Registered Nurse Salary in Arizona + Job Outlook – 2025

Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many of Arizona’s 56,040 registered nurses mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. Despite the fact that at $86,740 a year, the average RN salary in Arizona is slightly less than the average RN salary across all parts of the U.S., the Grand Canyon State is confronting a serious nursing shortage. Pay rates have certainly played a part in Arizona’s nursing shortage: Many registered nurses, reviewing the challenges and risks that come with working in an overcrowded hospital, have either opted to become traveling nurses at two or three times the average registered nurse salary in Arizona or have opted to leave the nursing profession altogether. How much does a registered nurse make in Arizona? This article provides a comprehensive look at registered nurse salary in Arizona for 2025.

What Is The Starting Salary Of A Registered Nurse In Arizona?

What is the starting salary of a registered nurse in Arizona? The starting salary of a registered nurse in Arizona is $31.75 an hour, $1,270 a week, $5,500 a month, or $66,040 a year. Arizona registered nurses usually begin earning this amount at some point during their 10th year in the profession.

Hospitals and physician practices in Arizona pay entry-level registered nurses lower salaries as a way of making up for some of the costs associated with the on-the-job training and mentoring that entry-level registered nurses need. As a new graduate fresh out of nursing school, an Arizona nurse will have been exposed to the clinical, prioritization and time management skills that are necessary to perform the job well, but caring for real patients in real beds requires those skills to become second nature. After he or she is hired, an entry-level registered nurse is assigned a more experienced nurse as a preceptor. During this time, neither the preceptor nor the entry-level registered nurse will be assigned a full patient load. Training an entry-level nurse may take as long as six months.

What Is The Average Salary Of A Registered Nurse In Arizona?

What is the average salary of a registered nurse in Arizona? The average registered nurse salary in Arizona is $41.70 an hour, $1,668 a week, $7,230 a month, or $86,740 annually. This figure is approximately half a percent lesser than what registered nurses average throughout all parts of the U.S.

The current nurse shortage means that many nurses are putting in overtime hours. Note that under the terms of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, a registered nurse in Arizona must be paid an overtime rate of one-and-one-half times the standard registered nurse salary per hour in Arizona if that nurse has worked more than 8 hours in a single day or 40 hours in a single week. While shift differentials and nondiscretionary bonuses are typically included in average salary calculations, overtime is not.

The average salary in any given geographical location is heavily influenced by the cost of living in that location. Overall, Arizona’s cost of living is 2 percent higher than the cost of living throughout all parts of the nation, and registered nurse salary in Arizona reflects that. Cost of living indices vary, however, from location to location throughout the state. The cost of living in Phoenix is 2 percent higher than it is throughout the Grand Canyon State as a whole, so it comes as no surprise that RNs in Phoenix make salaries that are 1 percent higher than the state average. But the cost of living in Tucson is 11 percent less than the state average, and Tucson-based RNs average 5 percent less than they do throughout all parts of the state.

Registered Nurse Salary In Arizona By Years Of Experience

Registered nurses with one to four years of experience typically make salaries that are 17 percent higher than the salaries of entry-level RNs. The salaries of registered nurses with five to nine years of experience are 6 percent higher than the salaries of nurses with one to four years of experience and 25 percent higher than the salaries of entry-level nurses. Registered nurses with two or more decades of experience can expect to earn salaries that are 60 percent higher than the salaries of entry-level nurses.

Keep in mind that most hospitals and medical centers in Arizona use a seniority-based pay scale in which nurses are awarded salary increases at regularly scheduled intervals that are based upon the length of that nurse’s continuous employment. If an experienced registered nurse quits a position and goes to work at a new hospital, that nurse may be compensated at a salary rate commensurate with less experience at his or her new position.

Level of Experience	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
Entry-Level	$31.75	$1,270	$5,500	$66,040
1-4 Years of Experience	$37.29	$1,492	$6,460	$77,570
5-9 Years of Experience	$39.58	$1,583	$6,860	$82,330
10-19 Years of Experience	$47.30	$1,892	$8,200	$98,380
20 Years or More Experience	$50.73	$2,029	$8,790	$105,520
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Total Annual Registered Nurse Compensation (Including Other Benefits) In Arizona

In addition to salaries, nurses in the Grand Canyon State also receive non-cash compensation known as “benefits.” Benefits can increase an Arizona RN’s compensation package considerably. Average benefits for a registered nurse working in the Grand Canyon State’s private sector amount to 42 percent of that nurse’s salary, bringing their average compensation package up to $123,007 annually. Average benefits for a nurse working at the state or local government level in Arizona amount to 62 percent of that nurse’s salary, bringing their average compensation package up to $140,081 annually.

Most full-time nurses in Arizona receive benefits that include paid time off, employee-subsidized health insurance, and contributions towards retirement savings. Some employers also pay some portion of an RN’s liability insurance as well as an education allowance and some reimbursement for certification fees. A few benefits like unemployment insurance, COBRA and workers’ compensation are actually mandated by law.

Component	Private Industry	State and Local Government
Paid Leave	$9,226	$10,226
Supplemental Pay	$4,551	$1,401
Insurance	$9,103	$15,829
Retirement and Savings	$4,182	$18,210
Legally Required	$9,226	$7,564
Total Benefits	$36,287	$53,231
Average Annual Salary	$86,720	$86,850
Total Compensation	$123,007	$140,081

REGISTERED NURSE SALARY IN ARIZONA BY WORKPLACE

1. Hospitals:

Fifty-Six percent of Arizona’s 56,040 nurses work in a hospital setting. The average RN salary in Arizona for a hospital-based nurse is $42.44 an hour or $88,290 annually. Hospital nurses in the Grand Canyon State have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. ICU utilization increased by 300 percent statewide in the summer of 2021. Increasingly, hospital administrators have been turning to more highly paid traveling nurses to resolve the labor shortages, and this has created a two-tiered salary system in many of Arizona’s medical centers thatpermanent nursing staff members are finding hard to deal with.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
31,450	$42.44	$1,698	$7,360	$88,290

2. Physician's Offices:

Seven percent of registered nurses in the Grand Canyon State are affiliated with private physician practices. The average RN salary in Arizona for RNs who work in physicians’ offices is $37.38 an hour or $77,770 annually, which is 12 percent less than what hospital nurses earn in that state, making RNs who work in physicians’ practices the lowest-paid registered nurses in Arizona in terms of practice setting. Even with telehealth appointments, in Arizona, as in other states, physicians have been treating far fewer patients since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but the operational expenses associated with these practices, particularly those related to disinfection and personal protective equipment, have continued to rise. Private physician practices simply can’t afford to pay RNs as much as hospitals can.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
3,810	$37.38	$1,496	$6,480	$77,770

3. Home Health Care:

Six percent of Arizona’s registered nurses are employed in the home health care sector. These RNs average $38.85 an hour or $80,810 a year. Home health care is a booming industry in the Grand Canyon State where the over-65 population grew by nearly 50 percent between 2010 and 2020. PHI, an advocacy nonprofit for the direct care workforce, projects that by 2026, 41,000 new jobs will open up in Arizona’s home health care sector. While many of these vacancies will be for personal-care aides and home-health aides, registered nurses will be needed, too, to create nursing care plans and supervise these aides.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
3,170	$38.85	$1,554	$6,730	$80,810

4. Outpatient Care Centers:

RNs who work in outpatient care centers like ambulatory surgery facilities, urgent care clinics and emergency rooms are the highest-paid registered nurses in Arizona in terms of practice settings. These registered nurses earn $45.53 an hour or $94,720 a year, which is 9 percent higher than the average RN salary in Arizona throughout the state. As COVID-19 raged across the Grand Canyon State, nurses working in ERs and community urgent care clinics were often on the pandemic’s frontlines. In Arizona, community urgent care clinics are licensed by the state’s Department of Health Services.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
2,770	$45.53	$1,822	$7,890	$94,720

5. Nursing Care Facilities:

There are 148 nursing care facilities in Arizona as well as approximately 2,200 assisted living facilities, and they employ 4 percent of the Grand Canyon State’s nursing workforce. The average registered nurse salary in Arizona for RNs employed by nursing care facilities is $36.16 an hour or $75,220 a year. More than 2.200 patients and staff in Arizona’s long-term care facilities have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Experts cite staffing shortages as a major factor in the spread of COVID and other infections throughout nursing home settings. Although much of the frontline care in these facilities is provided by aides, registered nurses are needed to oversee aides and write nursing care plans.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
2,270	$36.16	$1,447	$6,270	$75,220

REGISTERED NURSE SALARY IN ARIZONA BY TYPE OF JOB

1. Aesthetic Nurse:

Aesthetic nurses are RNs with specialized training in cosmetic procedures. In Arizona, they’re mostly employed in the more affluent metropolitan areas like Phoenix and Scottsdale as well as in towns like Sedona and Lake Havasu City that are known for their spa resorts. The average salary of an aesthetic nurse in Arizona is $45.16 an hour or $93,930 annually.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$45.16	$1,806	$7,830	$93,930

2. Cardiac Nurse:

The average cardiac RN salary in Arizona is $48.27 an hour or $100,400 a year. Cardiac nurses work in intensive cardiac care units, catheterization labs and cardiac wards in hospitals all across the Grand Canyon State. Many of them have earned the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$48.27	$1,931	$8,370	$100,400

3. Dialysis Nurse:

Some 2,136 out of every one million Arizona residents is affected by kidney disease severe enough to warrant dialysis. Dialysis nurses are charged with overseeing the dialysis process from beginning to end. They work in hospitals and clinics throughout every part of the Grand Canyon State. Dialysis nurses in Arizona earn $43.07 an hour or $89,580 annually.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$43.07	$1,723	$7,470	$89,580

4. ER Nurse:

ER nurses in the Grand Canyon State may not be hospital employees. Many hospitals throughout Arizona outsource the staffing and management of their emergency rooms to outside companies. The average ER nurse salary in Arizona is $49.26 an hour or $102,470 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$49.26	$1,971	$8,540	$102,470

5. Flight Nurse:

Arizona’s flight nurses staff the air ambulances that transport critically ill or injured patients to the medical facilities that are best able to offer the care those patients need. Flight nurses work throughout all parts of Arizona. In the Grand Canyon State, flight nurses average $42.77 an hour or $88,960 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$42.77	$1,711	$7,410	$88,960

6. Forensic Nurse:

Forensic nurses work primarily with the victims of violence. They conduct medical exams with the view of collecting evidence and are frequently called upon to testify in court. In Arizona, forensic nurses work in cities that serve as county seats because those are the cities in which courts are located. The average forensic nurse salary in Arizona is $40.44 an hour or $84,110 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$40.44	$1,618	$7,010	$84,110

7. Geriatric Nurse:

Geriatric nurses are RNs with specialized training in meeting the needs of elderly populations. Eighteen percent of Arizona’s population is over the age of 65, so geriatric nurses are much in demand at hospitals throughout every part of the Grand Canyon State. The average geriatric nurse salary in Arizona is $52.14 an hour or $108,450 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$52.14	$2,086	$9,040	$108,450

8. Home Health Nurse:

Many of Arizona’s elderly residents prefer to spend their golden years in their own homes rather than in assisted living or a nursing care facility. Home health nurses help coordinate this process by supervising the aides who provide the actual care. The Grand Canyon State’s home health nurses earn $36.33 an hour or $75,560 annually.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$36.33	$1,453	$6,300	$75,560

9. Hospice Nurse:

Hospice nurses care for the terminally ill. They either work in hospice centers or provide care in a patient’s own home, and they are employed throughout all parts of Arizona. In Arizona, the average salary of a hospice nurse is $42.94 an hour or $89,310 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$42.94	$1,718	$7,440	$89,310

10. ICU Nurse:

The most acutely ill patients in any Arizona hospital setting are treated in an intensive care unit (ICU.) The average ICU nurse salary in Arizona is $53.47 an hour or $111,210 annually. Throughout various points in the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona, ICU nurses were in short supply, and ICU bed availability was either at zero or approaching that number.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$53.47	$2,139	$9,270	$111,210

11. Labor And Delivery Nurse:

L&D nurses assist women during childbirth. Arizona’s birthrate has declined 25 percent since 2009, and this has lessened the demand for labor and delivery nurses and forced many smaller hospitals to close their maternity wings. The average labor and delivery registered nurse salary in Arizona is $52.24 a week or $108,650 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$52.24	$2,089	$9,050	$108,650

12. Neonatal Nurse:

Neonatal nurses work with newborns. Some Arizona-based neonatal RNs work in intensive care nurseries where they care for medically fragile infants while others work in well-baby nurseries where they help teach new mothers the basics of infant care. The average neonatal nurse salary in Arizona is $52.59 an hour or $109,380 annually.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$52.59	$2,103	$9,120	$109,380

13. Nurse Administrator:

Nurse administrators in the Grand Canyon State earn $44.22 an hour or $91,970 annually on average. Nurse administrators are typically the point persons for a department or a group of departments within a single hospital. Many nursing administrators have advanced practice RN degrees, but others have worked their way up through the ranks as registered nurses.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$44.22	$1,769	$7,660	$91,970

14. Nurse Consultant:

Nurse consultants are typically self-employed professionals who advise medical administrators on a fee basis. In Arizona, nurse consultants work in a variety of practice settings, including hospitals, private physician practices and nursing homes throughout all parts of the state. In the Grand Canyon State, nurse consultants make around $47.99 an hour or $99,810 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$47.99	$1,919	$8,320	$99,810

15. Nurse Manager:

Although “nurse administrator” and “nurse manager” are sometimes used interchangeably, most often the latter term is used to describe the nurse who’s responsible for the clinical operations of a single unit within a hospital setting. In Arizona, nurse managers average $46.46 an hour or $96,630 annually.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$46.46	$1,858	$8,050	$96,630

16. Nurse Navigator:

Nurse navigators are patient care advocates. They’re most often employed by the oncology units of hospitals in larger Arizona cities like Phoenix and Tucson where they draft individualized care plans that aim to personalize cancer treatments. In Arizona, nurse navigators earn $38.99 an hour or $81,100 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$38.99	$1,560	$6,760	$81,100

17. Nurse Recruiter:

Arizona is facing a critical nursing shortage, and nurse recruiters are the RNs tasked with ending it. Nurse recruiters help medical centers, private physicians’ practices and skilled nursing facilities fill vacant staff RN positions. Typically, they work for agencies though a few may work out of their own homes. In Arizona, nurse recruiters can expect to earn $44.23 an hour or $92,000 annually.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$44.23	$1,769	$7,670	$92,000

18. Occupational Health Nurse:

Occupational nurses are employed throughout Arizona’s public and private sectors to help identify workplace-related health and safety needs. The American Board for Occupational Health Nurses offers two certifications in this specialty. In Arizona, occupational nurses make $41.71 an hour or $86,750 annually.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$41.71	$1,668	$7,230	$86,750

19. Oncology Nurse:

Oncology nurses are specialists in the care of patients with cancer. In Arizona, they’re employed by hospitals, cancer centers, private physicians’ practices, home healthcare agencies and hospices throughout all parts of the state. Oncology nurses can anticipate earning $46.06 an hour or $95,810 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$46.06	$1,843	$7,980	$95,810

20. Orthopedic Nurse:

The average orthopedic registered nurse salary in Arizona is $50.77 an hour or $105,600 annually. Orthopedic nurses help care for patients with musculoskeletal injuries and diseases. They work at hospitals and private physician practices in all parts of the Grand Canyon State.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$50.77	$2,031	$8,800	$105,600

21. Pain Management Nurse:

Specific figures for the number of individuals living with chronic pain in the state of Arizona are not available, but the CDC estimates that nationwide, those individuals number 50 million. Pain management nurses work with patients to help patients cope with their pain. Pain management nurses are among the highest-paid registered nurses in Arizona: On average, they earn $57.42 an hour or $119,430 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$57.42	$2,297	$9,950	$119,430

22. Pediatric Nurse:

Pediatric nurses work with ill or injured children and teens under the age of 18. In Arizona, you’ll find them most often working in one of the state’s children’s hospitals or affiliated with a pediatric physician practice. The average pediatric RN salary in Arizona is $38.87 an hour or $80,850 a year on average.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$38.87	$1,555	$6,740	$80,850

23. Psychiatric Nurse:

Psychiatric nurses work with patients who have mental health or behavioral problems. In Arizona, psychiatric nurses work in various settings that provide mental health treatment services such as hospitals, clinics, schools, community agencies, and rehabilitation centers. Psychiatric nurses in the Grand Canyon State earn $47.39 an hour or $98,580 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$47.39	$1,896	$8,220	$98,580

24. Public Health Nurse:

Arizona’s public health nurses work primarily for government agencies throughout the state where they educate patients about healthy lifestyles and administer preventative healthcare measures such as vaccines. Since COVID-19 hit, public health nurses have also helped the public interpret the CDC’s often-rapidly changing guidance for dealing with the pandemic. In the Grand Canyon State, public health nurses make $36.45 an hour $75,820 annually.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$36.45	$1,458	$6,320	$75,820

25. Radiology Nurse:

The average radiology RN salary in Arizona is $43.22 an hour or $89,890 a year. Radiology nurses provide nursing support for patients while those patients are undergoing diagnostic imaging procedures or radiation therapy. You’ll find them working in hospitals, diagnostic imaging centers, and various specialized outpatient care centers such as oncology clinics.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$43.22	$1,729	$7,490	$89,890

26. Rehabilitation Nurse:

Rehabilitation nurses help patients with chronic medical conditions or other disabilities optimize their ability to function independently. Rehabilitation nurses in the Grand Canyon State earn $43.41 an hour or $90,290 a year on average. In Arizona, they’re employed by hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and home care agencies.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$43.41	$1,736	$7,520	$90,290

27. School Nurse:

School nurses are the lowest-paid registered nurses in Arizona. The average school RN salary in Arizona is $32.03 an hour or $66,630 a year. Arizona’s school nurses treat the minor illnesses and injuries that often occur during the course of a school day. But they also provide the medical treatments that make it possible for children with chronic conditions like diabetes and asthma to attend school.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$32.03	$1,281	$5,550	$66,630

28. Staff Nurse:

Staff nurses are the registered nurses who provide direct patient care in Arizona’s hospitals. Staff nurses can have either a two-year associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a four-year bachelor’s of science in nursing degree (BSN). In Arizona, staff nurses average $39.47 an hour or $82,100 annually.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$39.47	$1,579	$6,840	$82,100

29. Surgical Nurse:

Surgical nurses work closely with surgeons in the operating theater, providing whatever support those surgeons may need while performing a surgical procedure. Surgical nurses are employed in a number of practice settings throughout the Grand Canyon State, including hospital surgical departments, ambulatory surgery clinics, and the offices of physicians who perform any sort of invasive procedure on an outpatient basis. In Arizona, surgical nurses average $52.43 an hour or $109,050 a year.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$52.43	$2,097	$9,090	$109,050

30. Telemetry Nurse:

Telemetry nurses have specialized training in the interpretation of electrocardiograms (EKGs). Their training allows them to detect dangerous rhythm changes so that a cardiologist can be alerted. You’ll find telemetry nurses working in ICUs, cardiac stepdown units and cardiologists’ private practices throughout all parts of Arizona. Arizona’s telemetry nurses earn $37.45 an hour or $77,890 a year on average.

Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
$37.45	$1,498	$6,490	$77,890

REGISTERED NURSE SALARY IN ARIZONA BY METRO

1. Lake Havasu City-Kingman:

Lake Havasu City is the center of a thriving tourism industry while Kingman functions as a medical hub for northwestern Arizona. Mohave County, in which the two cities are located, has one of Arizona’s lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates. Consequently, COVID hospitalization rates are high— and so are the stress levels of RNs working in those hospitals. Two percent of Arizona’s registered nurses are employed in the Lake Havasu City-Kingman Metropolitan Area, and they earn some of the lowest RN salaries in the state. The average salary of a registered nurse in Lake Havasu City, AZ, is $38.79 an hour or $80,670 a year on average.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
1,050	$38.79	$1,551	$6,720	$80,670

2. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale:

The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale Metropolitan Area is the largest urban hub in the Grand Canyon State; nearly 70 percent of the state’s population lives there, and 70 percent of Arizona’s registered nurses are employed there. Prominent hospitals in Phoenix include Mayo Clinic-Phoenix, Banner Boswell Medical Center, and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. Scottsdale is known for Banner Behavioral Health Hospital while Mesa is known for Arizona Bone and Joint Hospital. Phoenix-based hospitals have become particularly reliant on high-paid travel nurses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic even though administrators realize this is a short-term solution at best. The average RN salary in Phoenix is $42.03 an hour or $87,410 a year.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
40,240	$42.03	$1,681	$7,280	$87,410

3. Prescott:

Prescott, an old mining town located in Arizona’s picturesque central highlands, is known for its saloons, its Christmas displays, and the world’s oldest rodeo. The city is also an addiction treatment hub, and many of its 1,440 nurses are affiliated in some way with the recovery industry. COVID-19 vaccination rates are below 30 percent throughout Yavapai County where Prescott is located, so the city’s hospitals have been dealing with high numbers of COVID patients throughout the pandemic. Registered nurses in Prescott earn $43.11 or $89,660 a year on average.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
1,070	$43.11	$1,724	$7,470	$89,660

4. Sierra Vista-Douglas:

Surrounded by the Huachuca and Chiricahua mountain ranges, Sierra Vista is a gateway to some of Arizona’s most beautiful wilderness areas. Only 1 percent of Arizona nurses are employed in the Sierra Vista-Douglas Metropolitan Area. The average RN salary in Sierra Vista, AZ, is $37.37 an hour or $77,720 a year, which is 10 percent less than the state average. The area has experienced such a nursing shortage since the COVID-19 pandemic began that the state health department has petitioned FEMA on their behalf for funds to hire traveling nurses.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
550	$37.37	$1,495	$6,480	$77,720

5. Tucson:

Seventeen percent of the registered nurses in Arizona are employed in the Tucson Metropolitan Area. Tucson is home to a number of top-ranked hospitals, including TMC-Healthcare Tucson, Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, and Carondelet-St. Joseph’s Hospital. The average salary of a registered nurse in Tucson is $40.19 an hour or $83,590 a year on average. As in other parts of the Grand Canyon State, the COVID-19 surge has exacerbated Tucson’s nursing shortage. Many nurses are retiring while others are either leaving the hospital setting or the nursing profession altogether. In the fall of 2021, Arizona’s state health department petitioned the federal government for assistance filling some 600 nursing vacancies in the Tucson area.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
7,980	$40.19	$1,608	$6,970	$83,590

6. Yuma:

Yuma, situated just 10 miles away from the Mexican border, has a poverty rate of 19 percent, which means that many of its residents are affected by the types of chronic health-related conditions such as alcoholism and obesity that are so often linked with poverty. Yuma County’s COVID-19 outbreak, however, has been significantly less severe than it’s been in many other parts of the state. Two percent of Arizona’s nursing workforce is employed in Yuma, and they are among the highest-paid registered nurses in Arizona. The average RN salary in Yuma, AZ, is $41.19 an hour or $85,670 annually.

Employment	Hourly	Weekly	Monthly	Annual
1,130	$41.19	$1,648	$7,140	$85,670

HIGHEST PAID REGISTERED NURSES IN ARIZONA

Highest Paying Registered Nursing Jobs In Arizona

Pain management nurses are among the highest-paid registered nurses in Arizona; nurses who choose this specialty track earn $119,430 annually, which is 35 percent more than the amount that hospital staff nurses earn. Other specialties where nurses can earn a high RN salary in Arizona include ICU nursing ($111,210), neonatology ($109,380), and surgical nursing ($109,050).

Rank	Job Title	Annual Salary
1	Pain Management Nurse	$111,030
2	ICU Nurse	$103,390
3	Neonatal Nurse	$101,690
4	Surgical Nurse	$101,380
5	Labor And Delivery Nurse	$101,010
6	Geriatric Nurse	$100,820
7	Orthopedic Nurse	$98,170
8	ER Nurse	$95,260
9	Cardiac Nurse	$93,340
10	Nurse Consultant	$92,790

Highest Paying Metros For Registered Nurses In Arizona

Nurses employed in the Prescott Metropolitan Area earn an average salary in Arizona that’s 3 percent higher than the salaries earned by nurses in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale Metropolitan Area. Other Arizona cities where registered nurses earn comparatively high salaries include Phoenix ($87,410) and Yuma ($85,670).

Rank	Metro	Annual Salary
1	Prescott	$89,660
2	Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale	$87,410
3	Yuma	$85,670
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

REGISTERED NURSE SALARY COMPARISON IN ARIZONA

ADN VS. BSN Salary In Arizona

Getting a four-year nursing degree can really pay off for registered nurses employed in Arizona. For one thing, most employers in the Grand Canyon State prefer to hire RNs with a BSN. For another, registered nurses with BSNs earn 19 percent more than registered nurses with ADN degrees. This amounts to an additional $14,070 a year.

ADN Salary	BSN Salary	How Much More will a BSN Earn
$74,240	$88,310	+$14,070

RN Salary In Arizona VS. United States RN Salary

Registered nurses in the Grand Canyon State earn fractionally more than registered nurses do throughout the nation as a whole. Geographic variations in salary often factor in variations in the cost of living indices, and Arizona’s cost of living is 2 percent higher than it is elsewhere in the U.S.

Arizona	United States	Comparison
		Number	%
$86,740	$89,010	-$2,270	-2.55%

RN Salary In Arizona VS. All Other Occupations In Arizona

Arizona’s RNs make significantly higher salaries than employees in many other lines of work. The average salary for an RN working in the Grand Canyon State is 48 percent higher than the average salary for all other occupations across the state.

Arizona RN	All Occupations	Comparison
		Number	%
$86,740	$58,620	+$28,120	+47.97%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

RN Salary In Arizona VS. Other Nursing Careers

Registered nurses in Arizona make comfortable salaries but those salaries are markedly lower than those of the nurses who decided to continue their education with a graduate degree. RNs earn 29 percent less than nurse practitioners who’ve earned an APRN degree. However, they earn 9 percent more than nurse educators whose focus is primarily non-clinical.

Rank	Job Title	Average Per Year	Comparison
			Number	%
1	Nurse Anesthetist	$179,730	-$92,990	-51.74%
2	Nurse Practitioner	$121,410	-$34,670	-28.56%
3	Nurse Midwife	$108,190	-$21,450	-19.83%
4	Registered Nurse	$86,740	$0	0.00%
5	Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary	$79,780	$6,960	8.72%
6	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse	$61,920	$24,820	40.08%
7	Nursing Assistant	$37,620	$49,120	130.57%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

RN Salary In Arizona VS. Other Healthcare Careers

Registered nurses in Arizona earn 29 percent less than physician assistants even though PAs in the Grand Canyon State can only practice under the supervision of a physician. RNs earn 11 percent less than radiation therapists and 1 percent less than dental hygienists. However, they earn significantly more than dieticians, respiratory therapists and physical therapist assistants whose focus is primarily on rehabilitative care.

Rank	Job Title	Average Per Year	Comparison
			Number	%
1	Physician Assistant	$122,420	-$35,680	-29.15%
2	Radiation Therapist	$97,120	-$10,380	-10.69%
3	Diagnostic Medical Sonographer	$89,980	-$3,240	-3.60%
4	Dental Hygienist	$87,610	-$870	-0.99%
5	Registered Nurse	$86,740	$0	0.00%
6	Radiologic Technologist and Technician	$71,770	$14,970	20.86%
7	Respiratory Therapist	$70,210	$16,530	23.54%
8	Dietitian and Nutritionist	$67,280	$19,460	28.92%
9	Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician	$65,460	$21,280	32.51%
10	Physical Therapist Assistant	$62,880	$23,860	37.95%
11	Medical Assistant	$40,350	$46,390	114.97%
12	Emergency Medical Technician	$35,560	$51,180	143.93%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

REGISTERED NURSE SALARY GROWTH IN ARIZONA

How Much Has The Registered Nurse Salary Grown In Arizona In The Past 5 Years (2018-2022)?

Since 2018, RNs earnings in the Grand Canyon State have been increasing by approximately 2 percent a year. That means that over the past five years, RN earnings have increased by nearly 15 percent. This is likely due to Arizona’s nursing shortage: When supply is down, demand for services typically escalates, and increased demand leads to salary hikes.

Year	Salary	Growth
		Number	%
2018	$77,000	$1,890	2.52%
2019	$78,330	$1,330	1.73%
2020	$80,380	$2,050	2.62%
2021	$81,600	$1,220	1.52%
2022	$86,740	$5,140	6.30%
Overall Growth in Last Five Years		$11,630	15.48%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

How Much Will The Registered Nurse Salary Grow In Arizona In The Next 5 Years (2023-2027)?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that RN salaries in Arizona will increase by 11 percent between 2023 and 2027. It’s likely, however, the increase may even be higher than that. The nursing shortage in Arizona is growing ever more acute, and significant salary hikes may be the only way to recruit and retain RNs.

Year	Salary	Growth
		Number	%
2023	$88,270	$1,530	1.76%
2024	$89,930	$1,660	1.88%
2025	$91,940	$2,010	2.24%
2026	$94,130	$2,190	2.38%
2027	$96,430	$2,300	2.44%
Overall Growth in Next Five Years		$9,690	11.17%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

3 Reasons Behind The Strong Salary Growth For Registered Nurses In Arizona

Salary growth for registered nurses in Arizona is strong because:

1. Demand: With nursing vacancies at an all-time high throughout many of Arizona’s leading hospitals, money is the most persuasive incentive those hospitals can offer to get nurses to sign on with them.

2. Nurse unions: Nursing unions are beginning to make significant headway in the Grand Canyon State, and unions can be aggressive when negotiating salary increases.

3. For liability reasons, fewer hospitals and acute care facilities are hiring licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). Those positions will need to be filled by higher-paid registered nurses.

REGISTERED NURSE EMPLOYMENT IN ARIZONA

How Many Registered Nurses Are Currently Employed In Arizona?

Some 56,040 registered nurses are currently employed in Arizona. They comprise the largest segment of the Grand Canyon State’s healthcare workforce.

56,040

(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

What Hospitals Are Hiring The Highest Number Of Registered Nurses In Arizona?

Banner Health is Arizona’s largest healthcare system, and Banner hospitals have nursing vacancies in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and Sun City. Phoenix is where the largest number of RNs is employed, so it’s no surprise that three hospitals in Phoenix— Valleywise Health Medical Center, Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, and Saint Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center—are hoping to hire more registered nurses as well.

Rank	Hospital	City
1	Valleywise Health Medical Center	Phoenix
2	Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix	Phoenix
3	Banner - University Medical Center Tucson	Tucson
4	Banner Desert Medical Center	Mesa
5	Banner Thunderbird Medical Center	Glendale
6	Saint Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center	Phoenix
7	Banner Boswell Medical Center	Sun City
8	Saint Joseph's Hospital	Tucson
9	Tucson Medical Center	Tucson
10	HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center	Scottsdale

What Nursing Homes Are Hiring The Highest Number Of Registered Nurses In Arizona?

Although registered nurses typically don’t provide direct care to nursing home residents, they play a critical role in supervising the staff members who do. The size of Arizona’s elderly population is increasing every year, and so, too, is the demand for nursing homes and related facilities. Tucson facilities have the highest number of RN vacancies.

Rank	Nursing Home	City
1	Devon Gables Rehabilitation Center LLC	Tucson
2	Sapphire Of Tucson Nursing and Rehab	Tucson
3	Immanuel Campus of Care	Peoria
4	Providence Place at Glencroft	Glendale
5	Sentinel Peak Healthcare Inc.	Tucson
6	LCC - North Glendale	Glendale
7	LCC - Paradise Valley (AZ)	Phoenix
8	Allegiant Healthcare of Mesa	Mesa
9	Arizona State Veterans Home - Phoenix	Phoenix
10	Ridgecrest Healthcare	Phoenix

What Are The Approximate Number Of Annual Job Openings For Registered Nurses In Arizona?

Every year, approximately 5,930 positions open up for registered nurses in the Grand Canyon State. While 2,298 of these are newly created jobs, 3,632 of these are jobs left vacant when RNs retired, left the state, or transitioned out of clinical care for some other reason.

New Jobs	Replacement Jobs	Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement)
2,298	3,632	5,930
(Source: careeronestop.org)

What Is The Job Outlook For Registered Nurses In Arizona?

The job outlook for registered nurses in Arizona is extremely strong. Experts project that growth in this sector will exceed 39 percent between 2020 and 2030. Driving the need for an expanded nursing workforce is an anticipated rise in the number of elderly residents and the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Employment		Employment Growth (2018-2028)
2018	2028	Number	%
58,480	81,460	22,980	39.30%
(Source: careeronestop.org)

Summing It Up

How much does a registered nurse make in Arizona? As you can see after reading this article, registered nurse salary in Arizona for 2025 is a comfortable amount. The current nursing shortage in the Grand Canyon State, however, is highlighting the fact that RNs throughout the state feel they deserve more money for the work they do. This means that RN salaries in the Grand Canyon State are likely to become significantly higher within the next few years.