BLS May 2025 Nurse Wage Data: What the Numbers Actually Say
By NurseCompensation Research Team · 2026-06-01 · 7 min read
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated occupational wage data on May 15, 2025. Here is what the numbers mean for registered nurses, broken down by percentile and state.
The New Numbers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program released its May 2025 data, and the national picture for registered nurses has shifted.
National figures for Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141):
- Mean annual wage: $101,420
- Median annual wage (50th percentile): $93,600 (May 2024 OOH data)
- 10th percentile: approximately $63,720
- 90th percentile: approximately $132,680
For context, the BLS reported a mean annual wage of $89,010 for RNs in May 2022 and $93,600 median in May 2024. The upward trend has been consistent but is decelerating compared to the 2021-2022 pandemic-era spikes.
State-Level Highlights
California continues to lead in nominal pay at $72.25 per hour (mean), which translates to roughly $150,000 annually before cost-of-living adjustment. However, after adjusting for the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, states like Texas, Nevada, and Georgia offer stronger purchasing power per nursing dollar earned.
The BLS data represents W-2 wages only. It does not capture:
- Sign-on bonuses
- Shift differentials
- Overtime premiums
- Benefits value
- Per diem stipends
How BLS Collects This Data
The OEWS survey samples approximately 1.1 million establishments over a three-year cycle. Each May release represents a rolling average, not a point-in-time snapshot. This means the data inherently lags current market conditions by 6-18 months.
Nurses should use BLS data as a baseline, not a ceiling. The figures represent what employers reported paying, not what the market will bear for a candidate with specific certifications, experience, or willingness to work undesirable shifts.
What This Means for Your Next Conversation
If you are negotiating compensation, the BLS 75th percentile for your state is a defensible data point. It represents what the top quarter of nurses in your area already earn. Citing BLS data carries weight because it is a federal statistical program with transparent methodology, not a self-reported salary survey with selection bias.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release (bls.gov/oes). Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, updated September 2024.