Registered Nurse salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Registered Nurses in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $89,450 a year ($43.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,610 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 4% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $93,600. There are 22 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $89,350, close to the median.
Pay range for registered nurses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| 25th percentile | $77,230 | $37.13 |
| Median | $89,450 | $43.00 |
| 75th percentile | $97,330 | $46.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $114,610 | $55.10 |
| Average (mean) | $89,350 | $42.96 |
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 | $7,454.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,727.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,440.38 |
| Weekly | $1,720.19 |
| Hourly | $43.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $89,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $102,710 | 46,830 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $99,320 | 3,040 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $95,650 | 1,630 |
| Richmond, VA | $93,580 | 15,700 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $92,390 | 1,500 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $90,620 | 27,010 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $86,120 | 10,180 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $84,830 | 12,780 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $84,750 | 870 |
| Burlington, NC | $84,180 | 1,080 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $83,060 | 3,430 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $82,860 | 6,240 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $82,740 | 950 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $82,300 | 1,180 |
| Greenville, NC | $81,670 | 3,770 |
| Asheville, NC | $81,590 | 4,680 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $81,520 | 1,510 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $81,230 | 1,330 |
| Wilmington, NC | $80,970 | 5,040 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $80,450 | 2,200 |
| Roanoke, VA | $80,090 | 4,670 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $80,060 | 3,020 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $76,730 | 2,660 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $136,280 | $65.52 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $124,530 | $59.87 |
| Physicians, All Other | $266,280 | $128.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,890 | $47.54 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $99,400 | $47.79 |
| Physician Assistant | $126,430 | $60.78 |
| Dentists, General | $177,400 | $85.29 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $80,990 | $38.94 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $213,690 | $102.73 |
| Veterinarian | $122,010 | $58.66 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,600 | $36.83 |
| Cardiologist | $430,900 | $207.16 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $89,450 a year, or $43.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $114,610 a year. The top 25% earn $97,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,750 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $77,230 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 16,870 registered nurses are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.