Registered Nurse Salary in Baton Rouge, LA
Registered Nurses in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area earn a median $81,130 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,857 take-home, or $5,321 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Baton Rouge, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,019
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,030
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,176
- Louisiana income tax$2,048
- Take-home pay$63,857
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.00% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Baton Rouge, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,330 | $31.41 | $53,099 | $4,425 |
| 25th percentile | $66,740 | $32.09 | $54,166 | $4,514 |
| Median (50th) | $81,130 | $39.00 | $63,857 | $5,321 |
| 75th percentile | $87,690 | $42.16 | $68,275 | $5,690 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,230 | $49.63 | $78,742 | $6,562 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,130 buys in Baton Rouge, LA
Prices in Baton Rouge, LA are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $63,857 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,343 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 about as common in Baton Rouge, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Baton Rouge, LA ranks #242 of 370 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 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 242 | Baton Rouge, LA | $81,130 | $63,857 | $70,343 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- Lake Charles, LA — $90,690
- Alexandria, LA — $81,680
- Shreveport, LA — $80,080
- Monroe, LA — $78,270
- Lafayette, LA — $81,960
- Hammond, LA — $76,200
- Houma, LA — $75,740
- New Orleans, LA — $81,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is $81,130 a year, or about $39.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,740 and $87,690.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA?
On the median $81,130 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $63,857 a year ($5,321 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,048 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Baton Rouge, LA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,343 would in a typical U.S. city. Baton Rouge, LA ranks #242 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Baton Rouge, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baton Rouge, LA is $1,048 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baton Rouge, LA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $134,680
- Nurse Practitioner — $129,070
- Physical Therapist — $98,920
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $65,020
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other — $64,360
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $63,450
- Surgical Technologist — $60,230
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,700
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $52,700
- Medical Records Specialist — $46,610
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,550