Registered Nurse Salary in Columbus, GA
Registered Nurses in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median $82,500 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,210 take-home, or $5,267 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Columbus, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,320
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,115
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,196
- Georgia income tax$3,659
- Take-home pay$63,210
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
The Columbus, GA-AL metro spans Georgia, Alabama. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Columbus, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,090 | $31.29 | $51,724 | $4,310 |
| 25th percentile | $66,450 | $31.95 | $52,747 | $4,396 |
| Median (50th) | $82,500 | $39.66 | $63,210 | $5,267 |
| 75th percentile | $94,270 | $45.32 | $70,879 | $5,907 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,610 | $48.85 | $75,662 | $6,305 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,500 buys in Columbus, GA
Prices in Columbus, GA are 10.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 39% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $63,210 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,787 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 Columbus, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, GA ranks #226 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 |
| 226 | Columbus, GA | $82,500 | $63,210 | $70,787 |
*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 Georgia
- Atlanta, GA — $100,490
- Macon, GA — $85,070
- Augusta, GA — $87,760
- Brunswick, GA — $82,630
- Rome, GA — $83,880
- Dalton, GA — $83,290
- Savannah, GA — $86,760
- Athens, GA — $82,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Columbus, GA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $82,500 a year, or about $39.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,450 and $94,270.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Columbus, GA?
On the median $82,500 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $63,210 a year ($5,267 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,659 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, GA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 10.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,787 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, GA ranks #226 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Columbus, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, GA is $936 a month ($1,084 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.