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.
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. average annual salary for a CNA in 2021 was $30,310, and the average hourly rate was $14.56.
- 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
Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN) Salaries
The U.S. average salary for an LPN/LVN in 2021 was $48,070 or an average hourly rate of $23.11.
To learn more about becoming a practical nurse, take a look at this resource in our Nursing Guide .
If you're interested in becoming a licensed practical nurse through Jersey College, please explore our LPN programs.
Registered Nurse (RN) Salaries
In 2021, the average salary for an RN in the U.S . was $77,600, and the average hourly rate was $37.31.
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 2021 was $123,780, or an average hourly rate of $59.51.
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 median annual salaries for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs, as aggregated from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| State | Certified Nurse Assistant | Licensed Practical Nurse | Registered Nurse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23,022 | $40,680 | $61,920 |
| Alaska | $40,566 | $67,620 | $97,230 |
| Arizona | $32,733 | $55,820 | $81,600 |
| Arkansas | $25,352 | $41,760 | $65,810 |
| California | $37,088 | $64,090 | $124,000 |
| Colorado | $35,813 | $54,310 | $80,670 |
| Connecticut | $32,648 | $58,430 | $88,530 |
| Delaware | $34,215 | $53,920 | $77,760 |
| Florida | $30,400 | $46,710 | $72,000 |
| Georgia | $24,431 | $44,690 | $75,380 |
| Hawaii | $38,944 | $54,160 | $106,530 |
| Idaho | $29,831 | $48,640 | $73,640 |
| Illinois | $30,568 | $54,580 | $78,260 |
| Indiana | $31,172 | $47,890 | $68,890 |
| Iowa | $33,259 | $45,860 | $64,990 |
| Kansas | $28,999 | $45,050 | $66,560 |
| Kentucky | $30,246 | $44,160 | $67,260 |
| Louisiana | $22,938 | $41,920 | $70,380 |
| Maine | $34,832 | $48,390 | $73,760 |
| Maryland | $29,766 | $56,220 | $82,660 |
| Massachusetts | $35,566 | $60,460 | $96,630 |
| Michigan | $31,151 | $52,220 | $75,930 |
| Minnesota | $35,339 | $49,840 | $84,030 |
| Mississippi | $23,008 | $40,340 | $63,130 |
| Missouri | $27,657 | $44,490 | $67,790 |
| Montana | $33,844 | $46,010 | $73,610 |
| Nebraska | $35,131 | $45,710 | $69,850 |
| Nevada | $30,572 | $59,700 | $88,800 |
| New Hampshire | $37,187 | $56,400 | $78,270 |
| New Jersey | $33,912 | $57,590 | $89,690 |
| New Mexico | $32,413 | $50,480 | $77,590 |
| New York | $35,915 | $51,300 | $93,320 |
| North Carolina | $25,481 | $47,120 | $71,200 |
| North Dakota | $36,758 | $48,060 | $71,200 |
| Ohio | $27,284 | $46,590 | $71,640 |
| Oklahoma | $27,137 | $43,250 | $68,180 |
| Oregon | $37,634 | $57,320 | $98,630 |
| Pennsylvannia | $33,914 | $50,250 | $76,000 |
| Rhode Island | $33,739 | $59,090 | $85,270 |
| South Dakota | $39,012 | $39,420 | $60,540 |
| Tennessee | $27,547 | $42,330 | $66,680 |
| Texas | $26,299 | $48,380 | $79,120 |
| Utah | $29,186 | $47,550 | $72,790 |
| Vermont | $39,349 | $51,240 | $75,160 |
| Virginia | $27,456 | $47,410 | $76,680 |
| Washington | $37,155 | $59,780 | $95,350 |
| West Virginia | $32,003 | $38,940 | $67,640 |
| Wisconsin | $34,464 | $48,070 | $76,680 |
| Wyoming | $33,355 | $48,980 | $73,130 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2021 data)
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
- Alaska: $40,566
- Vermont: $39,349
- South Dakota: $39,012
- Hawaii: $38,944
-
Oregon: $37,634
Highest-Paying States for RNs
- California: $124,000
- Hawaii: $106,530
- Oregon: $98,630
- Alaska: $97,230
- Massachusetts: $96,630
Highest-Paying States for LPN/LVNs
- Alaska: $67,620
- California: $64,090
- Massachusetts: $60,460
- Washington: $59,780
- Nevada: $59,700
Highest-Paying States for Advanced Practice Nurses
Certified Nurse Practioner
- California: $151,830
- New Jersey: $137,010
- New York: $133,940
- Washington: $130,840
- Massachusetts: $129,540
Certified Nurse Midwife
- Hawaii: $134,217
- Nevada: $132,542
- Massachusetts: $132,401
- Rhode Island: $129,971
- Oregon: $127,631
Certified Nurse Anesthetist
- Connecticut: $ 276,540
- New Jersey: $263,850
- Illinois: $250,280
- West Virginia: $ 247,650
- Washington: $244,730
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.):
- Certified Nurse Anesthetist ($195,610)
- General Nurse Practitioner ($120,680)
- ICU Nurse ($120,243)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse ($118,586)
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner ($113,114)
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 (2021-2031).
- CNA: Projected to grow by 5%
- LPN/LVN: Projected to grow by 6%
- RN: Projected to grow by 6%
- Advanced Practice: Projected to grow by 40%
Note: The average for all occupations is about 5%.
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 $37.31 according to the May 2021 BLS data.
- 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 $67,000 as of January 2023 according to Salary.com, while the average in Tampa, FL was about $64,000.
Start Your Nursing Career
At Jersey College, we offer a variety of programs that help students build the skills they need to thrive in their careers. We ensure you're able to join a healthcare team and meet the needs of your future patients.
If you're ready to start your career today, contact our admissions staff by using the form below. You can also find all of our campus pages here:
We look forward to meeting you!