Nationally, healthcare related careers, and specifically RN jobs will continue to grow at a rate far exceeding the US average for all jobs. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for RNs is expected to grow by an average of 16% per year.

<p>
  Nationally, healthcare related careers, and specifically
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/travel-nursing-jobs">RN jobs</a>
  will continue to grow at a rate far exceeding the US average for all jobs.
  According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for RNs is expected to
  grow by an average of 16% per year — more than double the average for all
  jobs—which is 7%.
</p>
<p>
  As a headline, this data would strongly suggest that the US nursing shortage
  will not only continue into the foreseeable future, but that the gap between
  jobs and the availability of qualified nurses will continue to widen. While
  this may be true, it is important to remember that employment data is only
  relevant to us if we are evaluating supply and demand within our local job
  market.
</p>
<p>
  Cross Country Nurses, a national leader in nursing and allied contingent
  staffing, has
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/blog"
    ><strong
      >published a series of documents to help healthcare professionals better
      understand the US job market</strong
    ></a
  >
  and provide insight to help RNs navigate their careers over the next 10 years.
  The series explores local job markets by state and metropolitan area, salary
  variations by location and by cost of living factors, economic and other
  factors that may be tightening the job market for RNs, the skills gap and ways
  that RNs can improve their opportunities for both placement and career
  advancement.
</p>
<p>
  This article in this series, Registered Nurse Starting Salary and Maximum
  Earning Trends, looks more deeply at both starting salaries for RNs across the
  US and in major metropolitan areas as well as maximum earning potential. By
  evaluating both, we can identify markets with high demand for recent college
  graduates as well as those markets that offer the greatest long-term earning
  potential for RNs.
</p>
<p>
  For entry-level nurses, the national mean wage is $47,120, and the most
  experienced nurses can earn as much as $102,990, on average. Over a career,
  this suggests that the income growth potential for RNs is $55,870—or about
  $1,400 in average increases per year during a 40-year career.
</p>
<p>
  However, as reported in our previous article, location plays a significant
  factor. RN residents of Savannah, GA have the smallest income growth potential
  at about $19,500 during their career while
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/travel-nursing-job-results?what=RN&where=San+Rafael+CA&shift="
    >San Rafael, CA RNs</a
  >
  enjoy about a $110,000 swing from entry level to peak earning potential. The
  first table below highlights the top ten states with the highest entry-level
  mean income for RNs. As we did in our previous article, we have also provided
  an adjusted income that considers the cost of living index for that state.
</p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th valign="middle" width="33%">Market*</th>
      <th valign="middle" width="33%">Mean Salary Entry-Level RNs</th>
      <th valign="middle" width="33%">
        Mean Salary Entry-Level RNs adjusted for cost of living
      </th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Oregon</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$64,270</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$55,693</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">California</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$63,450</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$47,070</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Alaska</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$62,000</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$47,112</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Nevada**</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$61,860</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$59,196</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Hawaii</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$59,570</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$35,585</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">New Jersey</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$57,540</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$47,554</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Connecticut</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$55,530</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$42,487</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Massachusetts</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$55,400</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$41,128</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Rhode Island</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$55,250</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$45,250</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Maryland</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$54,460</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$43,568</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
<br /><br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th valign="middle" width="33%">Market*</th>
      <th valign="middle" width="33%">Mean Salary Top-Level RNs</th>
      <th valign="middle" width="33%">
        Mean Salary Top-Level RNs adjusted for cost of living
      </th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">California</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$149,440</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$110,861**</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Massachusetts</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$134,300</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$99,703</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Hawaii</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$120,510</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$71,989</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Alaska</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$117,450</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$89,248</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Oregon</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$113,610</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$98,449</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Washington</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$113,600</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$106,069</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">New York</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$113,450</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$83,913</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Nevada</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$105,880</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$101,321</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">New Jersey</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$103,800</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$85,785</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">Connecticut</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$101,740</td>
      <td valign="top" width="33%">$77,842</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

<p>
  <br />
  While entry-level and top-level compensation are valuable tools when
  evaluating a market, annual increases are also a consideration. In a previous
  article, we covered
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/blogs/registered-nurse-compensation-and-pay-rates"
    >mean income by state and major metropolitan area</a
  >. Additionally, in this article we will also evaluate earning potential — the
  difference between starting salary and peak salary in a location. The next
  table highlights those markets with the greatest variation between starting
  salaries for RNs and peak earning potential. We will also adjust those numbers
  by the cost of living index.
</p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th valign="middle" width="25%">Market*</th>
      <th valign="middle" width="25%">Anticipated lifetime salary increases</th>
      <th valign="middle" width="25%">
        Anticipated annual compensation increases (40 year career)
      </th>
      <th valign="middle" width="25%">
        Lifetime salary increases adjusted for cost of living
      </th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">California</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$85,990</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$2,150</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$63,791**</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">Massachusetts</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$78,900</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$1,973</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$58,575</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">Hawaii</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$60,940</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$1,524</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$36,404</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">New York</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$60,390</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$1,510</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$44,667</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">Washington</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$59,550</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$1,489</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$55,602</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">Alaska</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$55,450</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$1,386</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$42,135</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">Illinois</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$52,490</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$1,312</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$54,963</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">Minnesota</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$49,650</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$1,241</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$49,110</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">Oregon</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$49,340</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$1,234</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$42,756</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="10%">Virginia</td>
      <td valign="top" width="116">$48,440</td>
      <td valign="top" width="113">$1,211</td>
      <td valign="top" width="94">$48,343</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

<p>
  <br />
  States with the highest cost of living adjusted salaries for both entry-level
  and top-level RNs are shown in the table below.
</p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th valign="middle" width="25%">Market*</th>
      <th valign="middle" width="25%">
        Entry-level salary cost of living adjusted
      </th>
      <th valign="middle" width="25%">Market</th>
      <th valign="middle" width="25%">
        Top-level salary cost of living adjusted
      </th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Nevada</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$59,196</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">California</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$110,861</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Michigan</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$58,492</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Texas</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$106,604</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Oregon</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$55,693</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Washington</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$106,069</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Texas</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$55,524</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Illinois</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$104,283</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">New Mexico</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$54,242</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Michigan</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$103,061</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Arizona</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$53,680</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Nevada</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$101,321</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Wisconsin</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$53,395</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Arizona</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$100,703</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Delaware</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$52,485</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Massachusetts</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$99,703</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Colorado</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$51,254</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Minnesota</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$98,823</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Ohio</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$51,140</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">Oregon</td>
      <td valign="top" width="443">$98,449</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

<p>
  <br />
  Depending upon where you are in your career, knowing salary ranges within your
  market as well as the markets in
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/travel-nurse-city-guide"
    >other US cities</a
  >
  is a key tool when considering relocation or when
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrynurses.com/travel-nursing-faqs"
    >contemplating travel nursing</a
  >. While travel nurses are not paid annual salaries, their compensation is
  based upon local market conditions as well as cost of living. Markets such as
  Nevada, Michigan, Oregon, Texas and Arizona appear to compensate well for both
  entry-level and top-level RNs.
</p>


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Registered Nurse Starting Salary and Maximum Earning Trends

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