Registered Nurse Salary in Raleigh, NC
Registered Nurses in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $84,830 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,632 take-home, or $5,469 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,833
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,259
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,230
- North Carolina income tax$2,876
- Take-home pay$65,632
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,460 | $34.84 | $57,423 | $4,785 |
| 25th percentile | $78,430 | $37.71 | $61,385 | $5,115 |
| Median (50th) | $84,830 | $40.78 | $65,632 | $5,469 |
| 75th percentile | $104,040 | $50.02 | $78,380 | $6,532 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,220 | $52.99 | $82,481 | $6,873 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,830 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $65,632 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,864 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 Raleigh, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #331 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 |
| 331 | Raleigh, NC | $84,830 | $65,632 | $66,864 |
*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 North Carolina
- Rocky Mount, NC — $82,300
- Goldsboro, NC — $82,740
- Winston, NC — $86,120
- Greenville, NC — $81,670
- Pinehurst, NC — $81,520
- Charlotte, NC — $90,620
- Jacksonville, NC — $84,750
- Hickory, NC — $80,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Raleigh, NC?
The median registered nurse salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $84,830 a year, or about $40.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,430 and $104,040.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $84,830 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $65,632 a year ($5,469 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,876 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,864 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #331 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $207,380
- Pharmacist — $133,120
- Veterinarian — $130,350
- Nurse Practitioner — $128,150
- Physician Assistant — $124,300
- Physical Therapist — $99,900
- Dental Hygienist — $98,800
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $87,400
- Occupational Therapist — $84,080
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $68,210