklahoma$78,496$37.74
Kentucky$77,184$37.11
Idaho$77,086$37.06
Maine$76,801$36.92
Mississippi$76,660$36.86
Arkansas$75,706$36.40
Michigan$75,578$36.34
Illinois$75,296$36.20
Texas$74,399$35.77
North Carolina$68,832$33.09

Travel Nurse

Instead of working for a hospital, travel nurses work for a nursing staffing agency. The agency assigns these nurses to hospitals around the country that need temporary nurses. Sometimes, travel nurses journey across the world to fill a position. 

Travel nurses are some of the highest-paid nurses and get the opportunity to explore new locations and work in an array of different practice environments. The best part about travel nursing is that you only need to be a licensed registered nurse with at least a year of experience to become a travel nurse.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

Travel nurses earn $116,490 per year on average, making travel nursing a more attractive option to nurses entering starting their careers.

Per the data on ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$92,602$44.52
Alaska$94,114$45.25
Arizona$98,292$47.26
Arkansas$81,734$39.30
California$88,691$42.64
Colorado$86,953$41.80
Connecticut$97,321$46.79
Delaware$86,609$41.64
Florida$89,364$42.96
Georgia$94,818$45.59
Hawaii$99,116$47.65
Idaho$83,034$39.92
Illinois$81,291$39.08
Indiana$97,662$46.95
Iowa$88,928$42.75
Kansas$88,565$42.58
Kentucky$83,353$40.07
Louisiana$90,865$43.68
Maine$82,704$39.76
Maryland$92,651$44.54
Massachusetts$101,389$48.74
Michigan$81,578$39.22
Minnesota$93,695$45.05
Mississippi$82,989$39.90
Missouri$86,234$41.46
Montana$99,314$47.75
Nebraska$91,107$43.80
Nevada$93,373$44.89
New Hampshire$114,727$55.16
New Jersey$97,720$46.98
New Mexico$89,382$42.97
New York$118,145$56.80
North Carolina$74,285$35.71
North Dakota$93,741$45.07
Ohio$93,171$44.79
Oklahoma$84,676$40.71
Oregon$89,723$43.14
Pennsylvania$100,907$48.51
Rhode Island$95,210$45.77
South Carolina$87,174$41.91
South Dakota$91,004$43.75
Tennessee$93,856$45.12
Texas$80,150$38.53
Utah$91,570$44.02
Vermont$88,686$42.64
Virginia$89,912$43.23
Washington$97,787$47.01
West Virginia$102,645$49.35
Wisconsin$94,014$45.20
Wyoming$105,304$50.63

School Nurse

School nurses work in educational settings ranging from pre-schools to colleges and universities. These nurses work to assess and treat students' physical and mental health issues. If a higher level of care is needed, the nurses contact the student's parents or emergency services. 

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

School nurses earn an average of $52,546 annually, and the top 10% of nurses in the position earn upwards of $78,000.

Per the data collected by ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$56,697$27.26
Alaska$57,623$27.70
Arizona$60,182$28.93
Arkansas$50,044$24.06
California$54,303$26.11
Colorado$53,239$25.60
Connecticut$59,586$28.65
Delaware$53,029$25.49
Florida$54,716$26.31
Georgia$58,054$27.91
Hawaii$60,687$29.18
Idaho$50,840$24.44
Illinois$49,772$23.93
Indiana$59,796$28.75
Iowa$54,448$26.18
Kansas$54,226$26.07
Kentucky$51,035$24.54
Louisiana$55,634$26.75
Maine$50,637$24.34
Maryland$56,728$27.27
Massachusetts$62,078$29.85
Michigan$49,947$24.01
Minnesota$57,367$27.58
Mississippi$50,811$24.43
Missouri$52,799$25.38
Montana$60,807$29.23
Nebraska$55,782$26.82
Nevada$57,170$27.49
New Hampshire$70,244$33.77
New Jersey$59,830$28.76
New Mexico$54,725$26.31
New York$72,337$34.78
North Carolina$45,483$21.87
North Dakota$57,395$27.59
Ohio$57,046$27.43
Oklahoma$51,845$24.93
Oregon$54,935$26.41
Pennsylvania$61,782$29.70
Rhode Island$58,294$28.03
South Carolina$53,374$25.66
South Dakota$55,719$26.79
Tennessee$57,465$27.63
Texas$49,073$23.59
Utah$56,066$26.95
Vermont$54,301$26.11
Virginia$55,051$26.47
Washington$59,873$28.79
West Virginia$62,847$30.21
Wisconsin$57,562$27.67
Wyoming$64,474$31.00

Charge Nurse

Charge nurses are the “head nurse” of a nursing unit and are responsible for managing and coordinating patient care delivery. These nurses assign tasks to nurses and oversee admissions and discharges in the unit. Charge nurses also work among their fellow nurses to provide bedside care.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

Charge nurses typically earn an annual salary of $91,843. As they gain more experience, the nurses earn over $100,000 yearly, with the top 10% in the field earning over $111,000 yearly.

According to ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$61,054$29.35
Alaska$64,316$30.92
Arizona$64,806$31.16
Arkansas$56,177$27.01
California$74,303$35.72
Colorado$59,805$28.75
Connecticut$65,991$31.73
Delaware$59,674$28.69
Florida$58,921$28.33
Georgia$62,516$30.06
Hawaii$67,594$32.50
Idaho$70,000$33.65
Illinois$55,872$26.86
Indiana$64,390$30.96
Iowa$59,994$28.84
Kansas$60,246$28.96
Kentucky$57,229$27.51
Louisiana$61,083$29.37
Maine$68,712$33.03
Maryland$63,849$30.70
Massachusetts$69,547$33.44
Michigan$56,119$26.98
Minnesota$62,986$30.28
Mississippi$56,444$27.14
Missouri$59,374$28.55
Montana$65,480$31.48
Nebraska$62,818$30.20
Nevada$63,810$30.68
New Hampshire$75,071$36.09
New Jersey$65,081$31.29
New Mexico$59,757$28.73
New York$77,475$37.25
North Carolina$51,132$24.58
North Dakota$63,900$30.72
Ohio$62,537$30.07
Oklahoma$58,384$28.07
Oregon$61,110$29.38
Pennsylvania$66,183$31.82
Rhode Island$64,847$31.18
South Carolina$60,003$28.85
South Dakota$62,035$29.82
Tennessee$62,995$30.29
Texas$55,550$26.71
Utah$61,620$29.62
Vermont$70,926$34.10
Virginia$61,995$29.81
Washington$67,730$32.56
West Virginia$67,322$32.37
Wisconsin$62,878$30.23
Wyoming$69,203$33.27

Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric nurses specialize in providing care for children and teenagers in doctor's offices, hospitals, and PICUs. After assessing the patient's condition, the nurses create care plans for pediatric patients, order and analyze tests, and coordinate follow-up medical care.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

On average, pediatric nurses earn $74,300 per year. However, for more experienced and qualified nurses in this position, the salary exceeds $94,000 annually.

According to the data by ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$47,035$22.61
Alaska$58,995$28.36
Arizona$49,924$24.00
Arkansas$50,698$24.37
California$54,070$26.00
Colorado$53,865$25.90
Connecticut$61,867$29.74
Delaware$53,478$25.71
Florida$45,393$21.82
Georgia$48,162$23.15
Hawaii$62,364$29.98
Idaho$50,666$24.36
Illinois$50,423$24.24
Indiana$49,604$23.85
Iowa$57,042$27.42
Kansas$55,980$26.91
Kentucky$51,802$24.90
Louisiana$58,645$28.19
Maine$50,359$24.21
Maryland$57,189$27.49
Massachusetts$63,123$30.35
Michigan$50,518$24.29
Minnesota$60,473$29.07
Mississippi$52,469$25.23
Missouri$53,316$25.63
Montana$50,444$24.25
Nebraska$56,179$27.01
Nevada$58,530$28.14
New Hampshire$57,103$27.45
New Jersey$50,971$24.51
New Mexico$47,091$22.64
New York$59,148$28.44
North Carolina$45,954$22.09
North Dakota$59,029$28.38
Ohio$60,296$28.99
Oklahoma$52,214$25.10
Oregon$56,584$27.20
Pennsylvania$50,542$24.30
Rhode Island$60,044$28.87
South Carolina$53,927$25.93
South Dakota$57,306$27.55
Tennessee$60,742$29.20
Texas$48,946$23.53
Utah$58,998$28.36
Vermont$53,717$25.83
Virginia$55,443$26.66
Washington$59,791$28.75
West Virginia$51,413$24.72
Wisconsin$49,581$23.84
Wyoming$53,023$25.49

Oncology Nurse

An oncology nurse is an RN who works to provide care to cancer patients. These nurses work in a multi-disciplinary team and are primarily trained in patient assessment and chemotherapy. Understanding pathology results and their implications and adjusting the treatment plan is a big part of an oncology nurse's job.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

The average salary for oncology nurses is $78,800 per year. However, depending on the location and your level of education, you may be able to earn upwards of $96,000 per year in the same role.

According to zippia.com data:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$62,818$30.20
Alaska$89,161$42.87
Arizona$72,083$34.66
Arkansas$59,442$28.58
California$117,723$56.60
Colorado$65,487$31.48
Connecticut$101,545$48.82
Delaware$60,497$29.09
District of Columbia$73,477$35.33
Florida$61,159$29.40
Georgia$64,908$31.21
Hawaii$103,983$49.99
Idaho$71,814$34.53
Illinois$64,233$30.88
Indiana$53,191$25.57
Iowa$55,116$26.50
Kansas$59,129$28.43
Kentucky$57,762$27.77
Louisiana$62,292$29.95
Maine$69,417$33.37
Maryland$69,938$33.62
Massachusetts$80,643$38.77
Michigan$81,093$38.99
Minnesota$68,222$32.80
Mississippi$60,115$28.90
Missouri$67,994$32.69
Montana$63,010$30.29
Nebraska$55,978$26.91
Nevada$82,284$39.56
New Hampshire$68,807$33.08
New Jersey$77,521$37.27
New Mexico$68,822$33.09
New York$88,290$42.45
North Carolina$57,615$27.70
North Dakota$59,242$28.48
Ohio$60,362$29.02
Oklahoma$56,878$27.35
Oregon$101,047$48.58
Pennsylvania$68,103$32.74
Rhode Island$79,146$38.05
South Carolina$52,055$25.03
South Dakota$53,579$25.76
Tennessee$55,473$26.67
Texas$76,728$36.89
Utah$68,133$32.76
Vermont$65,857$31.66
Virginia$62,974$30.28
Washington$86,598$41.63
West Virginia$67,287$32.35
Wisconsin$71,731$34.49
Wyoming$66,215$31.83

Critical Care Nurse

Also referred to as ICU nurses, critical care nurses are trained to care for critically ill patients. Additionally, they provide nursing care for patients before and after medical procedures. Besides working in ICUs, they work in the emergency departments and emergency ICUs.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

Critical care nurses in the US earn an average salary of $79,300 annually. More experienced nurses earn upwards of $103,000 yearly.

ziprecruiter.com data indicates:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$89,953$43.25
Alaska$94,094$45.24
Arizona$95,480$45.90
Arkansas$82,096$39.47
California$89,752$43.15
Colorado$87,388$42.01
Connecticut$96,691$46.49
Delaware$87,167$41.91
Florida$86,810$41.74
Georgia$92,106$44.28
Hawaii$98,931$47.56
Idaho$83,996$40.38
Illinois$81,650$39.25
Indiana$94,868$45.61
Iowa$87,991$42.30
Kansas$88,219$42.41
Kentucky$83,651$40.22
Louisiana$89,652$43.10
Maine$101,826$48.95
Maryland$93,261$44.84
Massachusetts$101,673$48.88
Michigan$81,997$39.42
Minnesota$92,444$44.44
Mississippi$82,654$39.74
Missouri$86,739$41.70
Montana$96,472$46.38
Nebraska$91,746$44.11
Nevada$93,353$44.88
New Hampshire$110,772$53.26
New Jersey$95,695$46.01
New Mexico$87,799$42.21
New York$114,269$54.94
North Carolina$74,702$35.91
North Dakota$93,532$44.97
Ohio$91,813$44.14
Oklahoma$85,269$40.99
Oregon$89,462$43.01
Pennsylvania$97,611$46.93
Rhode Island$94,933$45.64
South Carolina$87,663$42.15
South Dakota$90,800$43.65
Tennessee$92,486$44.46
Texas$81,050$38.97
Utah$90,421$43.47
Vermont$104,709$50.34
Virginia$90,543$43.53
Washington$98,833$47.52
West Virginia$99,291$47.74
Wisconsin$92,378$44.41
Wyoming$102,025$49.05

Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered nurses provide hands-on care to patients in all populations in various healthcare settings. These nurses work closely with physicians and fellow nurses to provide patients with the highest quality nursing care. 

Before nurses can specialize, they must become a licensed registered nurse and gain a year of experience. Becoming a registered nurse is considered the jump-off point in a nurse's career. 

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook indicates that the average registered nurse salary is $75,330 per year. However, registered nurse salaries are higher for more experienced registered nurses and those with more certifications.

Ziprecruiter.com data indicates:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$56,502$27.16
Alaska$72,501$34.86
Arizona$59,974$28.83
Arkansas$61,910$29.76
California$65,327$31.41
Colorado$65,726$31.60
Connecticut$76,662$36.86
Delaware$65,124$31.31
Florida$54,530$26.22
Georgia$57,855$27.81
Hawaii$76,812$36.93
Idaho$61,250$29.45
Illinois$61,576$29.60
Indiana$59,589$28.65
Iowa$57,406$27.60
Kansas$69,138$33.24
Kentucky$63,334$30.45
Louisiana$58,155$27.96
Maine$60,800$29.23
Maryland$69,629$33.48
Massachusetts$77,258$37.14
Michigan$61,631$29.63
Minnesota$59,965$28.83
Mississippi$64,810$31.16
Missouri$64,980$31.24
Montana$60,597$29.13
Nebraska$68,359$32.86
Nevada$71,929$34.58
New Hampshire$68,683$33.02
New Jersey$61,132$29.39
New Mexico$56,445$27.14
New York$71,117$34.19
North Carolina$56,025$26.94
North Dakota$72,741$34.97
Ohio$59,407$28.56
Oklahoma$63,534$30.55
Oregon$69,790$33.55
Pennsylvania$60,768$29.22
Rhode Island$74,057$35.60
South Carolina$65,746$31.61
South Dakota$70,616$33.95
Tennessee$59,840$28.77
Texas$59,200$28.46
Utah$58,749$28.24
Vermont$64,638$31.08
Virginia$67,462$32.43
Washington$72,374$34.80
West Virginia$61,814$29.72
Wisconsin$59,425$28.57
Wyoming$63,730$30.64

Neonatal Nurse (NICU)

Neonatal nurses care for newborn babies and help the parents care for their children. In addition to providing first-hand care, these nurses often are the bridge between the patient and the specialists on the team. After assessing patient behavior, these nurses take the necessary steps to help resolve medical issues. It is one of the most challenging and rewarding roles in nursing.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

NICU nurses earn an average of $70,775 annually. More experienced NICU nurses earn upwards of $104,000.

According to ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$79,127$38.04
Alaska$98,448$47.33
Arizona$83,988$40.38
Arkansas$84,795$40.77
California$90,777$43.64
Colorado$90,118$43.33
Connecticut$102,931$49.49
Delaware$89,533$43.04
Florida$76,365$36.71
Georgia$81,022$38.95
Hawaii$103,986$49.99
Idaho$85,047$40.89
Illinois$84,336$40.55
Indiana$83,449$40.12
Iowa$94,722$45.54
Kansas$93,252$44.83
Kentucky$86,606$41.64
Louisiana$97,259$46.76
Maine$84,571$40.66
Maryland$95,754$46.04
Massachusetts$105,493$50.72
Michigan$84,525$40.64
Minnesota$100,290$48.22
Mississippi$87,398$42.02
Missouri$89,237$42.90
Montana$84,861$40.80
Nebraska$94,085$45.23
Nevada$97,673$46.96
New Hampshire$96,022$46.16
New Jersey$85,796$41.25
New Mexico$96,390$46.34
New York$99,473$47.82
North Carolina$76,906$36.97
North Dakota$98,409$47.31
Ohio$99,940$48.05
Oklahoma$87,444$42.04
Oregon$94,303$45.34
Pennsylvania$85,002$40.87
Rhode Island$100,070$48.11
South Carolina$90,249$43.39
South Dakota$95,536$45.93
Tennessee$100,678$48.40
Texas$82,144$39.49
Utah$97,880$47.06
Vermont$90,315$43.42
Virginia$92,851$44.64
Washington$100,318$48.23
West Virginia$86,465$41.57
Wisconsin$101,334$48.72
Wyoming$89,184$42.88

Family Nurse Practitioner

Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are APRNs that provide family-focused nursing care. In addition to assessing and diagnosing patients and conducting routine checkups, they also provide primary healthcare. Their focus on preventative care makes them an essential part of the healthcare system. 

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

The typical family nurse practitioner earns a salary of $114,510 per year. 

Per ziprecruiter.com data:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$95,221$45.78
Alaska$98,851$47.52
Arizona$101,071$48.59
Arkansas$86,143$41.41
California$93,994$45.19
Colorado$91,681$44.08
Connecticut$101,746$48.92
Delaware$91,416$43.95
Florida$91,893$44.18
Georgia$97,500$46.88
Hawaii$103,977$49.99
Idaho$87,974$42.30
Illinois$85,676$41.19
Indiana$100,424$48.28
Iowa$92,692$44.56
Kansas$92,768$44.60
Kentucky$87,793$42.21
Louisiana$94,511$45.44
Maine$87,681$42.15
Maryland$97,803$47.02
Massachusetts$106,730$51.31
Michigan$86,023$41.36
Minnesota$97,454$46.85
Mississippi$86,919$41.79
Missouri$90,980$43.74
Montana$102,122$49.10
Nebraska$96,204$46.25
Nevada$98,073$47.15
New Hampshire$117,448$56.47
New Jersey$101,082$48.60
New Mexico$92,666$44.55
New York$121,101$58.22
North Carolina$78,360$37.67
North Dakota$98,313$47.27
Ohio$96,821$46.55
Oklahoma$89,413$42.99
Oregon$94,051$45.22
Pennsylvania$103,443$49.73
Rhode Island$99,802$47.98
South Carolina$91,956$44.21
South Dakota$95,442$45.89
Tennessee$97,532$46.89
Texas$84,896$40.82
Utah$95,301$45.82
Vermont$111,082$53.40
Virginia$94,942$45.65
Washington$103,537$49.78
West Virginia$105,224$50.59
Wisconsin$97,490$46.87
Wyoming$108,075$51.96

Labor and Delivery Nurse

As the role title suggests, Labor and Delivery Nurses (or “L&D nurses”) provide care for mothers before, during, and after delivery. These nurses also care for the newborn. L&D nurses typically follow the nurse midwife‘s directions, including inducing labor. 

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

L&D nurses earn an average annual salary of $75,900.

Per the latest data on ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$78,078$37.54
Alaska$95,483$45.91
Arizona$82,875$39.84
Arkansas$82,646$39.73
California$89,192$42.88
Colorado$87,886$42.25
Connecticut$99,181$47.68
Delaware$87,449$42.04
Florida$75,352$36.23
Georgia$79,948$38.44
Hawaii$100,678$48.40
Idaho$83,527$40.16
Illinois$82,197$39.52
Indiana$82,343$39.59
Iowa$90,891$43.70
Kansas$90,094$43.31
Kentucky$84,334$40.55
Louisiana$93,058$44.74
Maine$83,140$39.97
Maryland$93,540$44.97
Massachusetts$102,641$49.35
Michigan$82,445$39.64
Minnesota$95,957$46.13
Mississippi$84,427$40.59
Missouri$87,106$41.88
Montana$83,737$40.26
Nebraska$91,951$44.21
Nevada$94,731$45.54
New Hampshire$94,662$45.51
New Jersey$100,604$48.37
New Mexico$91,823$44.15
New York$98,090$47.16
North Carolina$75,050$36.08
North Dakota$95,243$45.79
Ohio$95,505$45.92
Oklahoma$85,461$41.09
Oregon$91,204$43.85
Pennsylvania$83,822$40.30
Rhode Island$96,782$46.53
South Carolina$88,071$42.34
South Dakota$92,463$44.45
Tennessee$96,208$46.25
Texas$80,646$38.77
Utah$93,728$45.06
Vermont$89,007$42.79
Virginia$90,745$43.63
Washington$98,431$47.32
West Virginia$85,265$40.99
Wisconsin$96,561$46.42
Wyoming$87,968$42.29

Certified Medication Aide (CMA)

Certified medication aides are CNAs that primarily work to dispense medication to patients. They also provide patient care directly. Recording the quantity and time of medication use and alerting supervisors about changes in medication is also a part of the job. 

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

The average certified medication aide salary is $37,624 annually. 

Per the latest ziprecruiter.com data:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$25,444$12.23
Alaska$26,414$12.70
Arizona$27,007$12.98
Arkansas$23,018$11.07
California$25,116$12.08
Colorado$24,498$11.78
Connecticut$27,188$13.07
Delaware$24,428$11.74
Florida$24,555$11.81
Georgia$26,053$12.53
Hawaii$27,784$13.36
Idaho$23,507$11.30
Illinois$22,894$11.01
Indiana$26,835$12.90
Iowa$24,769$11.91
Kansas$24,789$11.92
Kentucky$23,459$11.28
Louisiana$25,254$12.14
Maine$23,429$11.26
Maryland$26,134$12.56
Massachusetts$28,520$13.71
Michigan$22,986$11.05
Minnesota$26,041$12.52
Mississippi$23,226$11.17
Missouri$24,311$11.69
Montana$27,288$13.12
Nebraska$25,706$12.36
Nevada$26,206$12.60
New Hampshire$31,384$15.09
New Jersey$27,011$12.99
New Mexico$24,761$11.90
New York$32,359$15.56
North Carolina$20,939$10.07
North Dakota$26,271$12.63
Ohio$25,872$12.44
Oklahoma$23,892$11.49
Oregon$25,131$12.08
Pennsylvania$27,641$13.29
Rhode Island$26,668$12.82
South Carolina$24,572$11.81
South Dakota$25,503$12.26
Tennessee$26,062$12.53
Texas$22,686$10.91
Utah$25,466$12.24
Vermont$29,682$14.27
Virginia$25,369$12.20
Washington$27,666$13.30
West Virginia$28,118$13.52
Wisconsin$26,051$12.52
Wyoming$28,879$13.88

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Certified nursing assistants work under the supervision of nurses and provide patients direct care. Moving and turning patients, gathering the required medication, bathing patients, cleaning rooms, and changing linen are all part of the job's responsibilities.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State 

Certified nursing assistants earn an average annual salary of $33,560.

Per ziprecruiter.com data:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$23,122$11.12
Alaska$28,555$13.73
Arizona$24,542$11.80
Arkansas$24,646$11.85
California$26,477$12.73
Colorado$26,201$12.60
Connecticut$29,771$14.31
Delaware$26,047$12.52
Florida$22,315$10.73
Georgia$23,676$11.38
Hawaii$30,138$14.49
Idaho$24,801$11.92
Illinois$24,513$11.78
Indiana$24,385$11.72
Iowa$27,348$13.15
Kansas$27,002$12.98
Kentucky$25,163$12.10
Louisiana$28,046$13.48
Maine$24,673$11.86
Maryland$27,859$13.39
Massachusetts$30,639$14.73
Michigan$24,576$11.82
Minnesota$28,920$13.90
Mississippi$25,306$12.17
Missouri$25,955$12.48
Montana$24,797$11.92
Nebraska$27,379$13.16
Nevada$28,329$13.62
New Hampshire$28,048$13.48
New Jersey$30,450$14.64
New Mexico$27,744$13.34
New York$29,059$13.97
North Carolina$22,365$10.75
North Dakota$28,518$13.71
Ohio$28,804$13.85
Oklahoma$25,447$12.23
Oregon$27,319$13.13
Pennsylvania$24,832$11.94
Rhode Island$28,990$13.94
South Carolina$26,246$12.62
South Dakota$27,685$13.31
Tennessee$29,017$13.95
Texas$23,951$11.51
Utah$28,235$13.57
Vermont$26,377$12.68
Virginia$27,020$12.99
Washington$29,243$14.06
West Virginia$25,259$12.14
Wisconsin$29,171$14.02
Wyoming$26,057$12.53

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)

LPNs and LVNs provide other healthcare providers with supportive care in both clinical and administrative tasks. Both vocational and practical nurses administer basic care to patients, including administering medication, preparing patients for procedures, and preparing medical supplies for doctors to use in procedures. The duties of the role vary widely depending on the healthcare setting.

Annual Median Salary and Hourly Wage by State

Per the latest data reported by the BLS, LPNs earn an average salary of $48,820 per year.

Per latest ziprecruiter.com:

StateAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
Alabama$39,396$18.94
Alaska$41,772$20.08
Arizona$41,817$20.10
Arkansas$36,523$17.56
California$47,648$22.91
Colorado$38,887$18.70
Connecticut$42,800$20.58
Delaware$38,813$18.66
Florida$38,020$18.28
Georgia$40,340$19.39
Hawaii$43,886$21.10
Idaho$44,863$21.57
Illinois$36,324$17.46
Indiana$41,549$19.98
Iowa$38,875$18.69
Kansas$39,096$18.80
Kentucky$37,200$17.88
Louisiana$39,556$19.02
Maine$44,097$21.20
Maryland$41,530$19.97
Massachusetts$45,199$21.73
Michigan$36,491$17.54
Minnesota$40,788$19.61
Mississippi$36,628$17.61
Missouri$38,613$18.56
Montana$42,252$20.31
Nebraska$40,864$19.65
Nevada$41,443$19.92
New Hampshire$48,372$23.26
New Jersey$42,073$20.23
New Mexico$38,658$18.59
New York$49,941$24.01
North Carolina$33,251$15.99
North Dakota$41,483$19.94
Ohio$40,486$19.46
Oklahoma$37,979$18.26
Oregon$39,666$19.07
Pennsylvania$42,664$20.51
Rhode Island$42,091$20.24
South Carolina$39,020$18.76
South Dakota$40,272$19.36
Tennessee$40,782$19.61
Texas$43,531$20.93
Utah$39,910$19.19
Vermont$45,680$21.96
Virginia$40,328$19.39
Washington$53,528$25.73
West Virginia$43,399$20.86
Wisconsin$40,680$19.56
Wyoming$44,627$21.46

How Much Do Nurses Earn? Side-by-Side Comparison

Type of NurseAnnual Median SalaryHourly Median Annual Salary
APRN$97,263$50.99
Nurse Practitioner$114,510$55.05
Clinical Nurse Specialist$111,215$53.47
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$233,522$112.27
Nurse Midwife$114,841$55.21
OR Nurse$73,400$35.29
ICU Nurse$103,953$49.98
PACU Nurse$85,000$41.14
Travel Nurse$116,490$49.92
School Nurse$52,546$25.26
Charge Nurse$91,843$44.16
Pediatric Nurse$74,300$35.72
Oncology Nurse$78,800$37.88
Critical Care Nurse$79,300$38.13
Registered Nurse (RN)$75,330$36.22
Neonatal Nurse (NICU)$70,775$35.56
Family Nurse Practitioner$114,510$55.05
Labor and Delivery Nurse$75,900$36.49
Certified Medication Aide$37,624$16.02
Certified Nursing Assistant$33,560$16.13
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)$48,820$23.47

Categorised in: