Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania earned a median annual wage of $87,610 in 2024, about 7% below the US median of $94,511. That gap is real, but Pennsylvania's cost of living sits just under the national baseline, with a regional price index of 97.4. Once you account for what the money actually buys, the effective difference narrows to roughly 4%.
The spread between top and bottom earners is wide. A nurse at the 10th percentile earned $67,410, while one at the 90th earned $116,590. That is a difference of about $49,000 in the same state, same occupation. Experience, setting, and specialty account for most of it. ICU nurses and certified nurse anesthetists pull toward the top. New graduates and lower-acuity roles sit closer to the floor.
Pennsylvania employs 146,840 registered nurses, one of the larger state-level totals in the country. That scale reflects a dense hospital network anchored by major academic medical centers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, plus a large rural health system serving the central counties.
BLS projects average growth for this occupation nationally through 2034, with a 4.9% increase over that period. Average here is BLS's word, not ours. For a field of this size, 4.9% growth still means a substantial number of new positions opening over the decade, particularly as an older workforce retires.
Salary distribution
Where Pennsylvania registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $80,610 and $104,730, with a median of $96,430.
Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 199 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $69,992. 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 | 119 | $68,328 |
| Level II — qualified | 57 | $71,469 |
| Level III — experienced | 13 | $83,200 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $87,693 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | Registered Nurse “ Critical Care Float | 71 | $68,078 |
| DuBois Regional Medical Center (d/b/a Penn Highlands DuBois) | Registered Nurse - Critical Care Float Pool | 35 | $66,102 |
| Robert Packer Hospital | Flex Float Registered Nurse | 24 | $81,120 |
| ELK REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER | Registered Nurse “ Emergency Department | 11 | $67,184 |
| MONONGAHELA VALLEY HOSPITAL | Registered Nurse “ Emergency Department | 9 | $78,790 |
| J. C. BLAIRE HOSPITAL | Registered Nurse “ Behavioral Health Unit | 7 | $86,382 |
| Lehigh Valley Hospital Inc. | Registered Nurse | 6 | $83,200 |
| Monongahela Valley Hospital (d/b/a Penn Highlands Mon Valley) | Registered Nurse - Critical Care Float Pool | 6 | $79,685 |
| Dubois Regional Medical Center | Registered Nurse – Emergency Department | 5 | $62,026 |
| Allied Services Foundation | Registered Nurse, Treatment Nurse | 4 | $84,032 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Flex Float Registered Nurse at Robert Packer Hospital$81,120SayreWage Level IDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-718155
- Registered Nurse at Albert Einstein Medical Center$82,243East NorritonWage Level IDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-699456
- Registered Nurse – Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit at DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER$70,366DuBoisWage Level IIDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685776
- Registered Nurse – Emergency Department at Dubois Regional Medical Center$69,035DuboisWage Level IDecided Mar 5, 2026I-200-26057-666853
- Registered Nurse – Critical Care Float Pool at DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER$68,869DuBoisWage Level IIDecided Mar 3, 2026I-200-26055-660221
- Registered Nurse – Critical Care Float at DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER$64,938DuBoisWage Level IIDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-650651
- Registered Nurse - Critical Care Unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Pocono$83,200East StroudsburgDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-652245
- Registered Nurse – Critical Care Float at DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER$64,938DuBoisWage Level IIDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-650666
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 Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 173 certified offers. The most common variant is Registered Nurse “ Emergency Department at a median of $68,328.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse “ Emergency Department | DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | 41 | $68,328 |
| Registered Nurse “ Critical Care Float | DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | 23 | $66,102 |
| Registered Nurse | DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | 23 | $82,243 |
| Registered Nurse - Critical Care Float Pool | DuBois Regional Medical Center (d/b/a Penn Highlands DuBois) | 23 | $69,264 |
| Flex Float Registered Nurse | Robert Packer Hospital | 14 | $81,120 |
| Registered Nurse - Intensive Care Unit | DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | 11 | $65,166 |
| Registered Nurse - Critical Care Float Unit | DuBois Regional Medical Center (d/b/a Penn Highlands DuBois) | 11 | $65,603 |
| Perioperative Resource Nurse | Robert Packer Hospital | 10 | $81,120 |
| Registered Nurse “ Behavioral Health Unit | J. C. BLAIRE HOSPITAL | 6 | $75,847 |
| Registered Nurse “ Intermediate Care Unit | DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | 5 | $68,328 |
| Registered Nurse - Rehab Unit | DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | 3 | $68,328 |
| Registered Nurse “ Cardiac Cath Lab | DUBOIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | 3 | $68,328 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Pennsylvania 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Pennsylvania
Metro-level salary data for registered nurses in major Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.
- Philadelphia$101,180
- Pittsburgh$82,370
Compare Registered Nurses pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Pennsylvania with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania is $96,430.
- How does Pennsylvania compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The Pennsylvania median is -1.9% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $70,800 and the 90th-percentile at $117,900, 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.