How Much Does an RN Make in Bristol, VA in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical RN in Bristol, Virginia earns $36.89 per hour, or $76,730 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,394 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $62,280, and the top 10% of earners make over $100,750.
That pay is 18% below the Virginia figure of $93,600 and 21% below the national figure of $97,550. Bristol ranks 10th of 10 metro areas in Virginia for RN pay. About 2,660 RNs work in the Kingsport · Bristol area.
RN pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.89 an hour, or $76,730 a year.
- That is 18% below the Virginia figure, ranking 10th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $62,280; the top 10% make over $100,750.
- Typical pay rose +52% from 2015 to 2025, against +47% for Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $29.94 an hour to more than $48.44 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Virginia and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $62,280$29.94 an hour | $67,830$32.61 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $73,420$35.30 an hour | $80,090$38.51 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $76,730$36.89 an hour | $93,600$45.00 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $92,270$44.36 an hour | $103,030$49.53 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $100,750$48.44 an hour | $125,580$60.37 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Bristol
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Kingsport · Bristol area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Bristol was $50,610 a year. By 2025 it had reached $76,730, a change of +52%, compared with +47% for Virginia over the same years.
How Bristol compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays RNs the most in Virginia at $102,710 a year, $25,980 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $76,730.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $102,710 | $49.38 | +34% | 46,830 |
| 2 | Charlottesville | $99,320 | $47.75 | +29% | 3,040 |
| 3 | Winchester | $95,650 | $45.99 | +25% | 1,630 |
| 4 | Richmond | $93,580 | $44.99 | +22% | 15,700 |
| 5 | Staunton metro incl. Stuarts Draft | $92,390 | $44.42 | +20% | 1,500 |
| 6 | Virginia Beach | $89,450 | $43.00 | +17% | 16,870 |
| 7 | Christiansburg metro incl. Blacksburg · Radford | $81,230 | $39.05 | +6% | 1,330 |
| 8 | Lynchburg | $80,450 | $38.68 | +5% | 2,200 |
| 9 | Roanoke | $80,090 | $38.51 | +4% | 4,670 |
| 10 | Bristol | $76,730 | $36.89 | this city | 2,660 |
Every metro area in Virginia with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $93,600
Is Bristol a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $76,730 a year, 21% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 22 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Bristol, VA?
- A typical RN in Bristol earns $76,730 a year, or $36.89 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $62,280 and the top 10% earn over $100,750.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Bristol is $36.89. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $29.94, and the top 10% earn over $48.44 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Bristol?
- Entry-level RN positions in Bristol typically offer around $29.94 an hour, or $62,280 a year.
- Is RN pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Virginia?
- Bristol pay is 18% below the Virginia figure of $93,600 a year, ranking 10th of 10 metro areas in the state. Arlington pays the most in Virginia at $102,710.