Registered nurses in Arizona earn between $70,540 at the 10th percentile and $130,930 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market runs from $81,810 at the 25th percentile to $108,580 at the 75th percentile, so most offers for experienced but not highly specialized nurses will land in that band. Use the 25th-to-75th range as your core budgeting target and adjust up or down based on the candidate's experience and the specific demands of the role.
Registered nurse salary in Arizona (2026)
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The average registered nurse salary in Arizona is $99,730 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $99,500 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Arizona employs 73,150 registered nurses, and the $230 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in Arizona typically earn around $70,540, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $130,930 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in Arizona, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $99,500 |
Average Annual Salary | $99,730 |
vs. National Average | 1.7% below the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 73,150 employed registered nurses across Arizona.
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Registered nurse salary percentiles in Arizona
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $70,540 |
25th Percentile | $81,810 |
75th Percentile | $108,580 |
90th Percentile | $130,930 |
Employers setting offers for registered nurses in Arizona should expect a wide range depending on experience level. Entry-level candidates typically fall near $70,540, while experienced specialists push toward and past $130,930, giving you a practical budgeting span of roughly $60,000 across the full talent pool.
City | Average Annual Salary |
Prescott | $108,420 |
Phoenix | $101,090 |
Flagstaff | $97,840 |
Tucson | $95,800 |
Yuma | $92,130 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a registered nurse in Arizona, so a single statewide figure will not serve every hiring situation. Prescott leads at $108,420 while Yuma sits at $92,130, a spread of more than $16,000 that can shift your budget depending on where the role is based. Anchoring your offer to the local market rather than the state average will keep you competitive in each specific geography.
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Arizona | $99,730 | $99,500 |
California | $150,280 | $140,270 |
Nevada | $105,710 | $103,670 |
Colorado | $99,370 | $100,260 |
Texas | $95,380 | $95,970 |
New Mexico | $95,290 | $94,340 |
Arizona sits in a mid-range position among its regional peers, making it a cost-effective market compared to California and Nevada but broadly comparable to Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico. California's average of $150,280 is more than $50,000 above Arizona's $99,730, so employers competing for nurses who could relocate west need to account for that gap. Colorado's mean of $99,370 is nearly identical to Arizona's, which means compensation expectations will be similar if you are recruiting across those two states.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in Arizona
What is the salary range for a registered nurse in Arizona?
What do the top-earning registered nurses make in Arizona?
Registered nurses at the 90th percentile in Arizona earn $130,930 per year. Candidates at this level typically bring specialized clinical skills, advanced certifications, or significant leadership experience that commands a premium above the state median of $99,500. When recruiting for senior or specialized roles, plan your offer ceiling around this figure and expect strong candidates to negotiate toward it.
What is the average registered nurse salary in Arizona?
The average registered nurse salary in Arizona is $99,730 per year, with a median of $99,500. The close alignment between the mean and median tells you that the distribution is relatively balanced, though the $230 gap still reflects some upward pull from higher-compensated roles. For most hiring decisions, the median of $99,500 is the more practical anchor for setting a competitive offer.
How does Arizona compare to other states for registered nurse salary?
Arizona's average of $99,730 places it below California ($150,280) and Nevada ($105,710) but above Texas ($95,380) and New Mexico ($95,290). Colorado's average of $99,370 is nearly identical to Arizona's, so cross-state recruiting between those two markets will not require significant compensation adjustments. If you are hiring nurses who might otherwise consider California, be prepared for a meaningful compensation gap that other factors such as cost of living will need to offset.
Registered Nurse salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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