How Much Does an RN Make in Michigan in 2026?

A typical RN in Michigan earns about $45.34 per hour ($94,300 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $7,858 a month and $1,813 a week, figures calculated from the annual figure above. For a workforce of nearly 105,000 nurses statewide, this is the wage most report earning in a typical pay period.

Michigan's typical RN pay sits 3% below the national figure of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour). That gap places the state 25th among the 51 states and Washington, D.C., for RN pay. Pay that runs below the national figure usually tracks a lower cost of living in the state. With 104,950 RNs working in Michigan, compared with 3,379,720 nationwide, the state accounts for a meaningful share of the profession's national workforce.

Entry-level positions in Michigan typically offer around $37.14 an hour ($77,260 a year), based on wages for RNs in the bottom range of the scale. Pay for those just starting out sits close to $82,080 a year once they move past the very first tier. Most nurses see pay climb toward the state's typical $94,300 within a few years of experience. Advancement often comes with added certifications or a move to a higher-paying specialty.

Experienced RNs in Michigan often earn upwards of $103,450 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $116,710 a year ($56.11 an hour). That leaves a spread of $39,450 between entry-level and top-tier pay. The difference usually comes down to years on the job, practice setting, and which city a nurse works in, since hospital systems in higher-paying metro areas tend to sit at the upper end of that range.

Michigan RN pay has moved from $65,830 in 2015 to $94,300 in 2025, a gain of $28,470 over the decade. That's a rise of 43%, tracked through eleven years of government wage data. Pay increased in every year of that stretch, including a jump from $85,670 in 2024 to $94,300 in 2025.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten-year stretch, putting Michigan's climb just behind the countrywide pace. For someone starting a nursing career in Michigan now, the trend shows pay has moved up steadily for a decade. That pattern doesn't guarantee future increases, but it reflects the direction pay has taken so far.

Pay runs highest in Ann Arbor, where RNs typically earn $103,450 a year ($49.74 an hour), about 10% above the state figure. Flint follows at $97,780 a year, and Battle Creek pays close behind at $97,520. These figures reflect each city's full metro area rather than the city limits alone.

Monroe pays RNs the least among Michigan's metro areas, at $82,170 a year ($39.50 an hour), a spread of $21,280 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities in the state. Warren employs the most RNs of any Michigan metro area, with 44,310 working there at a typical $97,280 a year. Higher pay in cities like Ann Arbor usually tracks a higher cost of living, so take-home value doesn't always move in step with the wage.

Michigan's RN pay sits close to Wisconsin's, where nurses earn $95,530 a year, about 1% above Michigan. Indiana and Ohio both pay less, at $83,500 and $82,510 a year, roughly 11% and 13% below Michigan's figure. Nurses considering a move across state lines should know that RN licensure can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state, which makes comparing pay across the border a practical step before relocating.

RNs in Michigan typically earn $94,300 a year, a figure that has grown 43% over the past decade. Pay varies by city, experience, and setting, but the statewide trend has moved steadily upward since 2015. Readers weighing a move to or within Michigan should check the state board of nursing's licensing requirements and review city-level pay pages for local figures before making a decision.