New grad RN salary by state
What registered nurses earn in every state, from the federal OEWS survey (May 2025), with the 25th percentile as a guide to starting pay. National median: $97,550.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys employers every year on what they pay registered nurses. In May 2025, the median RN in the country earned $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour), and a quarter earned less than $80,330 ($38.62 an hour). The survey does not split pay by experience, so it cannot tell you exactly what new graduates earn.
Reading these numbers as a new grad
Hospital pay scales usually start new nurses near the bottom of the range and add steps with each year, so the 25th percentile is a better guide to a first offer than the median. Night, weekend and holiday differentials come on top of base pay. Union contracts, where they exist, usually publish the full scale, which is the most exact answer for a specific hospital.
Highest and lowest paying states
By median pay, California ($140,270), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($129,010), Washington ($124,200) and Alaska ($109,480) lead the country. The lowest medians are in Alabama ($77,080), Mississippi ($77,090), South Dakota ($78,060), Iowa ($78,630) and Arkansas ($78,940). Before you move for pay, compare offers against local rent; a higher salary in an expensive city can leave you with less.
RN pay in every state
| Rank | State | Median, yearly | 25th percentile, yearly | 25th percentile, hourly | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $140,270 | $122,440 | $58.87 | 338,940 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $136,320 | $101,200 | $48.65 | 12,940 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,010 | $107,220 | $51.55 | 39,730 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,200 | $103,100 | $49.57 | 69,260 |
| 5 | Alaska | $109,480 | $97,700 | $46.97 | 7,510 |
| 6 | New York | $109,440 | $94,840 | $45.60 | 205,810 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $106,500 | $99,710 | $47.94 | 92,680 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $104,550 | $87,460 | $42.05 | 88,200 |
| 9 | Nevada | $103,670 | $86,850 | $41.76 | 27,070 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $102,740 | $86,120 | $41.40 | 40,110 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $102,540 | $85,850 | $41.28 | 11,440 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $101,510 | $88,940 | $42.76 | 70,110 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $100,640 | $81,840 | $39.35 | 10,090 |
| 14 | Colorado | $100,260 | $84,590 | $40.67 | 54,490 |
| 15 | Maryland | $99,790 | $83,740 | $40.26 | 52,910 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $99,700 | $82,880 | $39.85 | 15,390 |
| 17 | Delaware | $99,520 | $85,900 | $41.30 | 14,290 |
| 18 | Arizona | $99,500 | $81,810 | $39.33 | 73,150 |
| 19 | Vermont | $97,460 | $82,210 | $39.53 | 7,410 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $96,430 | $80,610 | $38.75 | 146,520 |
| 21 | Illinois | $95,990 | $80,020 | $38.47 | 138,910 |
| 22 | Texas | $95,970 | $79,170 | $38.06 | 271,380 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $95,530 | $81,920 | $39.39 | 68,060 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $94,340 | $80,960 | $38.92 | 17,980 |
| 25 | Michigan | $94,300 | $82,080 | $39.46 | 104,950 |
| 26 | Virginia | $93,600 | $80,090 | $38.51 | 77,490 |
| 27 | Georgia | $93,550 | $79,090 | $38.02 | 100,950 |
| 28 | Idaho | $92,460 | $80,900 | $38.90 | 16,880 |
| 29 | Maine | $86,990 | $79,890 | $38.41 | 16,540 |
| 30 | Montana | $85,280 | $80,210 | $38.56 | 10,950 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $84,730 | $79,240 | $38.09 | 24,720 |
| 32 | Utah | $84,600 | $80,050 | $38.49 | 27,420 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $84,350 | $78,770 | $37.87 | 111,120 |
| 34 | Florida | $84,190 | $78,660 | $37.82 | 229,940 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $83,760 | $77,890 | $37.45 | 5,330 |
| 36 | Indiana | $83,500 | $78,750 | $37.86 | 68,980 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $82,920 | $77,350 | $37.19 | 38,270 |
| 38 | Ohio | $82,510 | $79,200 | $38.08 | 143,730 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $82,360 | $77,320 | $37.17 | 49,750 |
| 40 | Missouri | $81,780 | $76,050 | $36.56 | 76,310 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $81,500 | $75,460 | $36.28 | 72,200 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $81,040 | $75,670 | $36.38 | 50,300 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $80,730 | $69,620 | $33.47 | 11,340 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $80,230 | $69,040 | $33.19 | 48,970 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $80,130 | $68,160 | $32.77 | 23,430 |
| 46 | Kansas | $79,320 | $73,300 | $35.24 | 33,800 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $78,940 | $66,640 | $32.04 | 29,400 |
| 48 | Iowa | $78,630 | $68,290 | $32.83 | 34,420 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $78,060 | $65,070 | $31.29 | 14,710 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $77,090 | $64,930 | $31.22 | 29,060 |
| 51 | Alabama | $77,080 | $63,500 | $30.53 | 54,340 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, registered nurses (29-1141). Each state page also lists pay in its largest metro areas.
Questions
Does the BLS publish new grad nurse pay?
No. The OEWS survey reports pay for all registered nurses, without splitting by experience. The 25th percentile is a better guide to first-year offers than the median, because hospital pay scales usually rise with experience.
Which state pays new grad nurses the most?
By median RN pay, California is first at $140,270 a year, followed by Hawaii and Oregon.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, registered nurses (29-1141). Pay is for all RNs, not new graduates alone.