How Much Does an RN Make in Minnesota in 2026?

A typical RN in Minnesota earns about $48.80 per hour ($101,510 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that pay works out to roughly $8,459 a month, or about $1,952 a week, based on the annual figure. Actual paychecks vary by employer, shift differentials, and years on the job.

That pay runs about 4% above the national figure of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour), and it ranks Minnesota 12th among all 51 states for RN pay. Roughly 70,110 registered nurses work in the state, a workforce large enough to make these figures reliable. Higher pay here tends to track a higher cost of living compared with many other states.

Entry-level positions in Minnesota typically offer around $38.44 an hour, or about $79,960 a year, for RNs just starting out. Pay climbs from there as nurses gain experience, add certifications, or move into specialty units. Most reach the typical pay level of $101,510 a year within several years on the job. Early pay still lands well above minimum wage work in the state.

Experienced RNs often earn upwards of $114,760 a year, and the top 10% make over $132,430 a year, which works out to about $63.67 an hour. That leaves a spread of $52,470 between entry-level and top pay in Minnesota. Setting, specialty, and city tend to separate the two groups more than years alone; a nurse in a high-paying metro or a specialty unit tends to land closer to the top of that range.

Minnesota RN pay rose from $72,130 in 2015 to $101,510 in 2025, a gain of $29,380 over the decade. That's a 41% increase in ten years, outpacing general wage growth in most other fields during the same stretch. The rise wasn't perfectly steady each year, but the overall direction moved consistently upward.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, so Minnesota's percentage gain trailed the national pace slightly even though its dollar figures stayed above the national number throughout. For someone starting out now, that decade of data shows pay has moved up substantially, though nothing about future years is guaranteed. The trend offers a track record, not a promise, but it points in a clear direction.

St. Cloud pays RNs the most among Minnesota's metro areas, with typical pay of $105,290 a year ($50.62 an hour), about 4% above the statewide figure. Mankato follows close behind at $103,400 a year, and Minneapolis pays $103,040 a year ($49.54 an hour). These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Duluth pays the least among the metro areas listed, at $96,940 a year ($46.61 an hour), putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying Minnesota cities at $8,350. Minneapolis holds the largest RN workforce in the state, with 43,600 registered nurses, though its pay sits in the middle of the range rather than at the top. Cities with higher pay often carry higher living costs, which tends to level out the real difference.

Minnesota pays RNs more than every state it borders. Wisconsin comes closest at $95,530 a year, about 6% below Minnesota's figure, while North Dakota, Iowa, and South Dakota all pay 20 to 23% less, with figures near $78,000 to $81,000 a year. Nurses considering a move across state lines can often transfer or endorse an existing RN license into a nearby state rather than starting licensure over.

Registered nurses in Minnesota typically earn $101,510 a year, a figure that has climbed 41% over the past decade. Pay varies by city, experience, and employer, but the overall trend has moved steadily upward. Anyone weighing a move to or within Minnesota can check the state's nursing licensure and registry pages for requirements, and the city-level pages here for local pay figures before making a decision.