Registered Nurses in Michigan. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Michigan's median Registered Nurse earned $85,670 in 2024, about 9% below the US median of $94,511. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
Michigan's cost of living sits roughly 7% below the national average. After accounting for what the money actually buys, the gap between Michigan and the national figure narrows to closer to 2%. A nurse taking a position here gives up less ground in purchasing power than the headline numbers suggest.
The spread between the lowest and highest earners is relatively tight. The 10th percentile came in at $70,150 and the 90th at $106,770, a range of about $36,600. Compare that to states where the same spread runs $50,000 or more. What that means in practice: experience and specialization matter here, but they do not produce the dramatic salary jumps seen in higher-paying coastal markets. Pay is more compressed. For nurses who want predictability over upside, that can be a reasonable trade.
The mean wage of $90,580 sits about $4,900 above the median. A relatively small group of higher earners pulls the average up, but not by much. The distribution is fairly even across the 104,210 nurses employed in the state.
BLS projects average growth of 4.9% for Registered Nurses nationally between 2024 and 2034. Michigan's employment base for the role is one of the larger state totals in the country, which tends to produce steady if unspectacular demand rather than sharp swings in either direction.
Salary distribution
Where Michigan registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,080 and $103,450, with a median of $94,300.
Registered Nurses in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 37 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $79,997. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 19 | $73,382 |
| Level II — qualified | 9 | $86,611 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $110,316 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $100,672 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Michigan. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| COVENANT MEDICAL CENTER, INC. | Progressive Cardiac Care RN | 10 | $76,690 |
| MyMichigan Medical Center Midland | Registered Nurse Float RN | 7 | $79,040 |
| MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw | Registered Nurse Float RN | 6 | $85,800 |
| Henry Ford Health System | Assistant Clinical Manager | 5 | $108,811 |
| Corewell Health | Registered Nurse | 4 | $58,240 |
| VHS Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Inc. | Clinical Liaison | 2 | $99,210 |
| Favorite Healthcare Staffing LLC | Registered Nurse | 1 | $83,200 |
| McLaren Northern Michigan | Registered Nurse - Care Manager | 1 | $75,000 |
| PINE REST CHRISTIAN HEALTH MENTAL SERVICES | Registered Nurse | 1 | $67,600 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Registered Nurse at Favorite Healthcare Staffing LLC$83,200Battle CreekWage Level IDecided Mar 17, 2026I-203-26069-691768
- Registered Nurse at Corewell Health$58,240Royal OakWage Level IDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685002
- Registered Nurse (“RN”) Pulmonary Unit at COVENANT MEDICAL CENTER, INC.$75,587SaginawDecided Feb 19, 2026I-200-26042-634781
- Assistant Clinical Manager at Henry Ford Health System$108,811DetroitWage Level IIIDecided Feb 17, 2026I-200-26040-628709
- Registered Nurse at Corewell Health$58,240Royal OakWage Level IDecided Feb 12, 2026I-200-26036-621733
- Registered Nurse Progressive Cardiac Care Unit at COVENANT MEDICAL CENTER, INC.$73,382SaginawDecided Feb 2, 2026I-200-26026-590585
- Registered Nurse at Corewell Health$61,672Grand RapidsWage Level IDecided Jan 28, 2026I-200-26021-576764
- Progressive Cardiac Care RN at COVENANT MEDICAL CENTER, INC.$86,611SaginawWage Level IIDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25316-400152
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Registered Nurses pay by experience level in Michigan
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Registered Nurses specialties in Michigan
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 19 certified offers. The most common variant is Registered Nurse Float RN at a median of $84,032.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse Float RN | MyMichigan Medical Center Midland | 13 | $84,032 |
| Registered Nurse | Corewell Health | 6 | $59,956 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Registered Nurses in Michigan, by industry
Median offered wage across 37 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $79,518.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | COVENANT MEDICAL CENTER, INC. | 36 | $79,518 |
| Professional services | Favorite Healthcare Staffing LLC | 1 | $83,200 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Michigan over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- 02
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- 03
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- 04
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- 05
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- 06
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- 07
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- 08
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for registered nurses in major Michigan metropolitan areas.
- Detroit$97,280
Compare Registered Nurses pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Michigan with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Michigan?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Michigan is $94,300.
- How does Michigan compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The Michigan median is -4.1% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Michigan?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $77,260 and the 90th-percentile at $116,710, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Registered Nurses a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Registered Nurses?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.