How Much Does an RN Make in Alabama in 2026?

A typical RN in Alabama earns about $37.06 per hour, or $77,080 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $6,423 a month and $1,482 a week, both figures calculated from the annual figure. These numbers describe base pay before overtime or shift differentials, which many hospitals add on top.

Alabama's typical RN pay runs 21% below the national figure of $97,550 a year. That gap places the state 51st among the 51 states ranked, the lowest spot on the list. Lower pay here tends to track Alabama's lower cost of living relative to higher-cost states. The state's 54,340 registered nurses make up a modest share of the 3,379,720 RNs employed nationwide.

Entry-level positions in Alabama typically offer around $58,150 a year, or about $27.96 an hour, for registered nurses starting out. Some new grads may see a bit less or more depending on the employer, but this range reflects typical starting pay across the state. Pay tends to move up toward the state's typical figure of $77,080 within the first several years on the job. Nurses who complete certifications or specialize often see faster increases.

Experienced RNs in Alabama often earn upwards of $83,380 a year ($40.09 an hour), and the top 10% of earners make over $98,910 a year, or about $47.56 an hour. That puts the spread between entry-level and top pay at $40,760, one of the wider gaps in the profession. Experience, work setting, and city location generally separate the two groups, with specialty units and larger metro hospitals paying toward the higher end.

Alabama RN pay rose from $55,530 in 2015 to $77,080 in 2025, a gain of $21,550 over the decade. That's a 39% increase in typical annual pay over ten years. The rise wasn't perfectly steady; pay dipped slightly between 2015 and 2016 before climbing more consistently in recent years, with the largest jumps coming after 2022.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, a faster pace than Alabama's climb. Alabama's raises have still been real: pay for a typical RN in the state is meaningfully higher than it was in 2015. Nothing about pay trends guarantees future increases, but for someone starting a nursing career in Alabama now, recent history shows pay has moved upward, not down.

Montgomery pays Alabama's registered nurses the most, with a typical wage of $79,570 a year ($38.25 an hour) for the metro area. That's about 3% above the statewide figure of $77,080. Mobile and the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley area follow closely, with typical pay near $79,450 to $79,490 a year, putting several southern Alabama metro areas near the top of the state's pay scale.

Florence pays the least among Alabama's metro areas, with RNs typically earning $66,360 a year ($31.90 an hour). That leaves a $13,210 spread between Alabama's highest- and lowest-paying cities. Birmingham employs the most registered nurses of any Alabama metro area, 17,850 in all, with typical pay of $78,680 a year. Each city figure covers its full metro area, and cities with higher pay often carry a higher cost of living.

Alabama's RN pay trails all four of its neighboring states. Georgia pays the most nearby, with typical RN pay of $93,550 a year, about 21% higher than Alabama. Florida and Tennessee also pay more, at $84,190 and $81,500 respectively, while Mississippi's typical pay of $77,090 is nearly identical to Alabama's own figure. Nursing licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, making it possible to compare opportunities across state lines.

Registered nurses in Alabama typically earn $77,080 a year, or $37.06 an hour, based on the latest government wage data. That figure has climbed 39% over the past decade, up from $55,530 in 2015. Readers considering a nursing career in Alabama can check the state board of nursing's licensing requirements and review city-level pay figures for Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile, and other Alabama metro areas before deciding where to work.