Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
Top 10% Registered Nurse Salary (2026)
The top 10% of registered nurses earn $141,356 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $107,280 (lowest-paying metro) to $226,240 (highest-paying metro).
90th percentile across U.S. metros, employment-weighted
What This Pay Level Means
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Most senior and management registered nurses earn at the 75th-to-90th percentile band. The median (50th percentile) is the right anchor for typical workers; the 75th percentile fits experienced specialists. See "Senior registered nurse salary" for the 75th-percentile band.
Top-Paying Metros at This Level
| Metro | Top Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $226,240 |
| San Francisco, CA | $221,890 |
| Boston, MA | $177,130 |
| San Diego, CA | $174,820 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $172,740 |
What the Numbers Tell You
Geographic pay spread for Registered Nurses is unusually wide — top metros pay roughly 2.6× what the lowest-paying metros pay, a $127,770 gap. Most of that variation tracks cost of living, regional industry concentration, and the depth of senior workers in each market.
Registered Nurse is a large occupation, with about 1,283,150 workers across the U.S. metros tracked here. Percentile bands are statistically robust at this scale.
Other Pay Levels for Registered Nurses
Each percentile band targets a distinct experience level — see the dedicated page for your career stage:
- Entry-level registered nurse salary →
- Junior registered nurse salary →
- How much do registered nurses make →
- Senior registered nurse salary →
How This Salary Is Calculated
Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — an annual survey of about 1.2 million U.S. establishments published by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and Metropolitan Statistical Area. The figure on this page is employment-weighted across 25 BLS-tracked metros for SOC code 29-1141. The mapping from BLS percentiles to experience bands (entry / junior / mid / senior / top 10%) follows the convention used by the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage system. See full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top 10% Registered Nurse Salary (2026)?
The top 10% of registered nurses earn $141,356 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $107,280 (lowest-paying metro) to $226,240 (highest-paying metro).
How does this percentile compare to the median?
Registered Nurses have a national median (50th percentile) of $108,121. The 90th percentile shown on this page ($141,356) is 31% above the median — typical for this experience band.
Where do registered nurses at this level earn the most?
San Jose, CA pays the highest at this percentile band — $226,240. Lowest-paying tracked metro: Charlotte, NC at $107,280.
What years of experience does this percentile represent?
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Where does this registered nurse salary data come from?
Every wage figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — an annual federal survey of more than 1 million U.S. employers. The percentile figure on this page is employment-weighted across BLS-tracked metros.
The top 10% of registered nurses earn $141,356 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $107,280 (lowest-paying metro) to $226,240 (highest-paying metro).