SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — Topeka
Topeka, KS · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Topeka, KS is $81,820 a year, trailing the national median of $97,550 by 16.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Topeka, KS is $81,820 a year, trailing the national median of $97,550 by 16.1%. Half of workers earn between $78,550 and $100,560. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $67,070 and the ninetieth at $104,280.
The area has 3,190 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 27.6 of every thousand jobs. Manhattan leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,960. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 66th of 333 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $67,070 | −31.2% |
| 25th | $78,550 | −19.5% |
| Median (50th) | $81,820 | −16.1% |
| 75th | $100,560 | +3.1% |
| 90th | $104,280 | +6.9% |
| Mean | $88,670 | −9.1% |
Other metro areas in Kansas
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Topeka run 9.9% below the national average, so the median of $81,820 goes as far as $90,810 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$81,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$90,810US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,820 a year, 16.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $67,070 to $104,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,190 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Manhattan, at $78,960.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in Topeka, KS?
The median annual wage is $81,820, or $39.34 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 Topeka, KS is 16.1% lower. 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 Topeka, KS earns more than $104,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $67,070 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 Manhattan, at $78,960 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,190 jobs in this occupation in Topeka, KS. 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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