Nursing Salary Guide
Nursing is a challenging and rewarding profession as well as a potentially lucrative one. When it comes to nursing salaries, it is important to keep in mind that pay ranges and other benefits can vary for each person and depend on numerous factors such as your level of education, the city and state you work in, the size of the company, and your years of experience. Each of these will all go into determining how much you'll get paid in your nursing career.
In this nursing salary guide, we will provide an overview of nursing salaries by job type and state, as well as provide some additional quick facts about these salaries. If you're interested in exploring this career path, apply to Jersey College today!
Note: The salary and informational data presented here is aggregated data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are provided for information only and are not a promise of employment nor attainment of any certain wage. Best efforts have been made to ensure the information is accurate according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Individuals are advised to visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website for the latest information.
This content was last updated in August 2024.
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. average annual salary for a CNA in 2023 was $38,130, and the average hourly rate was $18.33.
- What does a CNA do?
A certified nurse assistant, or CNA, is often part of a larger team of medical professionals. Their main role is to help patients meet a variety of basic needs, such as eating, bathing, grooming, mobility, and more. They provide direct care to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or patients' homes.
A certified nursing assistant is responsible for the following:
- Attending to multiple patients
- Helping patients with daily tasks
- Monitoring and recording patients conditions and vital signs
- Monitoring how much patients eat and drink
- Updating the care team on patients' conditions
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Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN) Salaries
The U.S. average salary for an LPN (or LVN) in 2023 was $59,730 or an average hourly rate of $28.72.
If you're interested in becoming a licensed practical nurse through Jersey College, please explore our LPN programs or learn more about How to Become an LPN.
Registered Nurse (RN) Salaries
In 2023, the average salary for an RN in the U.S . was $86,070 and the average hourly rate was $41.38.
If you are interested in becoming a registered nurse, explore our How to Become an RN guide and our RN programs! If you are already an LPN, you can also advance your career through our LPN to RN bridge programs.
Advanced Practice Nurse Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. average salary for all three advanced practice nursing positions in 2023 was $129,480 or an average hourly rate of $62.25. This includes Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners.
What do advanced practice nurses do?
For those who wish to further advance their careers, several positions are available such as:
- Certified Nurse Practitioner
NPs manage patients' health conditions through treatment and support injury and disease prevention.
- Certified Nurse Midwife
Specializes in women's reproductive health and childbirth. They provide care for women from adolescence to menopause.
- Certified Nurse Anesthetist
Administers anesthesia to patients before and after surgery.
Nursing Salaries by State and Job Function
Curious about annual salaries for the above positions according to state?
Below, our nursing salary guide provides the annual median salaries for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs. This is based on the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics information currently available (May 2023 data).
| State/Territory | CNA | LPN | RN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $30,540 | $48,330 | $65,900 |
| Alaska | $45,480 | $75,610 | $106,410 |
| Arizona | $39,920 | $65,500 | $88,310 |
| Arkansas | $31,230 | $48,790 | $72,920 |
| California | $45,170 | $75,610 | $133,990 |
| Colorado | $42,520 | $64,720 | $86,900 |
| Connecticut | $40,890 | $65,670 | $100,620 |
| Delaware | $38,240 | $63,190 | $93,200 |
| District of Columbia | $46,220 | $67,700 | $105,220 |
| Florida | $36,340 | $56,730 | $80,960 |
| Georgia | $34,710 | $54,770 | $83,620 |
| Guam | $31,730 | $39,370 | - |
| Hawaii | $44,080 | $61,110 | $129,210 |
| Idaho | $37,120 | $55,610 | $80,130 |
| Illinois | $39,510 | $62,600 | $82,470 |
| Indiana | $36,790 | $60,500 | $78,530 |
| Iowa | $37,340 | $54,460 | $71,570 |
| Kansas | $35,450 | $55,540 | $75,780 |
| Kentucky | $36,510 | $56,040 | $77,830 |
| Louisiana | $29,070 | $50,000 | $76,650 |
| Maine | $43,120 | $63,950 | $81,610 |
| Maryland | $38,620 | $64,510 | $89,340 |
| Massachusetts | $44,200 | $73,380 | $99,730 |
| Michigan | $37,940 | $61,850 | $81,710 |
| Minnesota | $41,940 | $58,870 | $97,300 |
| Mississippi | $29,310 | $48,260 | $69,370 |
| Missouri | $36,260 | $56,030 | $77,190 |
| Montana | $37,970 | $55,840 | $79,170 |
| Nebraska | $37,530 | $57,580 | $78,100 |
| Nevada | $42,200 | $64,920 | $96,210 |
| New Hampshire | $43,940 | $70,620 | $86,620 |
| New Jersey | $41,450 | $64,620 | $100,160 |
| New Mexico | $35,400 | $60,370 | $83,970 |
| New York | $45,890 | $62,360 | $104,570 |
| North Carolina | $36,010 | $58,590 | $79,580 |
| North Dakota | $40,650 | $57,910 | $74,930 |
| Ohio | $38,030 | $58,130 | $79,940 |
| Oklahoma | $33,320 | $50,510 | $78,760 |
| Oregon | $46,260 | $71,040 | $110,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,540 | $59,650 | $82,780 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,100 | $23,360 | $36,420 |
| Rhode Island | $41,600 | $76,840 | $94,840 |
| South Carolina | $35,090 | $56,710 | $78,380 |
| South Dakota | $35,720 | $49,610 | $67,030 |
| Tennessee | $35,040 | $49,780 | $76,200 |
| Texas | $35,110 | $57,010 | $85,110 |
| Utah | $37,270 | $57,200 | $79,790 |
| Vermont | $40,460 | $62,550 | $81,900 |
| Virgin Islands | $40,100 | $49,920 | $69,050 |
| Virginia | $36,820 | $58,200 | $84,100 |
| Washington | $46,000 | $76,190 | $107,720 |
| West Virginia | $35,490 | $47,610 | $78,730 |
| Wisconsin | $40,010 | $57,150 | $83,300 |
| Wyoming | $36,710 | $57,470 | $79,970 |
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Highest-Paying States
It's important to note that every state offers a different salary according to its population and industry demographics. That's why the highest-paying jobs depend on supply, demand, and the local economy.
Below are the five highest-paying states for each position.
Highest-Paying States for CNAs
- Oregon: $46,260
- Washington: $46,000
- New York: $45,890
- Alaska: $45,480
- California: $45,170
Note: The median salary in D.C. for CNAs is $46,220.
Highest-Paying States for LPNs/LVNs
- Rhode Island: $76,840
- Washington: $76,190
- Alaska: $75,610
- California: $75,610
- Massachussets: $73,380
Highest-Paying States for RNs
- California: $133,990
- Hawaii: $129,210
- Oregon: $110, 940
- Washington: $107,720
- Alaska: $106,410
Highest-Paying States for Advanced Practice Nurses
Certified Nurse Practioner
- California: $164,050
- New Jersey: $142,950
- Washington: $141,040
- Nevada: $138,780
- Massachusetts: $138,570
Certified Nurse Midwife
- California: $189,770
- Hawaii: $175,930
- Massachusetts: $144,540
- Oregon: $141,340
- Washington: $138,200
Certified Nurse Anesthetist*
- Washington: $238,050
- Wisconsin: $237,320
- Massachusetts: $235,000
- New Jersey: $231,080
- Connecticut: $229,630
*Note: State-level Certified Nurse Anesthetist salary data was not available in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Montana, New York, Vermont, and Wyoming.
Highest-Paying Nurse Positions
According to the data provided by Nurse.org, these are the five highest paying nursing roles (along with their average salaries in the U.S.) in 2024:
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist: $212,650
- Certified Nurse Midwife: $129,650
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse: $128,211
- General Nurse Practitioner: $126,260
- Clinical Nurse Specialist: $124,374
Job Outlook and Other Benefits
Salaries are an important way to measure the benefits of becoming a nurse. However, this career path often offers a variety of additional benefits and opportunities beyond the salary.
Nursing Job Growth and Salary Outlook
According to the BLS, many roles in nursing and healthcare are projected to grow at a healthy rate over the next 10 years (2022-2032).
- CNA: Projected to grow by 4% (about average)
- LPN/LVN: Projected to grow by 5% (faster than average)
- RN: Projected to grow by 6% (faster than average)
- Advanced Practice: Projected to grow by 38% (much faster than average)
Note: The projected average growth rate for all occupations is about 3%.
Additional Nursing Benefits
In addition to the pay information in this nursing salary guide, individuals in these careers often get benefits such as health insurance, vacation time, holiday pay, childcare, and tuition reimbursement. In fact, according to a report in NurseJournal.org, RNs rank 1st in the country for access to childcare, paid family leave, and other wellness benefits. (However, keep in mind that not all employers offer these benefits.)
FAQs
- How much do most RNs make per hour?
This depends on the state and place of employment, but the median hourly rate is $41.38 according to the most recent BLS data as of August 2024.
- What is the starting salary for nurses?
It depends on their level of education, state, and place of employment. For example, recent RN graduates in Pennsylvania earned about $70,708 as of July 2024 according to Salary.com, while the average in Tampa, FL was $67,165.
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