Registered Nurse Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Registered nurses are the largest healthcare profession in the US, providing direct patient care, administering medications, coordinating with physicians, and educating patients on health management.
National Median
$86,070
Best State (Net)
$92,319
California
Take-Home TX
$69,380
No state tax
Job Growth
6%
Key Facts — Registered Nurse 2026
Over 3.1 million active RNs — largest US healthcare profession
National median: ~$86,070/year (BLS May 2023 OES)
CRNA specialty averages $223,000 — highest nursing specialty
California mandates nurse-to-patient ratios, driving higher wages
Rural states face critical shortages — loan forgiveness programs available
Salary by Experience Level
New Graduate (0–2 yrs)
$72,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$59,482
General med/surg, learning environment
Mid Level (3–7 yrs)
$86,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$69,331
Specialty units, growing autonomy
Experienced (8+ yrs)
$105,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$82,698
Charge nurse, specialty lead
Nurse Practitioner
$129,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$99,438
Advanced practice, prescribing authority
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| CRNA (Anesthesia) | $234,110 | +172% |
| Nurse Practitioner | $134,269 | +56% |
| ICU / Critical Care | $103,284 | +20% |
| Travel Nurse | $111,891 | +30% |
| ER / Emergency | $98,980 | +15% |
| Med/Surg (General) | $86,070 | 0% |
Best States for Registered Nurses — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Registered Nurse Salary by State — All 50 States
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $133,000 | $92,319 | |
| $107,000 | $84,105 | |
| $103,000 | $81,291 | |
| $113,000 | $80,791 | |
| $98,000 | $77,773 | |
| $105,000 | $77,100 | |
| $104,000 | $77,014 | |
| $100,000 | $74,580 | |
| $103,000 | $73,616 | |
| $88,000 | $70,738 | |
| $95,000 | $70,726 | |
| $87,000 | $70,035 | |
| $92,000 | $69,042 | |
14Arizona | $87,000 | $68,262 |
| $89,000 | $67,742 | |
16Colorado | $87,000 | $66,915 |
| $86,000 | $66,448 | |
| $85,000 | $65,053 | |
| $83,000 | $64,672 | |
20Vermont | $84,000 | $64,490 |
21Maryland | $87,000 | $64,456 |
| $79,000 | $64,407 | |
| $79,000 | $64,407 | |
24Delaware | $85,000 | $64,359 |
25Ohio | $80,000 | $63,352 |
26Michigan | $82,000 | $63,283 |
27Idaho | $81,000 | $62,629 |
28Illinois | $82,000 | $62,603 |
29Montana | $80,000 | $61,951 |
| $79,000 | $61,763 | |
31Virginia | $80,000 | $61,271 |
32Georgia | $79,000 | $61,213 |
| $74,000 | $60,727 | |
34Utah | $78,000 | $60,421 |
| $73,000 | $60,186 | |
| $75,000 | $59,718 | |
37Oklahoma | $76,000 | $59,422 |
38Missouri | $75,000 | $59,059 |
| $75,000 | $58,935 | |
40Nebraska | $75,000 | $58,884 |
41Maine | $76,000 | $58,459 |
| $74,000 | $58,389 | |
43Kentucky | $73,000 | $57,748 |
44Indiana | $72,000 | $57,388 |
45Kansas | $70,000 | $54,969 |
46Iowa | $68,000 | $54,696 |
47Arkansas | $67,000 | $53,944 |
| $64,000 | $53,604 | |
| $67,000 | $53,377 | |
50Alabama | $65,000 | $51,679 |
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Registered Nurse
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Registered Nurse Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$51,679
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$81,291
net
Arizona
$68,262
net
Arkansas
$53,944
net
California
$92,319
net
Colorado
$66,915
net
Connecticut
$69,042
net
Delaware
$64,359
net
FloridaNo state tax
$64,407
net
Georgia
$61,213
net
Hawaii
$80,791
net
Idaho
$62,629
net
Illinois
$62,603
net
Indiana
$57,388
net
Iowa
$54,696
net
Kansas
$54,969
net
Kentucky
$57,748
net
Louisiana
$59,718
net
Maine
$58,459
net
Maryland
$64,456
net
Massachusetts
$77,014
net
Michigan
$63,283
net
Minnesota
$70,726
net
Mississippi
$53,377
net
Missouri
$59,059
net
Montana
$61,951
net
Nebraska
$58,884
net
NevadaNo state tax
$77,773
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$70,035
net
New Jersey
$74,580
net
New Mexico
$66,448
net
New York
$77,100
net
North Carolina
$61,763
net
North Dakota
$60,727
net
Ohio
$63,352
net
Oklahoma
$59,422
net
Oregon
$73,616
net
Pennsylvania
$64,672
net
Rhode Island
$67,742
net
South Carolina
$58,935
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$53,604
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$60,186
net
TexasNo state tax
$70,738
net
Utah
$60,421
net
Vermont
$64,490
net
Virginia
$61,271
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$84,105
net
West Virginia
$58,389
net
Wisconsin
$65,053
net
WyomingNo state tax
$64,407
net