Registered Nurse Salary in Houston, TX
Registered Nurses in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $99,830 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,060 take-home, or $6,588 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,133
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,189
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,448
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$79,060
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,860 | $35.99 | $61,494 | $5,125 |
| 25th percentile | $81,890 | $39.37 | $66,440 | $5,537 |
| Median (50th) | $99,830 | $48.00 | $79,060 | $6,588 |
| 75th percentile | $116,000 | $55.77 | $90,436 | $7,536 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,440 | $62.71 | $100,422 | $8,368 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,830 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $79,060 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,159 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #56 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 |
| 56 | Houston, TX | $99,830 | $79,060 | $80,159 |
*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 Texas
- Killeen, TX — $93,440
- Waco, TX — $92,890
- San Antonio, TX — $94,370
- Austin, TX — $97,890
- Texarkana, TX — $80,610
- Dallas, TX — $101,420
- El Paso, TX — $86,100
- Brownsville, TX — $81,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Houston, TX?
The median registered nurse salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $99,830 a year, or about $48.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,890 and $116,000.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $99,830 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $79,060 a year ($6,588 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,159 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #56 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 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 Houston, TX
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Anesthesiologist — $210,230
- Cardiologist — $187,550
- Pharmacist — $140,470
- Physician Assistant — $137,240
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,560
- Veterinarian — $132,280
- Radiologist — $131,470
- Optometrist — $124,640
- Pediatricians, General — $124,190