Nurse Manager Salary By State – (2024 Figures)


Written By: Pattie TrumblePattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. Read Full Bio »»
, MPP, MPH


Nurse managers serve as administrative heads of the nursing workforces that staff units and wards within hospitals, medical centers, and clinics.

Nurse managers develop department budgets, hire and fire nursing staff, approve staff schedules, handle resource and inventory planning, ensure patient safety, develop discharge planning protocols and make certain nursing practices and policies conform to facility guidelines.

So, how much does a nurse manager make? Keep reading for a comprehensive inquiry into nurse manager salary in 2024.


What is the Salary Per Hour of a Nurse Manager?


What is the salary per hour of a nurse manager in 2024? The average nurse manager salary per hour in 2024 was $42.11. Most nurse managers will reach that earnings milestone shortly after their 10th year on the job.

When nurse managers are first starting out, they earn $28.11 an hour on average, which is 33 percent lower than the average hourly salary. Once a nurse manager has been working for one to four years, his or her salary rises by 15 percent over the entry-level salary; at five to nine years, that salary rises by another 22 percent or 41 percent over the entry-level salary. With two decades or more of experience, nurse managers can count on making an hourly rate that’s more than 100 percent higher than their entry-level hourly salary and 45 percent more than their average hourly salary.

Hourly pay rates are heavily influenced by two factors: industry demand and the market pay rate for professionals engaged in a similar line of work. As we have seen, industry demand for nurse managers is high. And while not every nurse manager is an advanced practice RN, non-clinical APRNs are a good proxy for the market pay rate here. The average hourly pay rate for an advanced practice RN throughout all part of the U.S. is $46.65, which is 10 percent higher than the average hourly pay rate for nurse managers. This makes it seem likely that the average hourly salary of a nurse manager will continue to increase over the next few years.

Hourly Nurse Manager Salary
Level of ExperienceHourly Earnings
Starting (Entry-Level)$28.11
1-4 Years of Experience$32.44
5-9 Years of Experience$39.65
10-19 Years of Experience$49.26
20 Years or More Experience$61.17
Average Hourly Earnings$42.11


What is the Starting Salary of a Nurse Manager?


What is the starting salary of a nurse manager in 2024? The starting salary of a nurse manager in 2024 is $28.11 an hour; $1,169 a week; $4,870 a month; or $58,470 a year. This is 33 percent less than the average nurse manager salary.

Leadership in a healthcare environment relies upon first-rate critical thinking skills. Nurse managers must be able to inspire and motivate the teams that work under them while promoting the goals of the health facility whose administration they represent. While academic nursing programs can identify the skill set necessary to accomplish this, it often takes years for a fledgling nurse manager to develop the needed discipline and confidence, and apply it to the job setting. That’s why entry-level nurse managers earn less than nurse managers who’ve been on the job for one year or longer.

Nurse leadership roles in healthcare settings are generally hierarchical. Nurse managers may start out as charge nurses and go on from there to assistant head nurse positions. Assistant head nurses typically provide oversight for patient care and nursing services on a specific medical unit for a particular shift. After a few years, assistant head nurses may advance to a head nurse position.

Starting Nurse Manager Salary
Hourly$28.11
Weekly$1,169
Monthly$4,870
Annual$58,470


What is the Average Salary of a Nurse Manager?


What is the average salary of a nurse manager in 2024? The average nurse manager salary in 2024 is $42.11 an hour; $1,684 a week; $7,300 a month; or $87,591 annually. This is a full 36 percent higher than the average salary for all occupations across the U.S. and 38 percent higher than the average assistant nurse manager salary ($63,482.)

Average nurse manager salaries vary greatly from state to state across the U.S. because average salaries tend to reflect variations in the cost of living indices. The highest-paid nurse managers are employed in California while the lowest-paid nurse managers are employed in Alabama. California nurse managers make more than twice what Alabama nurse managers earn on average. But the cost of living in California is 82 percent higher than the cost of living in Alabama. This neutralizes much of the discrepancy between these two salary figures because the purchasing power associated with the lower Alabama nurse manager salary is nearly equivalent to the purchasing power associated with the higher California nurse manager salary.

Cost of living indices can often vary sharply from locale to locale in the same state, and that will also have an effect on average salary figures. In Houston, Texas, for example, nurse manager salaries are 28 percent higher than they are in Corpus Christi, Texas. But the cost of living in Houston is 14 percent higher than the cost of living in Corpus Christi.

The additional salary discrepancy between the two cities may be accounted for by differences in demand for nurse management services. There are more than 85 hospitals and medical centers in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area and some 19,300 patient beds. In contrast, there are only 15 hospitals in Corpus Christi. Clearly, the demand for nurse management services will be higher in Houston, and that means the average nurse manager salary will be higher.

Average Nurse Manager Salary
Hourly$42.11
Weekly$1,684
Monthly$7,300
Annual$87,591
(Source: Payscale.com)


Nurse Manager Salary by Years of Experience


The more experience a nurse manager has accumulated, the more value he or she is able to add to the workplace. Thus, it’s easy to see why the salary of a nurse manager with one to four years of experience is 15 percent higher than the salary of an entry-level nurse manager and why nurse managers with five to nine years of experience earn salaries that are 22 percent higher than the salaries of colleagues who’ve only been working one to four years. As noted above, nurse managers for the most part are salaried employees, and many medical centers and hospitals build in automatic hikes to those salaries every one or two years.

Nurse managers with 20 years or more experience earn 45 percent more than the average nurse manager salary. This can be seen as a retention strategy. In the investigation of job satisfaction cited above, 22 percent of the nurse managers surveyed reported that they planned to leave their current position within two years while 37 percent reported that they planned to leave within the next three to five years. The reasons behind these plans were given as burnout (30 percent), the desire for a career change (27 percent), and retirement (22 percent). In this context, higher salaries for veteran employees can be seen as an incentive to keep skilled employees on the nurse manager career track.

Level of ExperienceHourlyWeeklyMonthlyAnnual
Entry-Level$28.11$1,124$4,870$58,470
1-4 Years of Experience$32.44$1,298$5,620$67,470
5-9 Years of Experience$39.65$1,586$6,870$82,470
10-19 Years of Experience$49.26$1,970$8,540$102,460
20 Years or More Experience$61.17$2,447$10,600$127,240


Average Annual Compensation (Salary + Benefits) for Nurse Managers


Nurse manager salary isn’t the only compensation nurse managers receive for their work. Nurse managers also receive benefits, which are non-cash perks provided to employees over and above their salaries and wages.

The cash value of benefits can be quite substantial. For nurse managers in the private sector, the total value of benefits averages $36,840 a year; when added to the average annual salary for nurse managers in the private sector ($87,200), this amounts to an annual compensation package of $124,040. Benefits are even more lucrative for nurse managers who work for state and local governments. The average value of benefits for these nurse leaders amounts to $55,107 a year; when added to their average annual salary ($89,530), this comes to an annual compensation package of $144,637.

Benefits are advantageous for nurse managers because they’re a form of nontaxable income. Employers like benefits too, because they help attract high-quality workers. Some benefits like unemployment insurance, COBRA and workers’ compensation are mandated by federal law while others like medical insurance, paid time off and retirement account contributions are awarded at an employer’s discretion. Nurse managers may receive benefits like reimbursement for professional development activities and professional liability insurance in addition to more standard benefits.

ComponentPrivate IndustryState and Local
Government
Paid Leave$9,179$10,992
Supplemental Pay$4,341$1,446
Insurance$9,675$16,922
Retirement and Savings$4,217$17,935
Legally Required$9,427$7,955
Total Benefits$36,840$55,107
Average Annual Salary$87,200$89,530
Total Compensation$124,040$144,637


7 Ways You Can Increase Your Salary as a Nurse Manager


While nurse managers earn good money, there are things they can do to boost their earnings even higher. Here are seven strategies to consider.

1. Negotiate:

The income steps for salaried employees at most hospitals and medical centers are fairly inflexible. If you want a higher salary than the one that’s quoted in your employment offer, see what you can negotiate at the time you’re hired. Emphasize your educational background and any specific skill sets you possess as well as any certifications that make you more qualified than the average new hire.

2. Earn an advanced degree:

Forty-five percent of nurse managers hold Bachelors of Nursing Science degrees (BSNs) while 32 percent hold Associate of Science in Nursing degrees (ASNs). Only 14 percent hold Master of Nursing Science degrees. Earning a graduate degree will enhance your marketability, which can lead to a higher average nurse manager salary.

3. Pursue certifications:

Five certifications exist for nurse managers:

Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC): The NE-BC is offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The certifying exam consists of 175 multiple choice and multiple response questions. Certification is maintained through the completion of 30 hours of relevant continuing education classes every three years.
Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification (NEA-BC): The NEA-BC, also offered by the ANCC, is a certification specifically offered to nurse managers who hold the NE-BC and who have master’s degrees. The certifying exam consists of 175 multiple choice and multiple response questions. Certification is maintained through the completion of 30 hours of relevant continuing education classes every three years.
Informatics Nursing Certification (RN-BC): The RN-BC certification, also sponsored by the ANCC, attests to a nurse manager’s expertise in healthcare informatics, which is the processing and study of patient data.
Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP): The CENP is offered by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). The 175-question exam tests the applicant’s knowledge of professionalism, business skills, knowledge of the health care environment, and leadership. Certification is maintained through the completion of 45 hours of relevant continuing education classes.
Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML): The CNML is also offered by AONE. The 115-question exam focuses on human resource management, strategic management, technology, and financial management. Certification is maintained through the completion of 45 hours of relevant continuing education classes.


4. Write:

If you like to write, you may be able to sell articles to nursing journals and blogs.

5. Teach:

You may be able to pick up an adjunct teaching position in the nursing department of a local community college or an online nursing degree program.

6. Consult:

You may be able to use the analytical skills you developed as a nurse manager as a consultant to senior executives in all aspects of healthcare operations, including human resources, administration, and finances.

7. Relocate:

As we have seen, pay rates for nurse managers vary greatly from state to state. One way to increase your average nurse manager salary is to pursue licensure in a state that pays nurse managers higher salaries and move there.


What is the Future Outlook for Nurse Manager Salary?


The outlook for nurse manager salary is very strong. Demand for these professionals is high and likely to increase. If the current nursing shortage eases, then there will be a larger nurse workforce in need of qualified leadership; if the current nursing shortage continues, then healthcare systems will come to rely increasingly upon the expertise of nurse managers to ensure that a limited nurse workforce is performing at optimal efficiency.

Due to the higher costs of living in larger cities, nurse managers who work in big metropolitan areas are likely to continue earning more than nurse managers who work in smaller cities. Hospitals are likely to continue paying nurse managers higher salaries than skilled nursing facilities, clinics and private physician practices do because these facilities see more patients.



Nurse Manager Salary Comparison


Nurse Manager Salary VS. All Other Occupations


The average salary of a nurse manager is 36 percent higher than the average salary earned by all other occupations across the U.S. This is primarily because nurse managers are in high demand, but it also reflects the fact that nurse managers are considered to be organizational executives. (Note that nurse managers do not wear the standard nursing uniform of whites or scrubs at work but conventional business wear.) Executives are typically compensated at the higher end of the organizational pay scale.

Nurse
Manager
All
Occupations
Comparison
Number%
$87,591$56,310+$31,281+35.71%


Nurse Manager Salary VS. Similar Nursing Jobs


Nurse managers earn higher salaries than practically every other nursing specialty that isn’t an APRN-certified specialty. They’re being paid more because they have more responsibility.

Nurse managers bear the ultimate liability for all the patient care that’s delivered in the units they manage. If a medication error is made, for example, it reflects badly on the clinical nurse who makes the error, but it reflects just as badly on the nurse manager on whose watch the error was made. The decisions nurse managers make affect the entirety of nursing care delivered across the units they manage whereas the decisions an individual nurse makes only affects the nursing care of the patients he or she has been assigned to on a particular shift.

RankJob TitleAverage
Annual
Salary
Comparison
Number%
1Cardiac Nurse$88,646-$1,055-1.20%
2 Nurse Manager$87,591$00.00%
3Radiology Nurse$76,000+$11,591+13.23%
4Oncology Nurse$75,401+$12,190+13.92%
5Dialysis Nurse$74,708+$12,883+14.71%
6Occupational
Health Nurse
$73,961+$13,630+15.56%
7Dermatology Nurse$72,800+$14,791+16.89%
8Neonatal Nurse$71,538+$16,053+18.33%
9ER Nurse$70,858+$16,733+19.10%
10ICU Nurse$70,417+$17,174+19.61%
11Hospice Nurse$70,266+$17,325+19.78%
12Geriatric Nurse$68,710+$18,881+21.56%
13Psychiatric Nurse$66,889+$20,702+23.63%
14Orthopedic Nurse$66,025+$21,566+24.62%
15Aesthetic Nurse$65,000+$22,591+25.79%
16OB/GYN Nurse$63,989+$23,602+26.95%
17Pediatric Nurse$60,917+$26,674+30.45%
18Public Health Nurse$59,882+$27,709+31.63%
19Surgical Nurse$59,657+$27,934+31.89%
20Forensic Nurse$55,000+$32,591+37.21%
(Source: Payscale.com)


Nurse Manager Salary VS. Other Healthcare Jobs


Even if they possess an APRN degree, nurse managers never function autonomously; they are always part of a chain of command. Hence, it should come as no surprise that they are not compensated as highly as advanced practice RNs like certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives who are trained to provide care as independent practitioners. Similarly, it makes sense that the average nurse manager salary is higher than the average nurse educator’s salary since teaching is a subset of managerial skills.

Nurse managers consistently earn more than ancillary health professionals like radiation and respiratory therapists, dental hygienists and cardiovascular technicians whose focus is primarily on providing rehabilitative services.

RankJob TitleAverage
Annual
Salary
Comparison
Number%
1Certified Registered
Nurse Anesthetist
$161,415-$73,824-84.28%
2Nurse Practitioner$99,065-$11,474-13.10%
3Physician Assistant$98,979-$11,388-13.00%
4Nurse Midwife$97,787-$10,196-11.64%
5 Nurse Manager$87,591$00.00%
6Nurse Educator$77,680+$9,911+11.32%
7Radiation Therapist$73,638+$13,953+15.93%
8Diagnostic Medical
Sonographer
$65,163+$22,428+25.61%
9Cardiovascular Technologist$64,723+$22,868+26.11%
10Dental Hygienist$61,538+$26,053+29.74%
11Respiratory Therapist$57,687+$29,904+34.14%
12Cardiovascular Technician$54,848+$32,743+37.38%
13Radiologic Technologist$53,972+$33,619+38.38%
14Dietitian and Nutritionist$52,148+$35,443+40.46%
15Physical Therapist Assistant$51,108+$36,483+41.65%
16Licensed Practical/
Licensed Vocational Nurse
$50,004+$37,587+42.91%
17Radiology Technician$49,808+$37,783+43.14%
18Emergency Medical
Technician and Paramedic
$40,994+$46,597+53.20%
19Medical Assistant$34,841+$52,750+60.22%
20Certified Nursing Assistant$29,743+$57,848+66.04%
(Source: Payscale.com)



Average Nurse Manager Salary in Your State


1. Alabama:

Alabama is the state where nurse managers earn the least. The salary for nurse managers in Alabama averages $31.70 an hour, $5,500 a month or $65,940 a year, which is 25 percent less than the national average. In Huntsville, the Cotton State’s largest metropolis, nurse manager salaries are 27 percent less than the national average and 3 percent less than the state average. The state’s professional organization for nurse managers is called the Alabama Organization for Nursing Leadership (AlaON).

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$31.70$5,500$65,940


2. Alaska:

Nurse managers in Alaska are the fifth highest-paid nurse managers in the country. Alaskan nurse managers earn $50.14 an hour, $8,690 a month, or $104,300 annually. This comparatively high salary—19 percent more than the national average—functions as an incentive to attract nurses to a state where the cultural amenities they’re used to may be in short supply. Salaries are fractionally lower in Anchorage, the Last Frontier State’s biggest city. Alaska only has 28 hospitals, and many nurse managers there are employed by the state’s Division of Public Health.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$50.14$8,690$104,300


3. Arizona:

The average salary for nurse managers in Arizona is $42.31 an hour, $7,330 a month or $88,000 a year, which is just fractionally greater than the salary average nationwide. Nurse managers in the Greater Mesa/Phoenix Metropolitan Area can expect to earn 1 percent more than the state average while nurse managers in the Greater Tucson Metropolitan Area can expect to earn 5 percent less. The state’s professional organization for nurse managers is the Arizona Organization of Nurse Leaders.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$42.31$7,330$88,000


4. Arkansas:

Nurse managers in the Natural State make $33.50 an hour, $5,810 a month, and $69,670 a year on average. This amount is 20 percent less than the average nurse manager salary throughout all of the U.S. In the state capital of Little Rock, nurse managers earn salaries that are 9 percent higher, but these salaries are still 14 percent less than the national average. The Arkansas Organization of Nurse Leaders is the state’s professional association for nurse managers.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$33.50$5,810$69,670


5. California:

The highest-paid nurse managers are based in the Golden State. The average nurse manager salary in California is $63.45 an hour, $11,000 a month or $131,980 annually, which is 51 percent higher than the national average. Nurse managers employed in the San Francisco Bay Area earn salaries that are even higher: In Oakland and San Francisco, the yearly amount that nurse managers earn is 86 percent more than the national average and 24 percent more than the state average, while in San Jose, the yearly amount that nurse managers earn is 84 percent more than the national average and 22 percent more than the state average.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$63.45$11,000$131,980


6. Colorado:

The salary for nurse managers in Colorado is $40.98 an hour, $7,100 a month or $85,240 a year, which is 3 percent less than the national average. In Colorado Springs, nurse manager salaries are 3 percent less than the state average, but in the Denver/Aurora area, they are 2 percent more. Colorado is one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S.; rapid population growth means a need for more healthcare services, which is likely to translate into a higher demand for nurse managers in the next few years.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$40.98$7,100$85,240


7. Connecticut:

Connecticut nurse managers can anticipate earning $44.66 an hour, $7,740 a month, or $92,890 annually. Although the state is small geographically, the southern part of the state—a popular New York City suburb—is densely populated, so numerous hospitals and healthcare providers are located there. Stiff competition for the valuable services nurse managers provide is probably the reason why nurse manager salaries are 6 percent above the national average throughout the Nutmeg State.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$44.66$7,740$92,890


8. Delaware:

In Delaware, nurse managers average $39.12 an hour, $6,780 a month, or $81,370 a year. This amount is 7 percent than the average nurse manager yearly earnings throughout all parts of the U.S. Wilmington, the First State’s largest city, is considered part of the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area; nurse manager earnings here are more in line with the national average. There are only 17 hospitals in tiny Delaware, so employment opportunities for nurse managers there may be limited.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$39.12$6,780$81,370


9. Florida:

The average nurse manager salary in Florida is $36.59 an hour, $6,340 a month or $76,100 annually, which is 13 percent less than the salary nurse managers average throughout the U.S. as a whole. Miami-based nurse managers make 4 percent more than this but nurse managers employed in Orlando make 3 percent less. One of the reasons why employers in the Sunshine State may pay nurse managers such comparatively low salaries is because Florida is such a desirable place to live that there are multiple applicants for every available job.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$36.59$6,340$76,100


10. Georgia:

The average nurse manager salary in Georgia is $37.64 an hour, $6,520 a month, or $78,290 annually. This is 11 percent less than the national average. Nurse managers in Columbus make 10 percent less than the state average, but nurse managers in Atlanta make 6 percent more. Atlanta, where the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is located, is a major healthcare hub that attracts skilled healthcare professionals from all over the nation. Hospitals and medical centers are likely to have their pick of employees and don’t have to offer comparatively higher wages as an employment incentive.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$37.64$6,520$78,290


11. Hawaii:

The second-highest-paid nurse managers in the U.S. are employed in the Aloha State. Hawaii nurse managers earn $55.17 an hour, $9,560 a month, or $114,760 a year. This is 31 percent above the nationwide average. Nurse managers in Honolulu earn 2 percent more than the state average or 33 percent more than the national average. The Aloha State’s professional association for nurse managers is called the American Organization of Nurse Leaders Hawaii.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$55.17$9,560$114,760


12. Idaho:

Idaho is a sparsely populated, largely rural state where a nurse manager’s role in optimizing the performance of a nursing unit can be critically important. Nurse managers in the Gem State average $37.71 an hour, $6,540 a month or $78,430 a year, which is 10 percent less than the salaries nurse managers earn nationwide. In the Gem State’s largest city, Boise, nurse managers earn 3 percent more than that, however. Idaho’s professional organization for nurse managers is called Nurse Leaders of Idaho (NLI).

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$37.71$6,540$78,430


13. Illinois:

The average nurse manager salary in Illinois is $39.24 an hour, $6,800 a month or $81,620 annually. This is 7 percent less than the salaries that nurse managers average nationwide. In Chicago, nurse managers make 5 percent more than the state average. Most of the Land of Lincoln’s 226 hospitals are clustered in or near Chicago and the cities, including Aurora, Naperville and Joliet, that surround it, and that’s where most jobs for Illinois nurse managers are located.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$39.24$6,800$81,620


14. Indiana:

The salary of a nurse manager in Indiana is $35.52 an hour, $6,160 a month or $73,880 a year, which is 16 percent beneath the salary a nurse manager averages nationwide. Nurse managers in Fort Wayne make 7 percent less than the state’s average salary but nurse managers in Indianapolis make 5 percent more. The Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership is the Hoosier State’s premier professional association for nurse managers.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$35.52$6,160$73,880


15. Iowa:

In Iowa, nurse managers can anticipate taking home $32.03 an hour, $5,710 a month or $68,500 a year, which is 22 percent than the average earnings of nurse managers throughout all parts of the U.S. Nurse managers based in Des Moines earn salaries that are 3 percent higher than the state average. The Hawkeye State’s primary networking association for nurse managers is called the Iowa Organization for Nursing Leadership.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$32.93$5,710$68,500


16. Kansas:

In the Sunflower State, nurse managers are paid $33.79 an hour, $5,860 a month, or $70,280 a year on average. Employers in Wichita, the biggest city in Kansas, pay nurse managers 7 percent less than the state average. Kansas is a largely rural state, and nurse managers in rural hospitals and physician practices typically shoulder more responsibilities. The Kansas Organization of Nurse Leaders is the principal professional association for nurse managers in the Sunflower State.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$33.79$5,860$70,280


17. Kentucky:

The average salary for nurse managers in Kentucky is $34.07 an hour, $5,910 a month, or $70,860 a year. This amount is 19 percent less than the salaries nurse managers average throughout the U.S. Nurse managers who work in Lexington make fractionally less; nurse managers who work in Louisville make 3 percent more. The Bluegrass State’s professional networking association for nurse managers is called the Kentucky Organization of Nurse Leaders.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$34.07$5,910$70,860


18. Louisiana:

Nurse managers in the Bayou State average $35.79 an hour, $6,200 a month or $74,450 a year, which is 15 percent less than the average salary nurse managers earn in all parts of the U.S. In Baton Rouge, nurse managers earn 4 percent less than the state average; in New Orleans, nurse managers earn 4 percent more. Nurse managers in the Bayou State who are interested in networking are invited to join the Louisiana Organization for Nursing Leadership.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$35.79$6,200$74,450


19. Maine:

Maine, a largely rural state, only has 36 hospitals, which means that the administrative expertise that nurse managers can provide is a critical component to delivering efficient, cost-effective patient care. Nurse managers in the Pine Tree State earn $37.39 an hour, $6,480 a month, or $77,770 annually. This is 11 percent less than the average salary for nurse managers throughout the U.S. The Organization of Maine Nursing Leadership is the professional association for nurse managers in the Pine Tree State.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$37.39$6,480$77,770


20. Maryland:

The average salary for nurse managers in Maryland is $42.94 an hour, $7,440 a month or $89,320 a year, which is 2 percent more than the salary nurse managers earn on average throughout all parts of the U.S. Nurse managers employed in Baltimore earn 1 percent more than the state average while nurse managers employed in the Greater Metropolitan District of Columbia Area earn 2 percent more.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$42.94$7,440$89,320


21. Massachusetts:

Some of the highest-paid nurse managers in the nation are employed in Massachusetts. The average nurse manager salary in Massachusetts is $50.66 an hour, $8,780 a month or $105,370 a year, which is 20 percent higher than the nurse manager average salary nationwide. In Boston, that figure is 3 percent higher, but in Worcester, located in a far more rural part of the Bay State, that figure is 8 percent less.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$50.66$8,780$105,370


22. Michigan:

The average nurse manager salary in Michigan is $38.94 an hour, $6,750 a month or $89,990 a year. This is 8 percent less than the average salary for nurse managers across the U.S. In Detroit, nurse managers earn 4 percent over the state average. Most of the Wolverine State’s 185 hospitals are clustered in its densely populated urban areas, and that’s where the majority of Michigan’s nurse manager jobs are located.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$38.94$6,750$80,990


23. Minnesota:

The average salary of a nurse manager in Minnesota is $42.61 an hour, $7,390 a month or $88,630 a year, which is just 1 percent more than what nurse managers earn on average throughout all parts of the U.S. In the Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan region, salaries for nurse managers are 7 percent higher than the state average. The Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing (MOLN) is the Land of Lakes’ professional association for the nurse management profession.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$42.61$7,390$88,630


24. Mississippi:

Mississippi’s nurse managers earn some of the lowest salaries that nurse managers are paid anywhere in the nation. Nurse managers in the Magnolia State can expect to earn $32.24 an hour, $5,590 a month, or $67,050 annually on average. This figure is 23 percent less than what nurse managers average in the U.S. as a whole. Professional development, advocacy and networking opportunities for members of the nurse management profession are offered by the Mississippi Hospital Association's Organization of Nurse Executives (MONE).

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$32.24$5,590$67,050


25. Missouri:

The average nurse manager salary in Missouri comes to $34.68 an hour, $6,010 a month or $72,140 a year, a figure that is 18 percent less than the amount nurse managers earn on average throughout all parts of the U.S. St. Louis nurse managers earn 4 percent more than the state average, and Kansas City, Missouri, nurse managers earn 7 percent more. The professional association for the Show Me State’s nurse managers is called the Missouri Organization of Nurse Leaders.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$34.68$6,010$72,140


26. Montana:

Montana is a largely rural state; its 55 hospitals and primary care medical facilities are primarily clustered in the vicinity of Billings and Missoula, and that’s where the largest number of nurse managers are employed. Nurse managers in Big Sky Country earn $37.12 an hour, $6,430 a month or $77,210 a year, which is 13 percent less than the amount nurse managers earn throughout the U.S. as a whole.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$37.12$6,430$77,210


27. Nebraska:

Employers throughout the Cornhusker state pay nurse managers an average salary of $36.57 an hour, $6,340 a month, or $76,060 annually. This figure is 15 percent less than what nurse managers throughout the U.S. average on the whole. In Lincoln, the state capital, nurse managers earn 2 percent less than the state average; in Omaha, the state’s largest city, nurse managers earn 1 percent more. Nebraska’s professional association for nurse managers is called the Nebraska Organization of Nurse Leaders.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$36.57$6,340$76,060


28. Nevada:

Nurse managers in Nevada make $47.24 an hour, $8,190 a month or $98,250 annually, which is 12 percent more than the national average. This salary figure is heavily skewed by the size of salaries paid to nurse managers in the Las Vegas/Henderson Metropolitan Area, where nurse managers earn 16 percent above the national average. In Reno, nurse manager salaries are on a par with the national average, and in the rest of the state, they are quite a bit lower.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$47.24$8,190$98,250


29. New Hampshire:

The professional networking association for nurse managers in the Granite State is called the Organization of Nurse Leaders; it also serves as a networking association for professional nurse managers in other parts of New England. Nurse managers in New Hampshire can expect to make $39.99 an hour, $6,930 a month or $83,170 a year, which is 5 percent less than the national average. As there are only 36 hospitals in the state of New Hampshire, nurse managers have limited employment opportunities in the Granite State.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$39.99$6,930$83,170


30. New Jersey:

The average nurse manager salary in New Jersey is $45.12 an hour, $7,820 a month, or $93,840 a year. Nurse managers in the Garden State earn salaries that are 7 percent higher than the national figure on average. In Newark, Jersey City and other urban areas that are technically part of the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area, nurse managers average 11 percent more than the state average salary, but in Camden, which is technically part of the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, they earn 7 percent less.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$45.12$7,820$93,840


31. New Mexico:

New Mexico, for the most part, is a poor, rural state. Nurse managers in the Land of Enchantment earn $39.84 an hour, $6,910 a month or $82,870 a year, which is 5 percent less than the national average. Since most of the state’s 37 hospitals are located in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas, it’s no surprise that nurse manager salaries in Albuquerque match the average nurse salaries for the state.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$39.84$6,910$82,870


32. New York:

The average nurse manager salary in New York is $47.24 an hour, $8,190 a month, or $98,260 a year. This figure is 12 percent higher than the national average for all nurse manager salaries. Nurse managers earn the most in the New York City Metropolitan Area where the average nurse manager salary is 19 percent more than the national average. But in upstate cities like Buffalo and Rochester, nurse manager earnings are actually below the national average—3 percent in the case of Buffalo and 14 percent in the case of Rochester.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$47.24$8,190$98,260


33. North Carolina:

The average nurse manager salary in North Carolina is $36.29 an hour, $6,290 a month, or $75,480 a year. On average, nurse managers in the Tar Heel State earn 14 percent less than nurse managers across the U.S. as a whole. Nurse managers in North Carolina’s cities tend to earn more than the state average: in Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro, 2 percent more and in Fayetteville, 9 percent more.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$36.29$6,290$75,480


34. North Dakota:

Nurse managers in North Dakota average $36.65 an hour, $6,350 a month and $76,230 a year, which is 13 percent beneath the national average. North Dakota only has 47 hospitals, and 38 of those are in rural areas. Rural hospitals typically pay nurse managers and other employees lower salaries because their revenue flow relies so heavily upon Medicare and Medicaid patients, which translates into much lower profit margins.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$36.65$6,350$76,230


35. Ohio:

The average nurse manager salary in Ohio is $36.71 an hour, $6,360 a month, or $76,360 a year. Nurse managers in Ohio make salaries that are 13 percent less than the national average. There is some salary variance among cities in the Buckeye State: In Columbus, salaries are fractionally lower than the state average while in Toledo, they are 2 percent lower; but in Cincinnati, they are 3 percent higher, and in Cleveland, they are 5 percent higher.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$36.71$6,360$76,360


36. Oklahoma:

The professional association for nurse managers in the Sooner State is called the Oklahoma Organization of Nurse Executives. In Oklahoma, nurse managers average $35.05 an hour, $6,080 a month or $72,910 annually, which is 17 percent lower than the national average. Nurse managers in Tulsa earn 1 percent more than this, and nurse managers in Oklahoma City earn 3 percent more than this. Oklahoma’s comparatively low pay rate for nurse managers reflects the fact that it’s a primarily rural state.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$35.05$6,080$72,910


37. Oregon:

Oregon’s nurse managers make $50.65 an hour, $8,780 a month or $105,350 a year, making these professionals the fourth highest-paid nurse managers in the country. Nurse managers in the Beaver State make 20 percent more than the salary nurse managers average throughout all 50 states. Nurse managers in Portland, the Beaver State’s largest city, earn 23 percent more than the national average. Oregon has one of the most progressive healthcare insurance and reimbursement programs in any of the 50 states, and this most likely contributes to the high salaries that nurse managers and other healthcare professionals earn here.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$50.65$8,780$105,350


38. Pennsylvania:

The average nurse manager salary in Pennsylvania is $39.04 an hour, $6,770 a month or $81,200 annually, which is 7 percent less than the national average. In Philadelphia, a major city on the northeast corridor, nurse manager salaries are 8 percent more than the state average, but in Pittsburgh, located in the heart of the Pennsylvania coal country, nurse manager salaries are 5 percent less. The Keystone State’s sole professional association for nurse managers is the Southeastern Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$39.04$6,770$81,200


39. Rhode Island:

Tiny Rhode Island’s 20 hospitals are all within easy driving distance of its biggest city, Providence. Nurse managers in the Ocean State make $43.57 an hour, $7,550 a month or $90,630 a year, which is 3 percent more than the national average. The professional association for the Ocean State’s nurse managers is the Organization of Nurse Leaders, which also represents nurse managers in other parts of New England.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$43.57$7,550$90,630


40. South Carolina:

The average salary for nurse managers in South Carolina is $35.34 an hour, $6,130 a month, or $73,500 annually. On average, nurse managers in the Palmetto State earn 16 percent less than nurse managers throughout the U.S. as a whole. The SC Organization of Nurse Leaders is the professional association for Palmetto State nurse managers looking for networking and professional development opportunities.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$35.34$6,130$73,500


41. South Dakota:

Most of South Dakota’s 77 hospitals are clustered in the cities of Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City and Aberdeen, so these are the cities where most South Dakota-based nurse managers are employed. Nurse managers in the Mount Rushmore state earn $32.09 nan hour, $5,560 a month or $66,740 a year, which is 24 percent less than the national average.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$32.09$5,560$66,740


42. Tennessee:

The average salary of a nurse manager in Tennessee is $33.75 an hour, $5,850 a month, or $70,200 a year. Nurse managers in the Volunteer State make 20 percent less than the average salary for nurse managers throughout the nation as a whole. Nurse managers in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee’s two largest cities, earn 7 percent more than the state average. The American Organization for Nursing Leadership – Tennessee is the professional association that provides Volunteer State nurses with professional development and networking opportunities.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$33.75$5,850$70,200


43. Texas:

The average nurse manager salary in Texas is $40.42 an hour, $7,010 a month or $84,080 annually. Nurse manager salaries in the Lone Star State are 4 percent less than the nationwide average. There’s considerable salary variation in nurse manager salaries among Texas metropolitan areas. Salaries for nurse managers in Fort Worth/Dallas are 2 percent more than the state average while salaries in Houston are 10 percent more. But salaries for nurse managers in Austin are 5 percent less while salaries in Corpus Christi are 13 percent less.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$40.42$7,010$84,080


44. Utah:

Employers in Utah pay nurse managers $37.04 an hour, $6,420 a month, and $77,040 a year on average. This is 14 percent less than the amount nurse managers average throughout the U.S. as a whole. Most of the Bee Hive State’s 36 hospitals are located in Salt Lake City, Provo and the areas immediately surrounding those two cities, so that’s where most Utah-based nurse managers find employment.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$37.04$6,420$77,040


45. Vermont:

Nurse managers in Vermont earn $37.04 an hour, $6,420 a month, or $77,040 a year. Vermont’s nurse managers make 10 percent less than the average salary for nurse managers throughout all parts of the U.S. The Green Mountain State only has 14 hospitals, so nurse managers may have limited employment opportunities in that state. The Organization of Nurse Leaders is the professional association that represents the professional interests of nurse managers in Vermont and other parts of New England.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$37.97$6,580$78,980


46. Virginia:

The average salary of a nurse manager in Virginia is $39.15 an hour, $6,790 a month or $81,430 a year, which is 7 percent lower than the national average for nurse manager earnings across the U.S. Nurse managers based in the Greater District of Columbia Metropolitan Area earn 12 percent more than this while nurse managers based around Richmond earn 7 percent more; but nurse managers based in Virginia Beach earn 1 percent less.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$39.15$6,790$81,430


47. Washington:

The average salary of a nurse manager in Washington State is $48.05 an hour, $8,330 a month or $99,960 annually. This figure is 14 percent higher than the average amount nurse managers earn throughout all 50 states. Nurse managers in coastal Seattle earn 4 percent more than the state average while nurse managers in Spokane in the far eastern part of the state earn 2 percent less. The Northwest Organization of Nurse Leaders is Washington State’s professional association for nurse managers.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$48.06$8,330$99,960


48. West Virginia:

In West Virginia, nurse managers make $34.28 an hour, $5,940 a month, or $71,300 a year. This is 19 percent less than the average amount nurse managers make throughout the nation as a whole. Though West Virginia has 77 hospitals, it’s considered a rural state: The majority of West Virginia’s residents live in hamlets of fewer than 2,500 people. Nurse managers who work in facilities in rural areas often take on more responsibilities than those who are employed in more urban settings.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$34.28$5,940$71,300


49. Wisconsin:

The average salary of a nurse manager in Wisconsin is $39.35 an hour, $6,820 a month, and $81,840 annually. Milwaukee-based nurse managers make 3 percent more than this while Madison-based nurse managers make 10 percent more. Many of Wisconsin’s 159 hospitals are clustered around these two population centers. Wisconsin nurse managers make 7 percent less than the average earnings for all nurse managers throughout the U.S.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$39.35$6,820$81,840


50. Wyoming:

Wyoming’s nurse managers are paid $38.21 an hour, $6,620 a month or $79,480 a year, which is 9 percent below the national average. In the entire Cowboy State, there are only 37 hospitals, which doesn’t leave a lot of employment opportunities for nurse managers. The Wyoming Nurse Leadership Institute functions as both a professional association for nurse managers and a program designed to recruit and retain nurses with strong executive leadership skills.

HourlyMonthlyAnnual
$38.21$6,620$79,480



Average Nurse Manager Salary in Your City


Nurse manager earnings vary greatly from state to state and often from city to city in the same state. California and Texas—both populous states that cover large geographical areas—show the most variation by city.

The cost of living is high throughout California, but it’s highest in the cities of the San Francisco Bay Area where the average nurse manager salary hovers around 85 percent above the U.S. average for nurse manager salaries. Even in Bakersfield at the southern end of the Central Valley, which is a relatively poor city by Golden State standards, the salary of a nurse manager is still 20 percent higher than the national average.

In Texas, the salary spread for nurse managers isn’t quite as dramatic. But it’s still evident. The cost of living index in the Lone Star State shows more variability from locale to locale than it does in California, but even allowing for that, salaries for healthcare workers in Texas are consistently lower than the nationwide average. Still, nurse managers in Houston earn 6 percent more than the nationwide average while nurse managers in Corpus Christi earn 17 percent less.

CityHourlyMonthlyAnnual
Albuquerque, NM$40.39$7,000$84,010
Anaheim, CA$59.54$10,320$123,840
Anchorage, AK$49.64$8,610$103,260
Arlington, TX$41.05$7,120$85,380
Atlanta, GA$39.99$6,930$83,180
Augusta, GA$39.08$6,770$81,290
Aurora, CO$41.74$7,230$86,810
Austin, TX$38.57$6,690$80,220
Bakersfield, CA$50.50$8,750$105,050
Baltimore, MD$43.50$7,540$90,480
Baton Rouge, LA$34.29$5,940$71,330
Boise, ID$39.01$6,760$81,140
Boston, MA$52.32$9,070$108,830
Buffalo, NY$40.83$7,080$84,930
Charlotte, NC$37.06$6,420$77,090
Chicago, IL$41.04$7,110$85,360
Cincinnati, OH$37.88$6,570$78,800
Cleveland, OH$38.49$6,670$80,060
Colorado Springs, CO$40.34$6,990$83,900
Columbus, GA$33.90$5,880$70,520
Columbus, OH$36.53$6,330$75,990
Corpus Christi, TX$35.01$6,070$72,830
Dallas, TX$41.05$7,120$85,380
Denver, CO$41.74$7,230$86,810
Des Moines, IA$33.76$5,850$70,220
Detroit, MI$40.11$6,950$83,430
Durham, NC$37.26$6,460$77,500
El Paso, TX$38.48$6,670$80,030
Fayetteville, NC$39.75$6,890$82,690
Fort Wayne, IN$32.92$5,710$68,480
Fort Worth, TX$41.05$7,120$85,380
Fresno, CA$58.07$10,070$120,780
Greensboro, NC$36.95$6,400$76,850
Henderson, NV$48.80$8,460$101,510
Honolulu, HI$56.20$9,740$116,890
Houston, TX$44.72$7,750$93,010
Huntsville, AL$30.84$5,350$64,150
Indianapolis, IN$37.18$6,440$77,330
Jacksonville, FL$35.57$6,170$73,990
Jersey City, NJ$49.96$8,660$103,910
Kansas City, MO$36.97$6,410$76,900
Laredo, TX$39.59$6,860$82,340
Las Vegas, NV$48.80$8,460$101,510
Lexington, KY$33.85$5,870$70,400
Lincoln, NE$35.94$6,230$74,750
Little Rock, AR$36.35$6,300$75,600
Long Beach, CA$59.54$10,320$123,840
Los Angeles, CA$59.54$10,320$123,840
Louisville, KY$34.97$6,060$72,740
Lubbock, TX$37.91$6,570$78,850
Madison, WI$43.33$7,510$90,130
Memphis, TN$35.95$6,230$74,770
Mesa, AZ$42.84$7,430$89,100
Miami, FL$38.05$6,600$79,150
Milwaukee, WI$40.39$7,000$84,020
Minneapolis, MN$45.33$7,860$94,290
Modesto, CA$63.73$11,050$132,560
Nashville, TN$35.86$6,220$74,590
New Orleans, LA$37.33$6,470$77,650
New York City, NY$49.96$8,660$103,910
Newark, NJ$49.96$8,660$103,910
Norfolk, VA$38.61$6,690$80,310
North Las Vegas, NV$48.80$8,460$101,510
Oakland, CA$78.53$13,610$163,340
Oklahoma City, OK$36.06$6,250$75,000
Omaha, NE$37.11$6,430$77,190
Orlando, FL$35.44$6,140$73,710
Philadelphia, PA$42.10$7,300$87,560
Phoenix, AZ$42.84$7,430$89,100
Pittsburgh, PA$36.94$6,400$76,830
Port St. Lucie, FL$36.49$6,320$75,890
Portland, OR$51.95$9,000$108,050
Raleigh, NC$36.90$6,400$76,750
Reno, NV$42.27$7,330$87,920
Richmond, VA$41.81$7,250$86,960
Riverside, CA$57.81$10,020$120,240
Rochester, NY$36.07$6,250$75,030
Sacramento, CA$70.71$12,260$147,080
Saint Paul, MN$45.33$7,860$94,290
San Antonio, TX$39.53$6,850$82,230
San Bernardino, CA$57.81$10,020$120,240
San Diego, CA$58.75$10,180$122,200
San Francisco, CA$78.53$13,610$163,340
San Jose, CA$77.30$13,400$160,790
Scottsdale, AZ$42.84$7,430$89,100
Seattle, WA$50.06$8,680$104,130
Spokane, WA$47.31$8,200$98,410
St. Louis, MO$35.91$6,220$74,690
St. Petersburg, FL$37.53$6,510$78,060
Stockton, CA$60.98$10,570$126,840
Tacoma, WA$50.06$8,680$104,130
Tampa, FL$37.53$6,510$78,060
Toledo, OH$35.88$6,220$74,640
Tucson, AZ$40.35$6,990$83,920
Tulsa, OK$35.51$6,160$73,860
Virginia Beach, VA$38.61$6,690$80,310
Washington, DC$43.94$7,620$91,400
Wichita, KS$31.31$5,430$65,120
Winston–Salem, NC$37.18$6,440$77,330
Worcester, MA$46.56$8,070$96,850



Highest and Lowest-Paying Nurse Manager Jobs


What Are The Highest And Lowest Paying Workplaces For Nurse Managers?


Nurse managers earn their highest salaries working for large hospitals or medical centers. Nurse managers earn their lowest salaries working for nursing homes or private physician practices.


What Are The Highest And Lowest Paying States For Nurse Managers?


The highest-paid nurse managers are employed in California where they average $131,980 annually. Other states where nurse managers earn high salaries include Hawaii ($114,760 annually), Massachusetts ($105,370 annually), Oregon ($105,350 annually), and Alaska ($104,300 annually).

The lowest-paid nurse managers are employed in Alabama where they average $65,940 annually. Other states where nurse managers earn comparatively low salaries include South Dakota ($66,740), Mississippi ($67,050), Iowa ($68,500), and Arkansas ($69,670).

RankHighest PayingLowest Paying
StateAnnual SalaryStateAnnual Salary
1California$131,980Alabama$65,940
2Hawaii$114,760South Dakota$66,740
3Massachusetts$105,370Mississippi$67,050
4Oregon$105,350Iowa$68,500
5Alaska$104,300Arkansas$69,670
6Washington$99,960Tennessee$70,200
7New York$98,260Kansas$70,280
8Nevada$98,250Kentucky$70,860
9New Jersey$93,840West Virginia$71,300
10Connecticut$92,890Missouri$72,140


What Are The Highest And Lowest Paying Cities For Nurse Managers?


Nurse managers earn their highest salaries in metropolitan areas throughout California. These cities include Oakland ($163,340), San Francisco ($163,340), San Jose ($160,790), Sacramento ($147,080) and Modesto ($132,560).

Nurse managers earn their lowest salaries in metropolitan areas throughout the southeast and the Midwest. These cities include Huntsville, AL, ($64,150); Wichita, KS, ($65,120); Fort Wayne, IN, ($68,480); Des Moines, IA, ($70,220); and Lexington, KY ($70,400).


RankHighest PayingLowest Paying
CitySalaryCitySalary
1Oakland, CA$163,340Huntsville, AL$64,150
2San Francisco, CA$163,340Wichita, KS$65,120
3San Jose, CA$160,790Fort Wayne, IN$68,480
4Sacramento, CA$147,080Des Moines, IA$70,220
5Modesto, CA$132,560Lexington, KY$70,400
6Stockton, CA$126,840Columbus, GA$70,520
7Anaheim, CA$123,840Baton Rouge, LA$71,330
8Long Beach, CA$123,840Louisville, KY$72,740
9Los Angeles, CA$123,840Corpus Christi, TX$72,830
10San Diego, CA$122,200Orlando, FL$73,710


What States In The Northeast Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For Nurse Managers?


The two states in the northeast where nurse managers earn the highest salaries are Massachusetts ($105,370) and New York ($98,260).

The two states in the northeast where nurse managers earn the lowest salaries are Maine ($77,770) and Vermont ($78,980).

Highest PayingLowest Paying
StateAnnual SalaryStateAnnual Salary
Massachusetts$105,370Maine$77,770
New York$98,260Vermont$78,980


What States In The Midwest Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For Nurse Managers?


The two states in the Midwest where nurse managers earn the highest salaries are Minnesota ($88,630) and Wisconsin ($81,840).

The two states in the Midwest where nurse managers earn the lowest salaries are South Dakota ($66,740) and Iowa ($68,500).

Highest PayingLowest Paying
StateAnnual SalaryStateAnnual Salary
Minnesota$88,630South Dakota$66,740
Wisconsin$81,840Iowa$68,500


What States In The Southeast Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For Nurse Managers?


The two states in the southeast where nurse managers earn the highest salaries are Virginia ($65,460) and Georgia ($62,940).

The two states in the southeast where nurse managers earn the lowest salaries are Alabama ($53,010) and Mississippi ($53,910).

Highest PayingLowest Paying
StateAnnual SalaryStateAnnual Salary
Virginia$65,460Alabama$53,010
Georgia$62,940Mississippi$53,910


What States In The Southwest Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For Nurse Managers?


The two states in the southwest where nurse managers earn the highest salaries are Arizona ($88,000) and Texas ($84,080).

The two states in the southwest where nurse managers earn the lowest salaries are Oklahoma ($72,910) and New Mexico ($82,870).

Highest PayingLowest Paying
StateAnnual SalaryStateAnnual Salary
Arizona$88,000Oklahoma$72,910
Texas$84,080New Mexico$82,870


What States In The Western Region Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For Nurse Managers?


The two states in the western region where nurse managers earn the highest salaries are California ($131,980) and Hawaii ($114,760).

The two states in the western region where nurse managers earn the lowest salaries are Utah ($61,930) and Montana ($62,070).

Highest PayingLowest Paying
StateAnnual SalaryStateAnnual Salary
California$131,980Utah$61,930
Hawaii$114,760Montana$62,070


My Final Thoughts


How much does a nurse manager make? Salary figures for these professionals vary greatly from state to state throughout the U.S. In addition to the cost of living indices, factors that determine nurse manager earnings include experience, education, and workplace seniority.

The average nurse manager salary in 2024 is generous and is likely to continue rising over the next few years. As a nurse manager, you won’t be working with patients very often, so if the clinical side of nursing is what attracted you to the profession, this isn’t the career path for you. But if high executive functioning skills are one of the character traits that set you apart from the crowd, nurse management is a career trajectory you will enjoy.


Sources

We have used the following sources to compile the salary data on this page.

1. NP Editorial Assessment
2. Payscale.com


Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Our Expert


1. Is There A High Demand For Nurse Managers?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the demand for nurse managers, as well as for other types of medical and healthcare services managers, will grow by 32 percent between 2020 and 2030. Why? There are three main reasons.

The number of hospitalized patients is increasing, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic and in part because the Baby Boomer generation is aging. The average length of time that patients spend hospitalized is also increasing. The median hospital stay for a COVID-19 patient in 2021 was seven days. In contrast, in 2019, the hospital stay for general medicine patients was one day. Finally, the U.S. is in the midst of a critical nursing shortage. The shortage has been fueled by the number of RNs who will likely retire from the workforce over the next decade as well as by the number of nurses who are leaving the profession altogether due to COVID burnout.

Conditions like these emphasize the need for effective nurse leadership that can maximize the efficiency of the nursing workforce in a variety of practice settings. When demand for a specific service goes up, salaries associated with that service typically go up as well. We can expect the average nurse manager salary to increase dramatically throughout the next decade.


2. Where Do Nurse Managers Work?

Nurse managers work in a variety of practice settings. These include:

• Hospitals:

In hospitals, nurse managers supervise the nursing staff on a particular unit or within a particular department. They recruit and mentor new staff members, develop discharge plans and other protocols, manage the unit’s budget, and act as a liaison between facility administrators and nursing staff.

• Physicians’ practices:

In doctors’ offices, nurse managers act as practice supervisors. Their responsibilities typically reflect the size of the practice where they work but usually include staffing and scheduling, managing revenue cycles, and implementing policies and procedures. They may also manage non-clinical staff such as secretaries, medical coders, and medical billers.

• Ambulatory care centers:

Nurse managers in ambulatory care centers function much like nurse managers in physicians’ practices.

• Skilled nursing and long-term care facilities:

Nurse managers in skilled nursing facilities function much like nurse managers in hospitals.

• Rehabilitation centers:

Nurse managers in rehabilitation centers function much like nurse managers in hospitals.

• Psychiatric facilities:

Nurse managers in psychiatric facilities function much like nurse managers in hospitals.

• Urgent care clinics:

Nurse managers in urgent care clinics function much like nurse managers in physicians’ practices.

Nurse managers may also be employed in non-clinical settings such as academic institutions and the corporate offices of healthcare systems. In academic settings, they may play a pivotal role in planning new curricula with more relevance to the actual challenges clinical nurses will face on the job. In corporate settings, nurse managers help with budgets, resource allotment, and logistics planning.


3. What Is The Typical Work Schedule For Nurse Managers?

Hospitals are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including major holidays. Nurse managers in hospital practice settings and other hospital practice-like settings are salaried employees who typically work 40 hours a week. They don’t earn overtime though they may receive bonuses. They usually keep to conventional nine-to-five, weekday business hours, though it’s understood that they’ll make themselves available at any time of the night or day in times of emergency.

Nurse managers in physicians’ practices and other physician practice-like settings also keep conventional nine-to-five, weekday business hours and put in 40-hour workweeks. Occasionally, they may find it necessary to be at work on a weekend or during the early evening if the practice keeps early evening hours. But physicians’ practices are not open at night, so these nurse leaders never have to work nights. As salaried employees, they’re not eligible for overtime but they may be eligible for profit-sharing, and they may receive bonuses.


4. How Satisfied Are Nurse Managers With Their Jobs?

Research published in a 2014 issue of the professional journal Nursing Economic$ found that 70 percent of the nurse managers surveyed were either satisfied or very satisfied with their career choice. Their level of satisfaction was most influenced by perceptions of organizational support as well as by the power to implement changes within their working environments, but nurse manager salary played a role as well.

A systematic review of the literature done in 2015 found that 93 percent of nurse managers are satisfied with their career choice. Among recent changes in the healthcare delivery system that enhanced their satisfaction was the changeover from written to electronic patient records.


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.