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Nurse real pay comparator

Compare RN, NP, or CRNA pay across metros after estimated state income tax and cost of living, so you can see which market looks strongest in real dollars.

BLS OEWS May 2025 · Not tax advice

Nursing role

Role selects which BLS metro median to use when you leave personal pay blank.

Metros to compare (2 or 3)
Your pay (optional)

Leave blank to compare each metro's RN market median. Enter pay to apply the same number in every market.

$

Results

Listed pay can look different after tax and cost of living.

Pick a role and 2 or 3 metros. The tool subtracts estimated state income tax, then adjusts for cost of living to rank markets by real dollars.

Wage medians: BLS OEWS May 2025. Not tax advice.

Done comparing markets?

Browse nursing roles that match your license and specialty.

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How the math works

From listed pay to real pay

  1. 1

    Start with listed pay

    Use your annualized pay, or each metro's published median for the selected role (RN, NP, or CRNA).

  2. 2

    Subtract estimated state income tax

    A flat effective rate by state (including 0% in no-income-tax states). This is for modeling only, not a tax return.

  3. 3

    Adjust for cost of living

    Real pay equals after-tax pay divided by (COL index / 100). Metros are then ranked by real pay, which can reorder high-cost markets relative to lower-cost ones.

Primary sources

BLS wages, COL index, state tax estimates

Wage medians from BLS OEWS May 2025 (published May 15, 2026; verified August 7, 2026). BEA Regional Price Parities style index (US = 100); verified August 7, 2026. Curated flat effective state income-tax estimates; verified August 7, 2026.

BLS OEWSBEA regional price parities

Common questions

Real pay FAQ

Why can a lower salary beat a higher one?

State income tax and cost of living change what a dollar buys. A metro with a lower BLS median can still rank higher after those adjustments.

Which nursing roles does this cover?

Registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171), and CRNAs / nurse anesthetists (SOC 29-1151). The role picker chooses which metro median table to use when personal pay is blank.

Is the state tax figure my actual tax bill?

No. It is a flat effective estimate for modeling only. It does not calculate brackets, filing status, local taxes, payroll taxes, deductions, or credits. This is not tax advice.

What is the cost-of-living index?

An index based on BEA Regional Price Parities where the U.S. average equals 100. Real pay divides after-tax pay by (index / 100). Higher indexes mean the same dollars buy less.

Should I enter my own pay or use market medians?

Enter your own pay to see how that number performs in each metro. Leave it blank to compare published role medians across markets, which helps when you are weighing where to move before you have an offer.

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