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Occupation · SOC 29-1141

Registered Nurses

There are 3,379,720 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $97,550 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

HealthcareTypical education: Bachelor's degree
3,379,720
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$97,550
Median pay a year
Middle half: $80,330–$112,350
180,800
Annual openings
10-year change: +5.6%
1,429
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+40.4% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 386 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $119,720 · LCA filings 84197,740$119,72084
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $135,560 · LCA filings 2109,360$135,5602
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $100,490 · LCA filings 100100,240$100,490100
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $101,420 · LCA filings 876,680$101,4208
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $101,180 · LCA filings 373,790$101,1803
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $99,830 · LCA filings 165,910$99,8301
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $106,180 · LCA filings 1764,240$106,18017
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $91,380 · LCA filings 1061,670$91,38010
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $100,490 · LCA filings 3156,460$100,49031
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZMedian pay $100,830 · LCA filings 153,700$100,8301

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 22,930 · LCA filings 1$216,74022,9301
Vallejo, CAEmployment 4,120 · LCA filings 0$203,2904,1200
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 41,750 · LCA filings 0$186,61041,7500
Santa Rosa–Petaluma, CAEmployment 3,720 · LCA filings 0$174,5503,7200
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAEmployment 23,590 · LCA filings 0$171,46023,5900

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
Rochester, NYEmployers with LCA filings 5 · Employment 12,340116512,340
New Orleans–Metairie, LAEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 11,530105311,530
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INEmployers with LCA filings 14 · Employment 100,24010014100,240
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 28 · Employment 197,7408428197,740
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 30,93045330,930

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $105,810 · Level III $119,475 · Level IV $133,120$92,165$105,810$119,475$133,120
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $121,680 · Level III $140,192 · Level IV $158,683$103,189$121,680$140,192$158,683
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $86,757 · Level III $97,822 · Level IV $108,867$75,712$86,757$97,822$108,867
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $87,734 · Level III $100,693 · Level IV $113,651$74,776$87,734$100,693$113,651
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $91,395 · Level III $101,296 · Level IV $111,197$81,494$91,395$101,296$111,197
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $87,651 · Level III $100,173 · Level IV $112,674$75,150$87,651$100,173$112,674
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $103,293 · Level III $121,638 · Level IV $139,984$84,947$103,293$121,638$139,984
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $84,240 · Level III $94,869 · Level IV $105,518$73,590$84,240$94,869$105,518
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $87,547 · Level III $99,632 · Level IV $111,738$75,442$87,547$99,632$111,738
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZLevel II $87,776 · Level III $100,963 · Level IV $114,130$74,610$87,776$100,963$114,130
Rochester, NYLevel II $84,614 · Level III $92,165 · Level IV $99,736$77,043$84,614$92,165$99,736
New Orleans–Metairie, LALevel II $77,958 · Level III $86,549 · Level IV $95,139$69,368$77,958$86,549$95,139
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDLevel II $88,358 · Level III $98,987 · Level IV $109,616$77,730$88,358$98,987$109,616

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCIP 51.38OPT · up to 12 months2,988OPT · up to 12 months

See Registered Nurses in every metro area

All 386 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Healthcare

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPharmacy TechniciansNurse PractitionersClinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansPsychiatric TechniciansDental HygienistsMedical Records SpecialistsEmergency Medical Technicians

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology