SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — New York
New York · 10 metro areas compared
In New York the median wage for Registered Nurses is $109,440 a year, which is 12.2% higher than the national figure of $97,550.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In New York the median wage for Registered Nurses is $109,440 a year, which is 12.2% higher than the national figure of $97,550. Half of workers earn between $94,840 and $129,660. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $79,760 and the ninetieth at $157,090.
The area has 205,810 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.98 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, New York ranks 6th by median wage. New York leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $119,720. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 123rd of 776 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,760 | −18.2% |
| 25th | $94,840 | −2.8% |
| Median (50th) | $109,440 | +12.2% |
| 75th | $129,660 | +32.9% |
| 90th | $157,090 | +61.0% |
| Mean | $113,440 | +16.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $119,720 | 197,740 | |
| 2 | Glens Falls | $104,000 | 1,030 | |
| 3 | Kiryas Joel | $102,890 | 5,760 | |
| 4 | Binghamton | $101,720 | 2,570 | |
| 5 | Kingston | $101,030 | 1,000 | |
| 6 | Ithaca | $100,320 | 940 | |
| 7 | Albany | $99,970 | 10,230 | |
| 8 | Buffalo | $99,060 | 13,830 | |
| 9 | Watertown | $96,070 | 900 | |
| 10 | Utica | $94,300 | 2,600 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $109,440 buys what $101,427 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$109,440as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$101,427US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $109,440 a year, 12.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $79,760 to $157,090 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 205,810 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New York, at $119,720.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in New York?
The median annual wage is $109,440, or $52.62 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 New York is 12.2% 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 New York earns more than $157,090 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $79,760 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 New York, at $119,720 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 205,810 jobs in this occupation in New York. 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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