Registered Nurse Salary in Tucson, AZ
Registered Nurses in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median $94,110 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,892 take-home, or $6,074 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Tucson, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,874
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,835
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,365
- Arizona income tax$2,144
- Take-home pay$72,892
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Tucson, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,880 | $31.67 | $53,676 | $4,473 |
| 25th percentile | $78,290 | $37.64 | $62,159 | $5,180 |
| Median (50th) | $94,110 | $45.25 | $72,892 | $6,074 |
| 75th percentile | $104,720 | $50.35 | $80,091 | $6,674 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,540 | $61.80 | $96,118 | $8,010 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $94,110 buys in Tucson, AZ
Prices in Tucson, AZ are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 8% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $72,892 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,227 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 Tucson, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Tucson, AZ ranks #108 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 |
| 108 | Tucson, AZ | $94,110 | $72,892 | $75,227 |
*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 Arizona
- Prescott Valley, AZ — $104,980
- Yuma, AZ — $94,320
- Lake Havasu City, AZ — $93,990
- Flagstaff, AZ — $100,780
- Sierra Vista, AZ — $85,380
- Phoenix, AZ — $100,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Tucson, AZ?
The median registered nurse salary in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $94,110 a year, or about $45.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,290 and $104,720.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Tucson, AZ?
On the median $94,110 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $72,892 a year ($6,074 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,144 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Tucson, AZ a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,227 would in a typical U.S. city. Tucson, AZ ranks #108 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Tucson, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tucson, AZ is $1,081 a month ($1,402 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tucson, AZ
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $147,420
- Nurse Practitioner — $129,340
- Physical Therapist — $102,420
- Dental Hygienist — $96,740
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $83,290
- Respiratory Therapist — $78,320
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $75,940
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $61,720
- Medical Records Specialist — $49,300
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $48,920
- Pharmacy Technician — $47,310