Registered Nurse salary in Pennsylvania
Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania earn a median of $96,430 a year ($46.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 146,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $70,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,900 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pennsylvania ranks 20th of 51 states for registered nurses pay. There are 24 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $94,020, close to the median.
Pay range for registered nurses in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,800 | $34.04 |
| 25th percentile | $80,610 | $38.75 |
| Median | $96,430 | $46.36 |
| 75th percentile | $104,730 | $50.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,900 | $56.69 |
| Average (mean) | $94,020 | $45.20 |
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 | $8,035.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,017.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,708.85 |
| Weekly | $1,854.42 |
| Hourly | $46.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $101,440 | 10,860 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,180 | 73,790 |
| Reading, PA | $98,470 | 3,430 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $96,770 | 9,210 |
| Lebanon, PA | $96,270 | 1,300 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $96,210 | 3,680 |
| Williamsport, PA | $94,300 | 1,230 |
| Lancaster, PA | $89,620 | 5,640 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $88,260 | 480 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $85,270 | 1,030 |
| Johnstown, PA | $84,390 | 1,190 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $82,650 | 5,400 |
| Altoona, PA | $82,410 | 1,390 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $82,370 | 29,360 |
| State College, PA | $81,480 | 1,310 |
| Erie, PA | $80,000 | 3,060 |
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 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $217,310 | $104.48 |
| Pharmacist | $138,160 | $66.42 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,380 | $48.74 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,140 | $62.57 |
| Physician Assistant | $127,070 | $61.09 |
| Dental Hygienist | $80,610 | $38.76 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $92,960 | $44.69 |
| Occupational Therapist | $98,440 | $47.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $78,490 | $37.74 |
| Dentists, General | $163,390 | $78.56 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $67,410 | $32.41 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $306,030 | $147.13 |
| Veterinarian | $133,520 | $64.19 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $221,530 | $106.50 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for registered nurses in Pennsylvania is $96,430 a year, or $46.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $70,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of registered nurses in Pennsylvania earn at least $117,900 a year. The top 25% earn $104,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $70,800 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $80,610 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Pennsylvania?
About 146,520 registered nurses are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.