RN Salary in Pennsylvania: $96,430 Median (May 2025)
Registered nurses in Pennsylvania earn a median of $96,430 per year — $46.36 an hour — $1,120 below the national median of $97,550, ranking #20 of 51 states and D.C. The middle 80% of Pennsylvania RNs earn between $70,800 and $117,900. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — the federal wage survey, not job-board self-reports.
Pennsylvania RN pay range (May 2025)
Dark band = middle 50% of Pennsylvania RNs (25th–75th percentile). Light band = middle 80%. New grads typically start near the left edge.
Compare Pennsylvania With Any State
Weighing a move, travel contracts, or a compact-state license? Put Pennsylvania side by side with any other market.
| May 2025 BLS | Pennsylvania | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $96,430 | $95,970 |
| Median hourly wage | $46.36/hr | $46.14/hr |
| Entry-level range (10th pct) | $70,800 | $67,120 |
| Experienced (75th pct) | $104,730 | $105,100 |
| Top earners (90th pct) | $117,900 | $127,950 |
| RNs employed | 146,520 | 271,380 |
The path to this salary runs through the NCLEX
Pennsylvania has 203 board-approved nursing programs across 132 schools — compare them by real first-time NCLEX pass rates. Then check what the degree costs against these wages with your own numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in Pennsylvania?
RNs in Pennsylvania earn a median of $96,430 per year — $46.36 per hour — $1,120 below the national median of $97,550 (BLS May 2025). That ranks Pennsylvania #20 of 51 states and D.C. by median RN pay.
What is a starting RN salary in Pennsylvania?
New nurses generally start near the lower percentiles: in Pennsylvania, the 10th percentile is $70,800 and the 25th percentile is $80,610. Most RNs move toward the $96,430 median within their first several years.
What do the highest-paid RNs in Pennsylvania earn?
The top 10% of RNs in Pennsylvania earn above $117,900 per year — typically nurses with specialty certifications, leadership roles, or high-differential schedules.
How many RNs work in Pennsylvania?
146,520 registered nurses are employed in Pennsylvania per the BLS May 2025 estimates.