How Much Does an RN Make in Connecticut in 2026?

A typical RN in Connecticut earns about $49.39 per hour ($102,740 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $8,562 a month and $1,976 a week, figures calculated from the annual pay. Those weekly and monthly numbers give a clearer sense of take-home pay across different pay schedules.

Connecticut's typical RN pay sits about 5% above the national figure of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour). That puts the state 10th out of 51 for RN pay nationwide, according to the same May 2025 data. Connecticut employs 40,110 registered nurses, a workforce large enough to make these figures a reliable read on typical pay statewide.

Entry-level positions in Connecticut typically offer around $38.63 an hour, or about $80,350 a year, for RNs just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the statewide typical figure of $102,740 within the first few years, as new nurses gain experience. The unit or facility a nurse joins first can also shape how quickly pay rises.

Experienced Connecticut RNs often earn upwards of the statewide typical pay of $102,740 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $134,870 annually, or $64.84 an hour. That leaves a spread of $54,520 between entry-level and top pay, a gap usually tied to years of experience, care setting, and which Connecticut city a nurse works in.

Connecticut RN pay has climbed from $76,460 in 2015 to $102,740 in 2025, a gain of $26,280 over the decade. That's a rise of 34%, according to the same wage data. Pay moved unevenly across those years, with the sharpest jumps landing between 2021 and 2023.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same decade, a somewhat faster pace than Connecticut's climb. For someone starting out now, that history shows pay in this field has moved up over time, though it offers no guarantee about future years.

RN pay runs highest in the Bridgeport metro area, where the typical salary is $105,660 a year, about 3% above the statewide figure. Stamford and Danbury post the same figure, reflecting a shared labor market across the region. New Haven follows closely, with a typical salary of $104,490 a year.

Norwich pays the least among Connecticut's metro areas, with RNs typically earning $101,330 a year, still solid by national standards. That's a spread of $4,330 between the highest- and lowest-paying areas here. Hartford employs the most RNs of any Connecticut city, 13,850 in all, though its pay sits closer to the middle. These figures cover each city's full metro area; higher pay in Bridgeport and Stamford tends to track a higher cost of living.

Connecticut RNs earn less than their counterparts in New York, where typical pay reaches $109,440 a year, about 7% higher. Massachusetts also pays more, at $104,550 a year, roughly 2% above Connecticut. Rhode Island pays somewhat less, at $100,640 a year, about 2% below Connecticut's figure. Nursing licensure can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, giving RNs some flexibility in choosing where to work.

Registered nurses in Connecticut typically earn $102,740 a year, a figure that has risen 34% over the past decade. For current licensing requirements, check the Connecticut state nursing board or registry page, and see the city-level pages for local pay figures in places like Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven before making a move.