Registered Nurses in Minnesota. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Registered Nurses in Minnesota earned a median of $100,870 in 2024, about 6.7% above the US median of $94,511. The mean came in slightly lower at $99,460, which tells us the top earners here are not pulling the average far above the midpoint. That is a relatively tight relationship between the two figures.
The pay range is meaningful. A nurse at the 10th percentile earned $75,830, while one at the 90th earned $128,200. Top earners made roughly 1.7 times what those starting out made. That spread reflects differences in specialty, setting, and how long someone has been in the field, but it is narrower than what we see in some other clinical occupations, where experience premiums are steeper.
Minnesota's cost of living sits just below the national baseline. The state's overall price index was 96.9 in 2024, meaning a dollar goes a bit further here than the US average. After adjusting for that, the $100,870 median translates to closer to $104,100 in national-baseline purchasing terms. The headline wage advantage over the US median grows once you account for what the money actually buys.
BLS projects employment for Registered Nurses to grow 4.9% between 2024 and 2034, placing the occupation in the average growth category nationally. Minnesota had 64,740 Registered Nurses employed in 2024, one of the larger state-level totals in the Midwest, which reflects the concentration of major health systems and academic medical centers in the state.
Salary distribution
Where Minnesota registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $88,940 and $114,760, with a median of $101,510.
Registered Nurses in Minnesota: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 25 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $77,480. 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 | 17 | $77,480 |
| Level II — qualified | 8 | $96,990 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Minnesota. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| CentraCare Health System | Registered Nurse- ICU | 5 | $112,424 |
| St. Cloud Hospital | Registered Nurse - Telemetry | 5 | $75,546 |
| Affinity Residential Care LLC | Behavioral Nurse | 3 | $77,480 |
| Glenwood Village Care Center Inc. | Cart Nurse - Registered Nurse | 3 | $71,282 |
| Hubbard County Heritage Living Center | Registered Nurse, Shift Charge Nurse | 2 | $73,549 |
| International Quality Homecare Corporation | Clinical Nursing Supervisor (Homecare Services) | 2 | $79,726 |
| Mayo Clinic | Nursing Quality Specialist | 2 | $90,178 |
| Atlas Healthcare, LLC | Registered Nurse | 1 | $77,085 |
| MCINTOSH SENIOR LIVING | Staff Nurse | 1 | $76,648 |
| Warren Community Hospital | ER Nurse | 1 | $81,952 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- RN Case Manager at Mayo Clinic$88,837RochesterWage Level IDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-704122
- Registered Nurse - Telemetry at St. Cloud Hospital$79,227St. CloudWage Level IDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-651483
- Cart Nurse - Registered Nurse at Glenwood Village Care Center Inc.$73,549GlenwoodWage Level IDecided Sep 26, 2025I-200-25262-321266
- Staff Nurse at MCINTOSH SENIOR LIVING$76,648McintoshWage Level IIDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25223-234652
- Registered Nurse, Shift Charge Nurse at Hubbard County Heritage Living Center$73,549Park RapidsWage Level IDecided Jul 23, 2025I-200-25197-180307
- Registered Nurse, Shift Charge Nurse at Hubbard County Heritage Living Center$73,549Park RapidsWage Level IDecided Jul 23, 2025I-200-25197-180305
- Clinical Nursing Supervisor (Homecare Services) at International Quality Homecare Corporation$79,726RochesterWage Level IDecided Jun 27, 2025I-200-25173-118789
- Rehabilitation Nurse at Affinity Residential Care LLC$77,480BloomingtonWage Level IDecided Jun 2, 2025I-200-25143-014949
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.
Where do you stand?
Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.
Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.
Registered Nurses pay by experience level in Minnesota
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 Minnesota
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 14 certified offers. The most common variant is Registered Nurse at a median of $75,546.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | Hubbard County Heritage Living Center | 6 | $75,546 |
| Registered Nurse - Telemetry | St. Cloud Hospital | 5 | $79,227 |
| Cart Nurse - Registered Nurse | Glenwood Village Care Center Inc. | 3 | $71,282 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Registered Nurses in Minnesota, by industry
Median offered wage across 25 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $77,480.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | CentraCare Health System | 22 | $77,480 |
| Education | Mayo Clinic | 2 | $90,178 |
| Professional services | Atlas Healthcare, LLC | 1 | $77,085 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Minnesota 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Registered Nurses
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Minnesota
Metro-level salary data for registered nurses in major Minnesota metropolitan areas.
- Minneapolis$103,040
Compare Registered Nurses pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Minnesota with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Minnesota?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Minnesota is $101,510.
- How does Minnesota compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The Minnesota median is +3.2% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Minnesota?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $79,960 and the 90th-percentile at $132,430, 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.