Registered Nurse Salary in Raleigh, NC
Registered Nurses in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $84,830 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,632 take-home, or $5,469 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,833
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,259
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,230
- North Carolina income tax$2,876
- Take-home pay$65,632
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,460 | $34.84 | $57,423 | $4,785 |
| 25th percentile | $78,430 | $37.71 | $61,385 | $5,115 |
| Median (50th) | $84,830 | $40.78 | $65,632 | $5,469 |
| 75th percentile | $104,040 | $50.02 | $78,380 | $6,532 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,220 | $52.99 | $82,481 | $6,873 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,830 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $65,632 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,864 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are less concentrated in Raleigh, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #185 of 206 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | $92,480 | $89,260 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,810 | $89,883 | $89,094 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
| 185 | Raleigh, NC | $84,830 | $65,632 | $66,864 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 metros →
About the job: registered nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Winston, NC — $86,120
- Greenville, NC — $81,670
- Charlotte, NC — $90,620
- Hickory, NC — $80,060
- Fayetteville, NC — $83,060
- Greensboro, NC — $82,860
- Asheville, NC — $81,590
- Wilmington, NC — $80,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Raleigh, NC?
The median registered nurse salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $84,830 a year, or about $40.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,430 and $104,040.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $84,830 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $65,632 a year ($5,469 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,876 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,864 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #185 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- Pharmacy Technician — $46,130