How Much Does an RN Make in New Hampshire in 2026?

A typical RN in New Hampshire earns about $47.93 per hour ($99,700 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $8,308 a month, and about $1,917 a week, both calculated from the annual figure. These figures cover registered nurses working across hospitals, clinics, and other care settings statewide.

New Hampshire's typical pay runs about 2% above the national figure of $97,550 a year, placing the state 16th out of 51 states and Washington, D.C. Roughly 15,390 RNs work across New Hampshire, a workforce sizable enough to make the figures reliable. That puts New Hampshire nurses among the better-paid RNs in the country, though not by a wide margin.

Entry-level positions in New Hampshire typically offer around $36.35 an hour, or about $75,610 a year, for RNs just starting out. Pay typically climbs toward the statewide figure of $99,700 within the first few years on the job. Newer nurses often start in lower-acuity settings before moving into roles that pay closer to the typical rate.

Experienced RNs in New Hampshire often earn upwards of $52.12 an hour (about $108,400 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $59.23 an hour, or $123,190 a year. That leaves a spread of $47,580 between entry-level and top-tier pay in the state. Setting, years of experience, and the city where a nurse works all help explain where someone lands within that range.

New Hampshire RN pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $65,440 in 2015 to $99,700 in 2025. That's a gain of $34,260, or a 52% rise over ten years. The increase has been fairly steady year over year, with a notable jump between 2023 and 2024.

That climb outpaces the national decade rise of 45%, meaning New Hampshire pay grew faster than the country as a whole over that stretch. For someone starting an RN career in New Hampshire now, this trend shows pay has moved up consistently over the past ten years. It does not guarantee similar gains going forward, but the direction has been steady.

Pay runs highest in the Cambridge-area metro, where RNs typically earn $106,180 a year ($51.05 an hour), about 6% above the statewide figure. Newton, part of the same metro area, matches that figure exactly. Manchester and Nashua, New Hampshire's largest in-state cities, both post a typical RN salary of $98,600 a year.

Nashua sits at the lower end among the state's listed cities, with RNs typically earning $98,600 a year, a spread of $7,580 between the highest- and lowest-paying areas. The Cambridge-area metro also holds the largest RN workforce among these cities, with 64,240 nurses. Figures for each city reflect the full metro area rather than the city alone, and higher pay in a metro area often comes with a higher cost of living there.

New Hampshire's RN pay compares favorably with most of its neighbors. Massachusetts pays higher, at $104,550 a year, about 5% above New Hampshire's figure, while Maine trails well behind at $86,990, about 13% lower. Vermont sits close behind New Hampshire, at $97,460, about 2% lower. Nursing licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, making moves across these borders relatively straightforward.

RN pay in New Hampshire typically runs $99,700 a year, having climbed 52% over the past decade. That puts the state slightly above the national figure and mid-pack among all states. Anyone considering this path in New Hampshire should check the state board of nursing's licensing page for current requirements, and review city-level figures for a clearer picture of local pay before choosing where to work.