Acute Care Nurses Salary by State
The national median pay for acute care nurses is $97,550 a year. By state, it ranges from $77,080 in Alabama to $140,270 in California. These figures are for the broader BLS group “Registered Nurses”.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $68,940
- 25th percentile
- $80,330
- Median
- $97,550
- 75th percentile
- $112,350
- Top 10%
- $137,470
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job (broader BLS group “Registered Nurses”). About 3,379,720 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $140,270 | +44% | $101,260 | $213,320 | 338,940 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $136,320 | +40% | $82,500 | $147,830 | 12,940 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,010 | +32% | $95,280 | $155,010 | 39,730 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,200 | +27% | $89,630 | $161,910 | 69,260 |
| 5 | Alaska | $109,480 | +12% | $85,030 | $149,070 | 7,510 |
| 6 | New York | $109,440 | +12% | $79,760 | $157,090 | 205,810 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $106,500 | +9% | $83,060 | $135,170 | 92,680 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $104,550 | +7% | $80,310 | $174,510 | 88,200 |
| 9 | Nevada | $103,670 | +6% | $79,500 | $133,270 | 27,070 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $102,740 | +5% | $80,350 | $134,870 | 40,110 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $102,540 | +5% | $79,390 | $151,170 | 11,440 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $101,510 | +4% | $79,960 | $132,430 | 70,110 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $100,640 | +3% | $77,410 | $129,840 | 10,090 |
| 14 | Colorado | $100,260 | +3% | $79,500 | $124,940 | 54,490 |
| 15 | Maryland | $99,790 | +2% | $76,780 | $124,790 | 52,910 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $99,700 | +2% | $75,610 | $123,190 | 15,390 |
| 17 | Delaware | $99,520 | +2% | $78,340 | $123,860 | 14,290 |
| 18 | Arizona | $99,500 | +2% | $70,540 | $130,930 | 73,150 |
| 19 | Vermont | $97,460 | 0% | $77,670 | $126,100 | 7,410 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $96,430 | −1% | $70,800 | $117,900 | 146,520 |
| 21 | Illinois | $95,990 | −2% | $69,170 | $118,190 | 138,910 |
| 22 | Texas | $95,970 | −2% | $67,120 | $127,950 | 271,380 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $95,530 | −2% | $77,470 | $119,860 | 68,060 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $94,340 | −3% | $74,300 | $123,540 | 17,980 |
| 25 | Michigan | $94,300 | −3% | $77,260 | $116,710 | 104,950 |
| 26 | Virginia | $93,600 | −4% | $67,830 | $125,580 | 77,490 |
| 27 | Georgia | $93,550 | −4% | $68,920 | $128,640 | 100,950 |
| 28 | Idaho | $92,460 | −5% | $71,210 | $121,230 | 16,880 |
| 29 | Maine | $86,990 | −11% | $74,160 | $106,950 | 16,540 |
| 30 | Montana | $85,280 | −13% | $70,120 | $113,920 | 10,950 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $84,730 | −13% | $66,020 | $106,190 | 24,720 |
| 32 | Utah | $84,600 | −13% | $68,920 | $109,050 | 27,420 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $84,350 | −14% | $67,660 | $110,220 | 111,120 |
| 34 | Florida | $84,190 | −14% | $67,970 | $120,330 | 229,940 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $83,760 | −14% | $65,770 | $107,350 | 5,330 |
| 36 | Indiana | $83,500 | −14% | $66,750 | $105,750 | 68,980 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $82,920 | −15% | $60,530 | $106,390 | 38,270 |
| 38 | Ohio | $82,510 | −15% | $66,980 | $105,290 | 143,730 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $82,360 | −16% | $66,860 | $106,520 | 49,750 |
| 40 | Missouri | $81,780 | −16% | $63,230 | $104,390 | 76,310 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $81,500 | −16% | $63,970 | $104,920 | 72,200 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $81,040 | −17% | $64,170 | $111,750 | 50,300 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $80,730 | −17% | $65,520 | $103,480 | 11,340 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $80,230 | −18% | $63,800 | $104,740 | 48,970 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $80,130 | −18% | $57,210 | $131,760 | 23,430 |
| 46 | Kansas | $79,320 | −19% | $63,180 | $100,840 | 33,800 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $78,940 | −19% | $60,780 | $103,660 | 29,400 |
| 48 | Iowa | $78,630 | −19% | $63,840 | $100,500 | 34,420 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $78,060 | −20% | $54,040 | $98,220 | 14,710 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $77,090 | −21% | $60,610 | $100,350 | 29,060 |
| 51 | Alabama | $77,080 | −21% | $58,150 | $98,910 | 54,340 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates for the broader group “Registered Nurses”. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Acute Care Nurses salary questions
Which state pays acute care nurses the most?
California, with a median of $140,270 a year (+44% vs. the national median of $97,550). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays acute care nurses the least?
Alabama, with a median of $77,080 a year (−21% vs. national).
Where do most acute care nurses work?
California has the most jobs, about 338,940, with a median of $140,270.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.