How Much Does an RN Make in Oklahoma in 2026?

A typical RN in Oklahoma earns about $39.87 per hour ($82,920 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that comes to roughly $6,910 a month or $1,595 a week, based on the annual figure. These figures reflect registered nurses working across hospitals, clinics, and other care settings statewide.

That pay sits 15% below the national figure of $97,550, putting Oklahoma 37th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Lower pay in Oklahoma tends to track its lower cost of living compared with higher-cost states. Still, the state employs 38,270 registered nurses, a workforce large enough to offer steady opportunities across its cities and towns.

Entry-level positions in Oklahoma typically offer around $29.10 an hour, or about $60,530 a year, for registered nurses just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the typical $82,920 figure within the first several years on the job. New graduates should expect wages closer to this entry-level range in their first positions.

Experienced RNs in Oklahoma often earn upwards of the $82,920 typical figure as they build years on the job, and the top 10% of earners make over $106,390 a year, or $51.15 an hour. That's a spread of $45,860 between entry-level and top pay. The gap tends to reflect years of experience, the type of care setting, and which city an RN works in.

Oklahoma RN pay has risen from $58,460 in 2015 to $82,920 in 2025, a decade marked by steady gains. That's an increase of $24,460, or 42%, over ten years. The climb wasn't perfectly smooth; pay dipped slightly in 2021 before jumping sharply in 2022 and continuing upward through 2025.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same decade, a slightly faster pace than Oklahoma's climb. For someone starting a nursing career in Oklahoma now, pay has moved up consistently in recent years. Past gains don't guarantee future ones, but the decade's trend points in a clear upward direction.

Pay runs highest in Tulsa, where RNs earn $84,790 a year, about 2% above the statewide figure. Oklahoma City follows at $82,920, and Lawton comes in a bit lower at $80,570. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just its downtown core.

Enid pays the least among Oklahoma's listed cities, with RNs there earning $78,060 a year, a spread of $6,730 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas. Oklahoma City holds the state's largest RN workforce, with 16,530 employed there. Pay differences across cities often track local living costs as much as anything else.

Oklahoma's RN pay trails most of its neighbors. Colorado pays the most nearby at $100,260 a year, 21% higher than Oklahoma, while Texas ($95,970, +16%) and New Mexico ($94,340, +14%) also pay more. Missouri ($81,780) and Kansas ($79,320) run close to or below Oklahoma's figure, and Arkansas pays the least at $78,940, 5% lower. Nursing licenses can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which makes comparing these figures useful for anyone weighing a move.

Registered nurses in Oklahoma typically earn $82,920 a year, or $39.87 an hour, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That figure has climbed 42% over the past decade, from $58,460 in 2015. Anyone pursuing an RN career in Oklahoma should check the state's nursing licensing or registry page for requirements and review individual city pages for local pay figures.