Best paying cities for registered nurses, after cost of living
After cost of living, registered nurse pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $196,322) and least far in Miami (worth $80,018).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | 110.4 | $196,322 | +101% |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | 115.6 | $161,427 | +65% |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | 106.7 | $160,694 | +65% |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $139,520 | 111.9 | $124,683 | +28% |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $130,310 | 105.4 | $123,634 | +27% |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $135,560 | 113.6 | $119,331 | +22% |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | 111.1 | $115,446 | +18% |
| 8 | New York, NY | $119,720 | 112.6 | $106,323 | +9% |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $103,940 | 100.2 | $103,733 | +6% |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $99,830 | 98.6 | $101,247 | +4% |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $100,490 | 100.1 | $100,390 | +3% |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $97,890 | 98.1 | $99,786 | +2% |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $94,370 | 94.7 | $99,652 | +2% |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $101,180 | 102.6 | $98,616 | +1% |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $101,420 | 103.1 | $98,371 | +1% |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $103,040 | 104.8 | $98,321 | +1% |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $106,180 | 108.3 | $98,042 | +1% |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,830 | 103.3 | $97,609 | 0% |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $100,490 | 103.6 | $96,998 | −1% |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $97,280 | 100.3 | $96,989 | −1% |
| 21 | Denver, CO | $101,130 | 105.8 | $95,586 | −2% |
| 22 | Baltimore, MD | $99,550 | 104.5 | $95,263 | −2% |
| 23 | Washington, DC | $102,710 | 108.9 | $94,316 | −3% |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC | $90,620 | 97.3 | $93,135 | −5% |
| 25 | St. Louis, MO | $83,180 | 95.1 | $87,466 | −10% |
| 26 | Nashville, TN | $84,040 | 96.3 | $87,269 | −11% |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $82,370 | 94.7 | $86,980 | −11% |
| 28 | Tampa, FL | $85,470 | 100.9 | $84,708 | −13% |
| 29 | Orlando, FL | $83,550 | 101.4 | $82,396 | −16% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $91,380 | 114.2 | $80,018 | −18% |
U.S. median for registered nurses: $97,550. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Registered Nurses, SOC 29-1141); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.