Salary Research
How Much Does a Nurse Make in 2026? RN Salaries by State & Specialty
By Personpages Research Desk · June 27, 2026 · 9 min read
The median registered nurse in the United States earned $94,480 in the most recent BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. That's the headline number — but the band underneath it is enormous. A new-grad RN in rural Mississippi clears about $58,000. A travel ICU nurse in San Francisco can pull $180,000+ in a good contract year. Here's how the math actually shakes out, and how to look up specific nurses at public hospitals.
RN salary by state (2026)
The top-paying states for staff RNs remain California ($133K median), Hawaii ($113K), Oregon ($106K), Massachusetts ($104K), and Alaska ($103K). The lowest are South Dakota, Alabama, Mississippi, and Iowa — all in the high-$60K range. Cost of living closes some of that gap but not most of it.
Specialty matters more than people think
CRNAs (nurse anesthetists) top the chart at a $214K median. Nurse practitioners run $126K. Informatics and legal nurse consultants land between $95K and $115K. Bedside med-surg sits closest to the overall median.
Travel nursing in 2026
The post-pandemic travel boom has cooled, but contracts at $2,400–$3,500/week net are still common for ICU, ER, and L&D specialties. Annualized — and accounting for housing stipends being tax-free — top travelers still out-earn most staff RNs.
How to look up a specific nurse's pay
If your nurse works at a public hospital (VA, county, state university health system), exact salary is a public record. Search the system's transparency portal or run their name through Personpages — we pull from 1,400+ public payroll datasets. Private hospital nurses get an estimated band based on specialty, years licensed (state board records are public), and employer.
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Start a search →Frequently asked questions
What's the highest-paying nursing specialty?▾
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) — $214K median, with top earners over $250K. Requires a doctorate (DNP) and certification.
Do travel nurses really make more than staff nurses?▾
Usually yes, but the gap has narrowed. A well-placed travel nurse still out-earns staff by 25-60%, especially with tax-free housing stipends factored in.
Can I look up a specific nurse's salary?▾
If they work at a public hospital, yes — it's a public record. For private hospital nurses, you can get a credible estimated band.