Salary Data

Registered Nurse Salary in Raleigh

$81,000

median salary, 1% below the national average

According to Orbyt's 2026 salary analysis, the average Registered Nurse salary in Raleigh is $81,000. Salaries range from $61,000 (25th percentile) to $104,000 (75th percentile), adjusted for Raleigh's cost of living.

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Salary range

25th Percentile

$61,000

per year

Median

$81,000

per year

75th Percentile

$104,000

per year

How Raleigh compares

Raleigh, NC

$81,000

Cost of living: 1% below average

National Average

$82,000

Raleigh is $1,000 below

Registered Nurse job market in Raleigh

Raleigh market overview

Raleigh sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of America's premier tech and life sciences corridors. Cisco, Red Hat, Epic Games, and numerous biotech firms drive strong demand for engineering, research, and product roles. The combination of top tier universities and moderate living costs creates an exceptionally favorable salary to expense ratio.

What drives Registered Nurse salaries

Specialty certification, geographic location, and facility type create the widest salary ranges. ICU, OR, and emergency nurses earn premiums over med surg nurses. Travel nursing contracts can pay 50 to 100% more than permanent positions. Union representation and shift differentials for nights and weekends also impact total pay.

Beyond base salary

Total compensation

Benefits are a major component, typically including health insurance, pension or 403(b) matching, tuition reimbursement, and continuing education credits. Shift differentials add $3 to $8 per hour for nights and weekends. Signing bonuses of $5,000 to $20,000 are common in high demand specialties.

Tax considerations in Raleigh

North Carolina's flat 4.5% income tax keeps the burden low. Raleigh has no city income tax, and the Triangle's affordable housing amplifies your take home purchasing power.

Career progression

New graduate RNs start at $58,000 to $72,000, with experienced RNs reaching $80,000 to $100,000 after five years. Nurse practitioners earn $110,000 to $140,000, and CRNAs (nurse anesthetists) can earn $180,000 to $220,000. Nursing management roles offer $95,000 to $140,000 with administrative responsibilities.

Top industries in Raleigh

TechnologyBiotech & PharmaHigher EducationHealthcareGaming

Negotiating in Raleigh

Cite Research Triangle talent competition in your negotiation. Employers here compete directly with each other and with remote offers, creating favorable leverage for candidates.

Registered Nurse salary FAQ

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) earn the highest nursing salaries at $180,000 to $220,000. Other high paying specialties include neonatal ICU, cardiac catheterization lab, and oncology. Specialty certification generally adds $5,000 to $15,000 to base pay regardless of area.

Travel nurses typically earn 50 to 100% more than permanent staff, with weekly rates of $2,000 to $4,000+ depending on location and specialty. Compensation includes tax free housing stipends and travel reimbursement. The tradeoff is less job stability and frequent relocation.

Registered Nurses in Raleigh earn between $61,000 and $104,000 in 2026. The median salary is $81,000. Compensation varies based on experience level, company size, specific skills, and whether the position includes equity, bonuses, or other benefits.

Start by understanding the market range: $61,000 to $104,000 for Registered Nurses in Raleigh. Research the specific company, prepare data points about your experience, and consider total compensation including equity, bonuses, and benefits. Orbyt's Salary Playbook provides personalized negotiation strategies based on your specific offer.

The median Registered Nurse salary of $81,000 in Raleigh reflects the local cost of living and demand for talent. To see how this compares to the national average and other cities, use Orbyt's salary explorer which provides side by side comparisons across markets.

Registered Nurse salary in other cities

Other salaries in Raleigh

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