Registered Nurse Salary in Waco, TX
Registered Nurses in the Waco, TX metro area earn a median $92,890 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,178 take-home, or $6,182 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Waco, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,606
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,759
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,347
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$74,178
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Waco, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,690 | $33.50 | $57,857 | $4,821 |
| 25th percentile | $79,290 | $38.12 | $64,611 | $5,384 |
| Median (50th) | $92,890 | $44.66 | $74,178 | $6,182 |
| 75th percentile | $102,190 | $49.13 | $80,721 | $6,727 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,460 | $56.95 | $92,167 | $7,681 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $92,890 buys in Waco, TX
Prices in Waco, TX are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 16% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $74,178 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,149 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 Waco, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Waco, TX ranks #57 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 |
| 57 | Waco, TX | $92,890 | $74,178 | $80,149 |
*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 Texas
- Killeen, TX — $93,440
- Houston, TX — $99,830
- San Antonio, TX — $94,370
- Austin, TX — $97,890
- Texarkana, TX — $80,610
- Dallas, TX — $101,420
- El Paso, TX — $86,100
- Brownsville, TX — $81,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Waco, TX?
The median registered nurse salary in the Waco, TX metro area is $92,890 a year, or about $44.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,290 and $102,190.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Waco, TX?
On the median $92,890 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $74,178 a year ($6,182 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Waco, TX a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,149 would in a typical U.S. city. Waco, TX ranks #57 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Waco, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Waco, TX is $966 a month ($1,208 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.