Registered Nurse salary in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
Registered Nurses in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $82,640 a year ($39.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,830 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 1% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $81,780. There are 33 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $86,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for registered nurses in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,620 | $30.11 |
| 25th percentile | $67,790 | $32.59 |
| Median | $82,640 | $39.73 |
| 75th percentile | $93,330 | $44.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,830 | $50.40 |
| Average (mean) | $86,160 | $41.42 |
Half of registered nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,886.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,443.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,178.46 |
| Weekly | $1,589.23 |
| Hourly | $39.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,490 | 100,240 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $90,230 | 3,520 |
| Decatur, IL | $87,170 | 790 |
| Kankakee, IL | $86,220 | 1,390 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $85,010 | 1,910 |
| Columbia, MO | $84,330 | 3,680 |
| Springfield, IL | $84,220 | 4,110 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $83,180 | 35,200 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $83,040 | 29,650 |
| Peoria, IL | $81,010 | 5,460 |
| Rockford, IL | $80,930 | 4,620 |
| Bloomington, IL | $79,970 | 1,990 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $79,920 | 1,720 |
| Springfield, MO | $79,370 | 6,820 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $77,240 | 1,490 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $77,150 | 3,520 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $74,930 | 2,670 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
See Registered Nurse pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,000 | $62.50 |
| Pharmacist | $141,250 | $67.91 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,420 | $48.28 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $66,910 | $32.17 |
| Dental Hygienist | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| Physicians, All Other | $239,200+ | $115.00+ |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Occupational Therapist | $98,990 | $47.59 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| Physician Assistant | $141,080 | $67.83 |
| Veterinarian | $100,360 | $48.25 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $60,100 | $28.90 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $51,900 | $24.95 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area is $82,640 a year, or $39.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area earn at least $104,830 a year. The top 25% earn $93,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,620 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $67,790 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
About 1,470 registered nurses are employed in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.