Registered Nurse Salary in Lawrence, KS
Registered Nurses in the Lawrence, KS metro area earn a median $78,020 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,163 take-home, or $5,014 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Lawrence, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,334
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,837
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,131
- Kansas income tax$3,554
- Take-home pay$60,163
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.58% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Lawrence, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,250 | $31.37 | $51,767 | $4,314 |
| 25th percentile | $78,020 | $37.51 | $60,163 | $5,014 |
| Median (50th) | $78,020 | $37.51 | $60,163 | $5,014 |
| 75th percentile | $96,580 | $46.43 | $72,185 | $6,015 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,580 | $46.43 | $72,185 | $6,015 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,020 buys in Lawrence, KS
Prices in Lawrence, KS are 9.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $60,163 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,668 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 Lawrence, KS than nationally (location quotient 0.62), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Lawrence, KS ranks #333 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 |
| 333 | Lawrence, KS | $78,020 | $60,163 | $66,668 |
*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 Kansas
- Topeka, KS — $81,820
- Manhattan, KS — $78,960
- Wichita, KS — $76,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Lawrence, KS?
The median registered nurse salary in the Lawrence, KS metro area is $78,020 a year, or about $37.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,020 and $96,580.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Lawrence, KS?
On the median $78,020 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $60,163 a year ($5,014 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,554 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Lawrence, KS a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,668 would in a typical U.S. city. Lawrence, KS ranks #333 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Lawrence, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lawrence, KS is $1,006 a month ($1,182 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.