Registered Nurse Salary in Worcester, MA
Registered Nurses in the Worcester, MA metro area earn a median $100,240 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,557 take-home, or $6,213 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Worcester, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,223
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,215
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,453
- Massachusetts income tax$4,792
- Take-home pay$74,557
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Worcester, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,940 | $38.43 | $61,291 | $5,108 |
| 25th percentile | $89,590 | $43.07 | $67,597 | $5,633 |
| Median (50th) | $100,240 | $48.19 | $74,557 | $6,213 |
| 75th percentile | $132,390 | $63.65 | $95,355 | $7,946 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,870 | $81.19 | $118,465 | $9,872 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,240 buys in Worcester, MA
Prices in Worcester, MA are 2.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $74,557 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,722 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Worcester, MA has 1.3× the national concentration of registered nurse jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Worcester, MA ranks #157 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 |
| 157 | Worcester, MA | $100,240 | $74,557 | $72,722 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Pittsfield, MA — $104,950
- Barnstable Town, MA — $103,380
- Springfield, MA — $98,410
- Amherst Town, MA — $101,270
- Boston, MA — $106,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Worcester, MA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Worcester, MA metro area is $100,240 a year, or about $48.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $89,590 and $132,390.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Worcester, MA?
On the median $100,240 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $74,557 a year ($6,213 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,792 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Worcester, MA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 2.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,722 would in a typical U.S. city. Worcester, MA ranks #157 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Worcester, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Worcester, MA is $1,558 a month ($1,997 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Worcester, MA
- Physician Assistant — $152,860
- Nurse Practitioner — $135,120
- Pharmacist — $132,930
- Physical Therapist — $103,790
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $103,090
- Dental Hygienist — $100,460
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $100,130
- Occupational Therapist — $98,300
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $79,060
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $77,240
- Emergency Medical Technician — $50,560
- Psychiatric Technician — $49,890