Registered Nurse Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Registered Nurses in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $101,180 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,904 take-home, or $6,409 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$13,430
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,273
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,467
- Pennsylvania income tax$3,106
- Take-home pay$76,904
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,160 | $38.06 | $62,089 | $5,174 |
| 25th percentile | $90,190 | $43.36 | $69,510 | $5,792 |
| Median (50th) | $101,180 | $48.64 | $76,904 | $6,409 |
| 75th percentile | $112,970 | $54.31 | $84,836 | $7,070 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,900 | $58.61 | $90,842 | $7,570 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,180 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $76,904 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,989 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #111 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 |
| 111 | Philadelphia, PA | $101,180 | $76,904 | $74,989 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Lebanon, PA — $96,270
- Williamsport, PA — $94,300
- Reading, PA — $98,470
- Allentown, PA — $101,440
- York, PA — $96,210
- Johnstown, PA — $84,390
- Harrisburg, PA — $96,770
- Altoona, PA — $82,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $101,180 a year, or about $48.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $90,190 and $112,970.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $101,180 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $76,904 a year ($6,409 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,106 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,989 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #111 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Radiologist — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $238,540
- Pediatricians, General — $226,440
- Dentists, General — $163,390
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $159,330
- Optometrist — $153,980
- Pharmacist — $148,740
- Veterinarian — $139,810
- Nurse Practitioner — $135,700