Registered Nurse Salary in New York + Job Outlook – 2024

Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

Registered nurses (RNs) in the state of New York provide numerous important healthcare services in both top-notch trauma centers in the country’s biggest city as well as small community hospitals in rural areas. The average registered nurse salary in New York is $100,130, which is significantly higher than the national average. What’s more, the occupation is expected to grow significantly across New York due to the increasing state population, especially in cities like New York City, Buffalo, and Rochester.

How Many Registered Nurses are Currently Employed in NY?

190,470

What is the Salary of an RN in New York?

Starting Salary

After graduating nursing school and obtaining your very first job, you can expect a starting RN salary in New York of about $64,840 a year, or roughly $31.17 an hour. Though this is lower than the national average salary for registered nurses, it is quite high for a recently-graduated RN.

Average Salary

The average salary of an RN in NY despite work experience and other factors is $100,130 a year. This is much higher than the national average and makes New York one of the most competitive states for registered nurses in the country.

Estimated Total Annual Compensation (Salary + Benefits)

When considering RN pay in New York, it is important to look at far more than just your paycheck. You will also receive a wide variety of benefits that are valued at roughly $41,890 a year.

Percentile Wage Estimates of all RN Workers in NY & Factors That Play a Role

Half of all RNs in New York earn between $80,600 and $107,670 a year depending on things like their experience, location, and even specialization. If you work in a large metro area like NYC or Buffalo, you can expect a much higher registered nurse income in NY than if you work in a more rural setting.

About 10% of all RNs earn less than $64,840 a year, and these are likely fresh graduates who have just entered the workforce and work in a nursing home or other comparatively low-stress environment. On the other hand, 10% of all RNs in NY earn more than $132,950 a year, and they usually have the most experience working in high-stress environments – typically in supervisory, management, or research positions.

Salary Trend (2018-2022)

The average salary of RNs in NY has risen steadily through the last five years. Between 2018 and 2022, the salary climbed anywhere from 2.59% to as much as 7.30% in any given year. This is being driven by New York’s nursing shortage and employers’ attempts to attract new talent. This dedication to solving the nursing shortage means that overall, salaries for RNs across the state jumped a total of 19.99% in only five years.

Salary Projection (2023-2027)

Between the years of 2023 and 2027, RN salaries are expected to continue to climb across New York with growth in any given year ranging from 2.55% to 4.15%. For the entire five-year period, salaries are expected to grow a total of 17.75%, which is in line with the previous five years’ growth. Once again, the state’s desire to provide its population with access to qualified healthcare professionals as it resolves its nursing shortage will drive salaries upward. Salaries may also increase somewhat to account for the increased cost of living in the state.

New York BSN Degree Holders vs ADN Degree Holders – Who Earns More?

RNs who have ADNs in New York earn roughly $85,690 a year while their BSN-educated counterparts earn $101,940 a year. This is a difference of $16,250 annually. Because baccalaureate-educated nurses take on more responsibility, they earn a higher salary across the state.

New York RN vs National RN

The annual salary for RNs in New York is quite a bit higher than the national average salary for registered nurses, as well. The national average RN salary is $89,010 a year, which is $11,120 less than the New York State average of $100,130.

RN Salary vs All Occupations in NY

RN Salary vs All Nursing Occupations in NY

RN Salary vs Similar Healthcare Occupations in NY

RN Employment & Pay in Different Healthcare Facilities of NY

The facility in which you work will have a direct impact on your salary as an RN in New York. Hospitals employ more of NY’s RNs than any other type of facility, and they pay an average of $101,920. Outpatient care centers pay the highest salaries at $109,340, but they employ far fewer RNs than other facilities across the state. This is likely due to the increased responsibility and longer, less predictable hours in hospitals when compared to out outpatient facilities.

Registered Nurse Salary in 10 Major Cities of New York

1) New York

New York City is home to some of the best hospitals in the country, not to mention the state. On average, RNs in NYC earn $104,860 a year. Some of the biggest employers of RNs in this location include New York-Presbyterian Medical Center, Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, and the network of NYC Health + Hospitals. This is one of the highest-paying cities in the country for RNs due in part to the sheer volume of patients coming in and out of facilities every hour of every day.

2) Buffalo

Buffalo is another excellent choice for RNs interested in working in New York. Some of the biggest employers here include the Neighborhood Health Center, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, and Sisters of Charity Hospital, just to name a few. Buffalo also has a much higher elderly population than many other parts of the state, which means many RNs work in long-term care facilities across the city. If you choose to work in Buffalo, you will earn $86,420 a year on average.

3) Rochester

Rochester is arguably one of the better cities in New York to live and work. It is home to the University of Rochester Medicine, including the Golisano Children’s Hospital, which is commonly touted to be one of the best in the region. Highland Hospital and Strong Memorial Hospital also provide numerous employment opportunities. RNs who work in Rochester earn an average of $83,880 a year, and while that is quite a bit lower than the state average, it is important to note that the cost of living – namely food and local taxes – are comparatively low here.

4) Syracuse

RNs who work in Syracuse, New York earn an average of $78,330 a year depending on their employer and work environment. The biggest employers of RNs in this area are Upstate University Hospital, the Syracuse VA Medical Center, and the Golisano Children’s Hospital. There are numerous clinics, urgent care centers, doctors’ offices, and long-term care facilities across Syracuse, but these tend to pay slightly less than the hospitals mentioned above.

5) Albany

Albany is the capital of New York, and just as it is home to the state’s government buildings, it is also home to the VA Healthcare Network Upstate, which is one of the busiest VA facilities in all of New York. Other major RN employers include Albany Memorial Hospital, the Children’s Hospital of Albany, and Samaritan Hospital. RNs also seek employment in long-term care facilities like nursing homes and rehabilitation centers as well as in various outpatient clinics, including the Whitney Young Health Center. If you choose to work in Albany, you can expect to earn an average annual salary of $84,990.

6) Cheektowaga

Cheektowaga is not as populated as many of the other cities on this list, but it still offers outstanding employment opportunities for registered nurses. Some of the biggest employers here include hospitals like St. Joseph Hospital and Sisters of Charity Hospital as well as clinics and outpatient facilities like Lancaster Medical Center. Long-term care facilities such as Garden Gate, Elderwood, and Glenwell are popular workplaces. The average annual salary for RNs working in Cheektowaga is $86,420.

7) Schenectady

Schenectady, New York is a smaller community of just under 67,972 people, but it is home to two very highly rated hospitals – Ellis and Bellevue Hospitals. These are by far the two largest RN employers in the city. Ellis Internal Medicine, an outpatient clinic, also employs several RNs. Aside from these facilities, you might also find employment at the Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing or the Kingsway Arms Nursing Center. On average, RNs working in Schenectady earn an annual salary of $84,990.

8) Utica

Hospitals in the Mohawk Valley Health System – including the St. Luke’s and St. Elizabeth campuses – are the largest employers of RNs in Utica. These hospitals serve a population of just over 60,000. RNs in Utica also seek employment in long-term care facilities such as Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Utica Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, and the Pines at Utica. Here, you will earn an average annual salary of $79,270, though many of the more affluent nursing homes tend to pay well above average.

9) Troy

Troy, New York boasts a population of just under 50,000, but despite its smaller size, it boasts two hospitals employing dozens of RNs – Samaritan Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital. Some RNs also work for Seton Health Pediatrics, a children’s specialty hospital, and in nursing homes like Eddy Heritage House, the Troy Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, and the Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center. The average annual salary for RNs working in Troy is $84,990.

10) Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls only has a population of about 48,000, but it is one of the nation’s most popular tourist destinations due to its namesake waterfall, which means there are several local hospitals to care for people who are sick or injured. Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is the most popular, so it employs more RNs than any other in the area, but it is followed closely by The Heart Center of Niagara and Catholic Health. Some RNs also work in assisted living facilities such as the Allstate Home of Niagara, and others work in nursing homes like Niagara Rehabilitation-Nursing. If you choose to work in Niagara Falls, you will earn an average annual salary of $86,420.

Which New York Cities are Paying Registered Nurses the Most?

New York City is the most densely populated city in the country, and with more than 60 acute care hospitals, the majority of the RNs in the state work in NYC. It is also home to some of the nation’s best research hospitals, which makes employment quite lucrative. As a result, the average annual salary for RNs who work in New York City is $100,130.

Employment Trend (2018-2022)

RN Job Outlook in New York (2023-2027)

Between the years of 2023 and 2027, RN employment across the state of New York is expected to rise steadily at a rate of anywhere from 1.75% to 2.03% per year, resulting in a total five-year growth at 8.81%. This will be driven primarily by employers’ attempts to attract more qualified registered nurses as a result of the state’s nursing shortage. It is also important to consider that New York’s cost of living is much higher than most other parts of the country and comparable with California, so in order to attract RNs – especially in high-stress environments – employers must offer competitive salaries.

Projected Annual RN Job Openings (New + Replacement) in New York

Which New York Metro Areas are Hiring the Highest Number of RNs?

As with most other states, RNs will have the most job opportunities available to them in New York if they search for jobs in busy metro areas. In areas where the population is densest, more facilities must exist to provide for those people. New York City is home to 182,710 RNs. RNs here can find employment in not only hospitals, but also doctors’ offices, clinics, home health agencies, schools, prisons, community health departments, Planned Parenthood and similar facilities, free clinics, and various other settings catering to a large, diverse, and very dense population.

In fact, New York City’s RN population is greater than that of all the other major cities combined, which serves as a testament to the number of medical facilities in the area. Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls comes in second for employment with 12,950 RNs employed across the city, and this is followed closely by the Rochester, where there are 11,260 RNs combined.