Registered nurses earn about $45 per hour on median U.S. pay in May 2024; role, state, setting, and shift can raise or lower the rate.
Curious what an hour of nursing work pays right now? Here’s a clear, data-led view that starts with the headline figure and then breaks down what moves the number. You’ll see how pay compares by license, where pay runs higher, and what adds dollars to the clock.
How Much Money Do Nurses Make Per Hour?
For a national anchor, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 in May 2024. Divide by a full-time 2,080-hour year and you land at about $45.00 per hour. That’s the middle of the curve; many nurses earn less, and many earn more depending on location, specialty, employer type, and differentials.
Median Hourly Pay Across Nursing Roles
The table below converts the latest median annual wages into approximate hourly rates using a 2,080-hour year. It gives you a quick way to compare roles side-by-side.
| Role | Median Annual (May 2024) | Approx. Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $39,530 | $19.00 |
| Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) | $62,340 | $30.00 |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $93,600 | $45.00 |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $132,050 | $63.50 |
| Nurse Midwife (CNM) | $129,000–$130,000 (median range reported) | ~$62.00 |
| Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $212,650 (median, May 2023) | $102.00 |
| Healthcare Practitioners (Group Median) | $83,090 | $39.95 |
These medians come from federal labor data. The RN anchor is current to May 2024, and advanced practice figures reflect the latest BLS releases. In short: bedside RN pay centers near $45 per hour, LPN/LVN near $30, CNAs near $19, and advanced practice nurses climb past $60, with CRNAs clearing $100 per hour on national medians and means.
Taking An Hourly View: What Actually Moves The Number
State Pay Gaps
Pay swings by state and metro. High-cost West Coast markets lead the RN charts, while several interior regions post lower averages. Later in this guide, you’ll see a state snapshot that shows how wide the spread can be.
Setting And Unit
Hospital acute care, OR, ED, and ICU roles typically price higher than clinic or long-term care. Outpatient surgery, dialysis, and imaging add technical skills that can nudge rates up. Home health and SNF rates vary by market and payer mix.
Shift Differentials
Evening, night, and weekend shifts often stack on extra dollars per hour. Facilities may pay a flat add-on (say, +$3 to +$7) or a percentage bump for nights. Charge duty, precepting, and floating can carry add-ons as well.
Overtime And Extra Shifts
Overtime rules kick in under federal and state labor law. Time-and-a-half on hours worked past standard thresholds can turn a $45 base into $67.50 for those hours. Per-diem and float pools sometimes post higher base rates to offset schedule flexibility.
Education, Certifications, And Scarce Skills
BSN completion, specialty certs (CCRN, CEN, CNOR, OCN), charge experience, and preceptor duties can lift base offers. For advanced practice, graduate training and prescriptive privileges drive a different pay band entirely.
Union Contracts And Step Scales
Unionized hospitals frequently publish steps that map years of service to hourly pay, plus clear rules for differentials. That transparency helps you forecast income and plan your next bump.
How Much Do Nurses Make Per Hour — State And Role
Here’s a quick way to read the map: pick your license, then scan what states near you typically pay. Remember, medians and means are guides. Your offer will reflect unit, shift, experience, and the local market.
Top RN States Right Now
Based on the most recent detailed state tables, these states sit at the top for RN hourly means:
| State | Hourly Mean (RN) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | $66.20 | Large union presence; high cost of living |
| Hawaii | $57.55 | Island markets; staffing demand stays steady |
| Oregon | $54.54 | Strong hospital systems; coastal metros trend higher |
| Washington | $53.38 | Mix of academic and community hospitals |
| Alaska | $52.51 | Remote sites raise rates; travel logistics in play |
| U.S. RN Median | $45.00 | Converted from May 2024 national median |
Want to see your state’s latest table? Use the official state wage finder and look up your license for current hourly figures. The national tables refresh on a regular cadence, so it pays to check the date stamp when you compare numbers across sites.
What A Strong Offer Looks Like
Bedside RN Benchmark
For most hospital RN roles, a base near the $45 national median is a fair anchor. In metro California, offers often break past $60. In lower-cost regions, a number in the high-30s to low-40s is typical for staff roles, with differentials and overtime boosting the effective hourly rate.
Advanced Practice Benchmarks
- Nurse Practitioner: National median lands near the mid-$60s per hour, with primary care at the lower end and acute/psychiatric specialties running higher.
- Nurse Midwife: Median clusters around the low-$60s per hour. Call coverage and delivery volumes can shift offers.
- CRNA: National medians and means cross the $100-per-hour line. Independent practice states and busy surgical hubs price higher.
How To Raise Your Hourly Nursing Pay
Stack The Right Credentials
Target a credential that ties to your unit’s needs. CCRN or CSC for cardiovascular ICU, CEN for ED, CNOR for OR, or OCN for oncology all signal ready-to-work skill. Many hospitals upgrade pay bands once these are on your file.
Shift To Higher-Paying Units
Critical care, PACU, cath lab, and procedural areas tend to pay more for high acuity, call coverage, or both. Cross-training into these spaces builds a resume that commands better rates.
Pick Shifts That Pay More
Evenings, nights, and weekends stack extra dollars per hour. If your life can flex to those hours, your average rate climbs fast. Charge duty and precepting can add a bump as well.
Know The Market Before You Interview
Scan recent wage tables and a handful of current postings in your metro. Walk in with a number for base, a night/weekend target, and a list of differentials to ask about. When the recruiter names a range, you’ll have an instant feel for fit.
Travel, Per-Diem, And PRN
Travel and PRN options often post higher hourly rates to offset housing or flexibility. The trade-offs: variable hours, canceled shifts, and benefit differences. If you’re comparing a staff offer with travel pay, convert everything to an hourly effective rate, including stipends, call, and average overtime.
Benefits That Change Your Effective Hourly Rate
Two offers can share the same base but deliver different take-home value. Health premiums, retirement match, PTO accrual, education benefits, and tuition support move the real number. A strong 401(k) match or pension can add dollars per hour when you spread the value across working time.
Simple Math You Can Use
Annual To Hourly
Divide the annual salary by 2,080 for a quick, full-time hourly estimate. Example: $93,600 ÷ 2,080 = $45.00 per hour.
Hourly To Annual
Multiply the base hourly rate by 2,080 to get the rough annual figure. Then add a line for differentials and a conservative overtime estimate so you can compare offers apples-to-apples.
Sources You Can Trust
When you want the freshest official numbers, pull them from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Registered Nurses profile lists the current national median for RNs, and the state wage tables let you drill down to your state and metro for local pay.
Bottom Line For Your Search
If you only remember one figure, the national RN median sits at about $45 per hour. Your exact rate flows from your license, unit, shift, state, and extras like call and certification pay. Use the tables above to ballpark your range, then check the official state tables and current postings to position your ask with confidence.