Registered Nurse Salary in Scranton, PA
Registered Nurses in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn a median $82,650 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,437 take-home, or $5,370 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Scranton, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,353
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,124
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,198
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,537
- Take-home pay$64,437
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Scranton, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,620 | $30.59 | $51,346 | $4,279 |
| 25th percentile | $78,490 | $37.74 | $61,638 | $5,137 |
| Median (50th) | $82,650 | $39.74 | $64,437 | $5,370 |
| 75th percentile | $97,810 | $47.02 | $74,637 | $6,220 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,180 | $49.61 | $78,250 | $6,521 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,650 buys in Scranton, PA
Prices in Scranton, PA are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 33% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $64,437 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,875 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 Scranton, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Scranton, PA ranks #281 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 |
| 281 | Scranton, PA | $82,650 | $64,437 | $68,875 |
*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
- Philadelphia, PA — $101,180
- Harrisburg, PA — $96,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Scranton, PA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area is $82,650 a year, or about $39.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,490 and $97,810.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Scranton, PA?
On the median $82,650 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $64,437 a year ($5,370 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,537 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Scranton, PA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,875 would in a typical U.S. city. Scranton, PA ranks #281 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Scranton, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Scranton, PA is $1,028 a month ($1,252 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Scranton, PA
- Physicians, All Other — $232,880
- Pharmacist — $130,950
- Physical Therapist — $99,520
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $61,740
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $51,680
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $45,520
- Psychiatric Technician — $45,360
- Emergency Medical Technician — $37,940
- Pharmacy Technician — $36,280