Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Registered Nurse's pay go, state by state?
A Registered Nurse's pay leaves the most room in California — about $8,709/mo take-home against $1,969/mo typical rent — and the least in Alabama.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $8,709/mo | $1,969/mo | 23% |
| Hawaii | $8,399/mo | $1,927/mo | 23% |
| Oregon | $7,211/mo | $1,431/mo | 20% |
| Alaska | $6,917/mo | $1,361/mo | 20% |
| Washington | $7,002/mo | $1,641/mo | 23% |
| New York | $6,797/mo | $1,621/mo | 24% |
| Minnesota | $6,325/mo | $1,230/mo | 19% |
| Connecticut | $6,540/mo | $1,483/mo | 23% |
| District of Columbia | $6,839/mo | $1,900/mo | 28% |
| Rhode Island | $6,165/mo | $1,289/mo | 21% |
| New Jersey | $6,510/mo | $1,656/mo | 25% |
| Nevada | $6,254/mo | $1,478/mo | 24% |
| Massachusetts | $6,482/mo | $1,716/mo | 26% |
| Delaware | $6,058/mo | $1,321/mo | 22% |
| New Mexico | $5,458/mo | $1,034/mo | 19% |
| Wisconsin | $5,415/mo | $1,033/mo | 19% |
| Arizona | $5,740/mo | $1,419/mo | 25% |
| West Virginia | $5,117/mo | $848/mo | 17% |
| Michigan | $5,311/mo | $1,072/mo | 20% |
| Wyoming | $5,198/mo | $979/mo | 19% |
| Ohio | $5,196/mo | $986/mo | 19% |
| New Hampshire | $5,630/mo | $1,424/mo | 25% |
| Pennsylvania | $5,381/mo | $1,176/mo | 22% |
| Texas | $5,532/mo | $1,328/mo | 24% |
| Maine | $5,305/mo | $1,104/mo | 21% |
| Oklahoma | $5,119/mo | $970/mo | 19% |
| Kentucky | $5,059/mo | $918/mo | 18% |
| Maryland | $5,807/mo | $1,683/mo | 29% |
| Vermont | $5,324/mo | $1,207/mo | 23% |
| Georgia | $5,435/mo | $1,320/mo | 24% |
| Illinois | $5,361/mo | $1,246/mo | 23% |
| Montana | $5,146/mo | $1,031/mo | 20% |
| Indiana | $5,104/mo | $1,022/mo | 20% |
| Nebraska | $5,077/mo | $1,017/mo | 20% |
| Idaho | $5,208/mo | $1,163/mo | 22% |
| North Carolina | $5,173/mo | $1,147/mo | 22% |
| Missouri | $5,017/mo | $997/mo | 20% |
| Colorado | $5,649/mo | $1,659/mo | 29% |
| South Carolina | $5,095/mo | $1,131/mo | 22% |
| North Dakota | $4,870/mo | $911/mo | 19% |
| Louisiana | $4,982/mo | $1,028/mo | 21% |
| Virginia | $5,467/mo | $1,547/mo | 28% |
| Kansas | $4,926/mo | $1,025/mo | 21% |
| Tennessee | $4,953/mo | $1,111/mo | 22% |
| Arkansas | $4,740/mo | $903/mo | 19% |
| Utah | $5,186/mo | $1,396/mo | 27% |
| Florida | $5,262/mo | $1,542/mo | 29% |
| Iowa | $4,652/mo | $932/mo | 20% |
| Mississippi | $4,509/mo | $933/mo | 21% |
| South Dakota | $4,357/mo | $910/mo | 21% |
| Alabama | $4,284/mo | $967/mo | 23% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.