How Much Does an RN Make in Texas in 2026?

A typical RN in Texas earns about $46.14 per hour, or $95,970 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $7,998 a month and $1,846 a week. These numbers describe typical earnings across hospital, clinic, and outpatient settings statewide, before accounting for experience or location.

That pay sits 2% below the national figure of $46.90 an hour, or $97,550 a year, for registered nurses, a modest gap tied largely to living costs. Texas ranks 22nd out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for RN pay. The state employs 271,380 registered nurses, one of the largest RN workforces in the country.

Entry-level positions in Texas typically offer around $32.27 an hour, or about $67,120 a year, for RNs just starting out. Pay tends to rise from there as nurses gain experience and move into more specialized units. Within a few years, many reach the typical figure of $46.14 an hour, or $95,970 a year, for the state.

Experienced RNs in Texas often earn well above the typical figure, and the top 10% of earners make over $61.51 an hour, or $127,950 a year. That leaves a spread of $60,830 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a part in where an individual RN lands within that range.

Texas RN pay climbed from $68,590 in 2015 to $95,970 in 2025, a gain of $27,380. That amounts to a 40% rise over the decade. Growth was consistent through those years, without sharp swings up or down.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same decade, a bit faster than the Texas pace. Pay in Texas has still moved up steadily year after year. Someone starting a nursing career now enters a field where earnings have consistently trended upward. Future gains are not guaranteed, but the decade-long pattern has been a steady climb.

Pay runs highest in Dallas, where RNs earn $48.76 an hour, or $101,420 a year, about 6% above the statewide figure. Fort Worth and Arlington share that same figure, since they fall within the Dallas metro area. Houston and its surrounding metro follow closely at $99,830 a year.

Pay runs lowest in Eagle Pass, where RNs earn $35.42 an hour, or $73,660 a year, a difference of $27,760 from the top of the range. Dallas also holds the largest RN workforce in the state at 76,680 employed. Each city figure covers its full metro area, and differences in pay often line up with differences in local living costs.

Compared with nearby states, Texas RNs generally earn more. New Mexico comes closest, at $94,340 a year, just 2% below Texas, while Oklahoma ($82,920), Louisiana ($80,230), and Arkansas ($78,940) each trail by 14% to 18%. RN licenses can often be endorsed or transferred between neighboring states, making moves across these borders straightforward for many nurses.

Registered nurses in Texas typically earn $95,970 a year, or $46.14 an hour, up 40% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, from entry-level positions near $67,120 to top earners above $127,950. Readers who want specific requirements should check the Texas Board of Nursing licensing page, and those comparing local markets can look at city-level pay pages within the state.