New Grad Nurse Salary by State 2026
This comprehensive guide provides starting registered nurse (RN) salary data for all 50 states in 2026, along with typical sign-on bonus information. New graduate nurses entering the healthcare workforce should use this data to understand regional compensation variations and make informed career decisions. Salaries reflect average entry-level RN positions in hospitals and healthcare facilities and are projected based on current market trends and 2024-2025 data. Sign-on bonuses vary by facility, location, and specialization, with the figures presented representing typical offerings in each state.
Starting RN Salaries by State (2026)
| State | Average Starting Salary | Typical Sign-On Bonus Range | Total First Year Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $52,400 | $3,000 – $6,000 | $55,400 – $58,400 |
| Alaska | $68,500 | $5,000 – $10,000 | $73,500 – $78,500 |
| Arizona | $61,200 | $4,000 – $8,000 | $65,200 – $69,200 |
| Arkansas | $50,800 | $2,500 – $5,000 | $53,300 – $55,800 |
| California | $76,900 | $5,000 – $12,000 | $81,900 – $88,900 |
| Colorado | $64,300 | $4,000 – $8,500 | $68,300 – $72,800 |
| Connecticut | $72,100 | $4,500 – $9,000 | $76,600 – $81,100 |
| Delaware | $66,800 | $4,000 – $8,000 | $70,800 – $74,800 |
| Florida | $58,700 | $3,500 – $7,000 | $62,200 – $65,700 |
| Georgia | $56,400 | $3,000 – $6,500 | $59,400 – $62,900 |
| Hawaii | $71,200 | $5,000 – $10,000 | $76,200 – $81,200 |
| Idaho | $55,600 | $3,000 – $6,000 | $58,600 – $61,600 |
| Illinois | $64,900 | $4,000 – $8,000 | $68,900 – $72,900 |
| Indiana | $58,200 | $3,000 – $6,500 | $61,200 – $64,700 |
| Iowa | $57,800 | $3,000 – $6,000 | $60,800 – $63,800 |
| Kansas | $54,900 | $2,500 – $5,500 | $57,400 – $60,400 |
| Kentucky | $53,400 | $2,500 – $5,500 | $55,900 – $58,900 |
| Louisiana | $51,700 | $2,500 – $5,000 | $54,200 – $56,700 |
| Maine | $62,400 | $3,500 – $7,000 | $65,900 – $69,400 |
| Maryland | $68,900 | $4,000 – $8,500 | $72,900 – $77,400 |
| Massachusetts | $74,600 | $5,000 – $10,000 | $79,600 – $84,600 |
| Michigan | $63,700 | $3,500 – $7,500 | $67,200 – $71,200 |
| Minnesota | $67,300 | $4,000 – $8,000 | $71,300 – $75,300 |
| Mississippi | $49,200 | $2,000 – $4,500 | $51,200 – $53,700 |
| Missouri | $56,900 | $3,000 – $6,000 | $59,900 – $62,900 |
| Montana | $57,400 | $3,000 – $6,000 | $60,400 – $63,400 |
| Nebraska | $56,100 | $2,500 – $5,500 | $58,600 – $61,600 |
| Nevada | {“@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “Article”, “headline”: “New Grad Nurse Salary by State 2026”, “datePublished”: “2026-04-10”, “dateModified”: “2026-04-10”, “author”: {“@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “Nurse & Medical Salaries Team”}}