How Much Does an RN Make in Worcester, MA in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Worcester, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Massachusetts.
BLS OES May 2025 · Worcester metro area
A typical RN in Worcester, Massachusetts earns $48.19 per hour, or $100,240 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,353 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $79,940, and the top 10% of earners make over $168,870.
That pay is 4% below the Massachusetts figure of $104,550 and 3% above the national figure of $97,550. Worcester ranks 5th of 7 metro areas in Massachusetts for RN pay. About 10,070 RNs work in the Worcester area.
RN pay in Worcester at a glance
- Typical pay is $48.19 an hour, or $100,240 a year.
- That is 4% below the Massachusetts figure, ranking 5th of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $79,940; the top 10% make over $168,870.
- Typical pay rose +21% from 2015 to 2025, against +25% for Massachusetts as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Worcester?
Pay in Worcester runs from entry-level positions at around $38.44 an hour to more than $81.19 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Massachusetts and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Worcester
| Career stage | Worcester | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $79,940$38.44 an hour | $80,310$38.61 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $89,590$43.07 an hour | $87,460$42.05 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $100,240$48.19 an hour | $104,550$50.27 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $132,390$63.65 an hour | $136,110$65.44 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $168,870$81.19 an hour | $174,510$83.90 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Worcester area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Worcester
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Worcester area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Worcester was $82,700 a year. By 2025 it had reached $100,240, a change of +21%, compared with +25% for Massachusetts over the same years.
How Worcester compares with other Massachusetts cities
Boston pays RNs the most in Massachusetts at $106,180 a year, $5,940 more than Worcester. The lowest-paying area in the state is Springfield at $98,410.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Worcester | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | $106,180 | $51.05 | +6% | 64,240 |
| 2 | Pittsfield | $104,950 | $50.46 | +5% | 1,230 |
| 3 | Barnstable Town | $103,380 | $49.70 | +3% | 1,860 |
| 4 | Amherst Town metro incl. Northampton | $101,270 | $48.69 | +1% | 1,150 |
| 5 | Worcester | $100,240 | $48.19 | this city | 10,070 |
| 6 | Warwick | $99,880 | $48.02 | 0% | 15,180 |
| 7 | Springfield | $98,410 | $47.31 | -2% | 5,830 |
Every metro area in Massachusetts with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Massachusetts typical pay $104,550
Is Worcester a good place to work as an RN?
RN pay in Worcester sits close to the national figure: $100,240 a year, 3% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Worcester area, about 29 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Worcester, MA?
- A typical RN in Worcester earns $100,240 a year, or $48.19 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $79,940 and the top 10% earn over $168,870.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Worcester?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Worcester is $48.19. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $38.44, and the top 10% earn over $81.19 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Worcester?
- Entry-level RN positions in Worcester typically offer around $38.44 an hour, or $79,940 a year.
- Is RN pay in Worcester higher than in the rest of Massachusetts?
- Worcester pay is 4% below the Massachusetts figure of $104,550 a year, ranking 5th of 7 metro areas in the state. Boston pays the most in Massachusetts at $106,180.