SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — Houston
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · 10 metro areas compared
At $99,830, median pay for Registered Nurses in Houston, TX tracks the national median of $97,550 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $99,830, median pay for Registered Nurses in Houston, TX tracks the national median of $97,550 closely. Pay ranges from under $74,860 at the tenth percentile to more than $130,440 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $81,890 to $116,000.
Employment stands at 65,910, or 20.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Dallas records the highest median at $101,420. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 119th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,860 | −23.3% |
| 25th | $81,890 | −16.1% |
| Median (50th) | $99,830 | +2.3% |
| 75th | $116,000 | +18.9% |
| 90th | $130,440 | +33.7% |
| Mean | $100,290 | +2.8% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas | $101,420 | 76,680 | |
| 2 | Austin | $97,890 | 18,920 | |
| 3 | San Antonio | $94,370 | 23,660 | |
| 4 | Killeen | $93,440 | 5,340 | |
| 5 | Waco | $92,890 | 2,570 | |
| 6 | Amarillo | $86,850 | 3,030 | |
| 7 | El Paso | $86,100 | 7,320 | |
| 8 | Sherman | $83,700 | 1,580 | |
| 9 | Victoria | $83,680 | 1,080 | |
| 10 | Wichita Falls | $83,280 | 1,470 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Houston run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $99,830 goes as far as $102,812 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$99,830as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$102,812US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $99,830 a year, 2.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $74,860 to $130,440 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 65,910 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dallas, at $101,420.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in Houston, TX?
The median annual wage is $99,830, or $48.00 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $97,550, so pay in Houston, TX is 2.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Houston, TX earns more than $130,440 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $74,860 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Dallas, at $101,420 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 65,910 jobs in this occupation in Houston, TX. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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