How Much Does an RN Make in Harrisburg, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Harrisburg, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Harrisburg · Carlisle metro area
A typical RN in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania earns $46.52 per hour, or $96,770 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,064 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $76,760, and the top 10% of earners make over $116,450.
That pay is right at the Pennsylvania figure of $96,430 and 1% below the national figure of $97,550. Harrisburg ranks 4th of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for RN pay. About 9,210 RNs work in the Harrisburg · Carlisle area. Harrisburg is part of the Harrisburg · Carlisle metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Carlisle share these figures.
RN pay in Harrisburg at a glance
- Typical pay is $46.52 an hour, or $96,770 a year.
- That is right at the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 4th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $76,760; the top 10% make over $116,450.
- Typical pay rose +50% from 2015 to 2025, against +47% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Harrisburg?
Pay in Harrisburg runs from entry-level positions at around $36.91 an hour to more than $55.98 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Harrisburg
| Career stage | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $76,760$36.91 an hour | $70,800$34.04 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $82,530$39.68 an hour | $80,610$38.75 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $96,770$46.52 an hour | $96,430$46.36 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $103,240$49.64 an hour | $104,730$50.35 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $116,450$55.98 an hour | $117,900$56.69 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Harrisburg · Carlisle area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Harrisburg
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Harrisburg · Carlisle area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Harrisburg was $64,360 a year. By 2025 it had reached $96,770, a change of +50%, compared with +47% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How Harrisburg compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Allentown pays RNs the most in Pennsylvania at $101,440 a year, $4,670 more than Harrisburg. The lowest-paying area in the state is Erie at $80,000.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Harrisburg | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allentown | $101,440 | $48.77 | +5% | 10,860 |
| 2 | Philadelphia | $101,180 | $48.64 | +5% | 73,790 |
| 3 | Reading | $98,470 | $47.34 | +2% | 3,430 |
| 4 | Harrisburg metro incl. Carlisle | $96,770 | $46.52 | this city | 9,210 |
| 5 | Lebanon | $96,270 | $46.28 | -1% | 1,300 |
| 6 | Hanover metro incl. York | $96,210 | $46.25 | -1% | 3,680 |
| 7 | Williamsport | $94,300 | $45.34 | -3% | 1,230 |
| 8 | Lancaster | $89,620 | $43.09 | -7% | 5,640 |
| 9 | Gettysburg | $88,260 | $42.43 | -9% | 480 |
| 10 | Chambersburg | $85,270 | $41.00 | -12% | 1,030 |
| 11 | Johnstown | $84,390 | $40.57 | -13% | 1,190 |
| 12 | Scranton | $82,650 | $39.73 | -15% | 5,400 |
| 13 | Altoona | $82,410 | $39.62 | -15% | 1,390 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh | $82,370 | $39.60 | -15% | 29,360 |
| 15 | State College | $81,480 | $39.17 | -16% | 1,310 |
| 16 | Erie | $80,000 | $38.46 | -17% | 3,060 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $96,430
Is Harrisburg a good place to work as an RN?
RN pay in Harrisburg sits close to the national figure: $96,770 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Harrisburg · Carlisle area, about 27 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Harrisburg, PA?
- A typical RN in Harrisburg earns $96,770 a year, or $46.52 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $76,760 and the top 10% earn over $116,450.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Harrisburg?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Harrisburg is $46.52. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.91, and the top 10% earn over $55.98 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Harrisburg?
- Entry-level RN positions in Harrisburg typically offer around $36.91 an hour, or $76,760 a year.
- Is RN pay in Harrisburg higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Harrisburg pay is right at the Pennsylvania figure of $96,430 a year, ranking 4th of 16 metro areas in the state. Allentown pays the most in Pennsylvania at $101,440.