Nurse salary in the US after tax — 2026
The BLS puts the median US registered nurse salary at around $86,000–$90,000 in 2026. But nursing is one of the most state-dependent professions — a California RN earns nearly double what a Mississippi RN takes home in gross pay. Here's the full after-tax picture.
RN take-home pay by state — 2026
| State | Mean RN Salary | State Tax | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | ~$130,500 | 9.3%+ | $7,320/mo |
| Hawaii | ~$113,000 | 8.25% | $6,410/mo |
| Washington | ~$110,000 | 0% (no income tax) | $7,130/mo |
| New York | ~$108,000 | 6.85% | $6,610/mo |
| Texas | ~$84,000 | 0% (no income tax) | $5,790/mo |
| Florida | ~$73,000 | 0% (no income tax) | $5,123/mo |
| Mississippi | ~$60,000 | 5% | $4,200/mo |
Source: BLS OES May 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Monthly net calculated after federal income tax (2026 brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Excludes shift differentials, overtime, and union benefits.
RN take-home by experience level
| Experience | National Gross | Monthly Net (Texas) | Monthly Net (California) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New grad RN (0–1 yr) | $55,000–$68,000 | $3,868–$4,697/mo | $3,600–$4,250/mo |
| Staff RN (2–5 yrs) | $72,000–$88,000 | $5,060–$6,026/mo | $4,590–$5,340/mo |
| Experienced RN (6–10 yrs) | $88,000–$105,000 | $6,026–$7,002/mo | $5,340–$6,096/mo |
| Charge Nurse / Supervisor | $95,000–$115,000 | $6,430–$7,544/mo | $5,720–$6,600/mo |
| NP (Nurse Practitioner) | $115,000–$145,000 | $7,544–$9,100/mo | $6,600–$7,870/mo |
Travel nursing: why some RNs take home $9,000–$12,000/month
Travel nursing assignments pay significantly more than staff positions — often 30–60% higher. The reason is multi-part:
- Shortage premiums in high-demand specialties (ICU, ED, OR)
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends — often $2,000–$3,500/month in non-taxable reimbursements
- The non-taxable portion inflates effective take-home significantly
An experienced travel RN in a high-demand specialty (California ICU, for example) might receive a $55/hour base rate plus $1,500/week in tax-free stipends. Over 13 weeks, the stipend alone is $19,500 non-taxable. Effective take-home across a year of travel nursing can reach $90,000–$110,000 net for experienced critical care RNs — well above equivalent staff positions.
The tradeoff: no job security, you're always 13 weeks from unemployment, health insurance is more expensive, and the lifestyle is exhausting for many over the long term.
Frequently asked questions
The national median RN salary in 2026 is approximately $86,000–$90,000. In a no-income-tax state like Texas, that translates to roughly $5,900–$6,200/month after federal tax and FICA. In California (mean RN salary ~$130,500), after the ~10% state tax, take-home is approximately $7,320/month. New graduate RNs typically take home $3,868–$4,697/month depending on location.
After-tax, the best states for RNs are California (despite high state tax, the gross is so high that net pay still leads nationally at ~$7,300/month) and Washington state (high gross + no state income tax → ~$7,130/month). Texas is competitive at ~$5,790/month with no state tax, and the much lower cost of living often makes it more liveable than California despite lower gross pay.
Substantially higher in the US, especially California. A Band 5 NHS nurse in the UK earns £32,073 (~£2,154/month net). A staff RN in Texas earns $72,000–$88,000 (~$5,060–$6,026/month net). In purchasing power terms, even accounting for the US's higher healthcare and education costs, most US states pay nurses significantly better than the UK — with California being an extreme outlier at roughly 3× the UK monthly take-home. The UK advantage is the NHS pension and job security.