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

A typical RN in New York earns about $52.62 per hour ($109,440 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $9,120 a month or $2,105 a week, calculated from the annual figure.

New York's pay runs about 12% above the national figure of $97,550, and the state ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories for RN pay. That places New York among the higher-paying states in the country for this occupation. Roughly 205,810 RNs work across the state, giving these figures a broad base for anyone comparing offers here.

Entry-level positions in New York typically offer around $38.35 an hour ($79,760 a year), according to the same wage data. Pay tends to climb toward the statewide figure of $109,440 within the first several years on the job. New graduates in hospital settings often see faster increases than those in smaller clinics.

Experienced RNs often earn upwards of $62.34 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $157,090 a year ($75.52 an hour). That leaves a spread of $77,330 between entry-level and top pay in the state. Setting, years on the job, and the city where a nurse works all factor into where they land within that range.

Over the past decade, typical RN pay in New York rose from $77,980 in 2015 to $109,440 in 2025, a gain of $31,460, or 40%. That increase came steadily, with the sharpest single-year jumps arriving between 2020 and 2022 as the figure moved past $100,000. Pay has not slipped back since.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, a bit ahead of New York's rise. That upward path has held across nearly every year since 2015. Pay has moved up steadily for RNs in the state, and someone starting a career now enters at a higher figure than a decade ago, though past growth does not guarantee future gains.

Pay runs highest in the New York City metro area, where RNs typically earn $119,720 a year ($57.56 an hour), about 9% above the statewide figure. The Glens Falls metro area follows at $104,000 a year, one of the few upstate markets to come close to six figures. Kiryas Joel, Newburgh, and Poughkeepsie each post $102,890, close behind.

At the other end, the Elmira metro area posts the lowest typical pay in the state, $82,820 a year ($39.82 an hour), a spread of $36,900 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas. These figures cover each area's full metro region, not just the city center. The New York City metro area also holds the largest RN workforce, with 197,740 employed there, and its higher pay tends to track its higher cost of living.

Among New York's neighbors, New Jersey pays closest, at $106,500 a year, about 3% below New York's figure, while Pennsylvania trails furthest at $96,430, roughly 12% lower. Massachusetts ($104,550) and Connecticut ($102,740) also fall a bit under New York's pay, and Vermont sits 11% lower at $97,460. RN licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, easing a move across these borders.

Typical RN pay in New York now stands at $109,440 a year ($52.62 an hour), up 40% over the past decade. Anyone considering the field should check New York's nursing licensure and registry requirements before applying, since specific credentialing steps apply. Pay also varies by metro area across the state, so it is worth comparing local figures for a specific city before deciding where to work.