Georgia's mean registered nurse salary of $95,080 places it in the middle of the regional pack, just below Texas at $95,380 and above Florida at $90,650 and Tennessee at $85,390. For employers, this means compensation expectations from candidates in neighboring states will be broadly similar, though you may have a modest advantage when recruiting from lower-wage markets like Tennessee. Budgeting near the Georgia median of $93,550 should keep your offers competitive across most of the Southeast.
Registered nurse salary in Georgia (2026)
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The average registered nurse salary in Georgia is $95,080 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $93,550 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Georgia employs 100,950 registered nurses, and the $1,530 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in Georgia typically earn around $68,920, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $128,640 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in Georgia, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $93,550 |
Average Annual Salary | $95,080 |
vs. National Average | 6.3% below the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 100,950 employed registered nurses across Georgia.
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Registered nurse salary percentiles in Georgia
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $68,920 |
25th Percentile | $79,090 |
75th Percentile | $106,330 |
90th Percentile | $128,640 |
Employers setting an offer for a registered nurse in Georgia should expect a wide range depending on experience level. Entry-level candidates typically fall near $68,920, while experienced senior nurses reach $128,640 or beyond, giving you a practical $59,720 spread to work with when structuring compensation bands.
Registered nurse salary by city in Georgia
City | Average Annual Salary |
Atlanta | $99,760 |
Augusta | $91,530 |
Macon | $89,490 |
Savannah | $87,860 |
Columbus | $82,120 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a registered nurse hire in Georgia. Atlanta commands the highest average at $99,760, while Columbus sits at $82,120, a difference of $17,640 per year that should factor directly into your compensation planning if you are hiring across multiple Georgia markets.
How Georgia compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Georgia | $95,080 | $93,550 |
Texas | $95,380 | $95,970 |
Virginia | $93,850 | $93,600 |
Florida | $90,650 | $84,190 |
North Carolina | $90,470 | $84,350 |
Tennessee | $85,390 | $81,500 |
Georgia sits in a competitive but cost-effective position relative to its regional peers, which gives employers here a reasonable hiring environment without the premium compensation pressure seen in higher-cost markets. Georgia's mean of $95,080 tracks closely with Texas at $95,380 and Virginia at $93,850, and sits above Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Employers recruiting across state lines should note that candidate salary expectations will be broadly similar when sourcing from Virginia or Texas, but candidates relocating from Tennessee may accept offers closer to $85,390.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in Georgia
How does Georgia compare to other states for registered nurse salary?
What do the top-earning registered nurses make in Georgia?
Registered nurses at the 90th percentile in Georgia earn $128,640 per year. Employers competing for senior or specialized nursing talent should plan offers well above the statewide median of $93,550 to attract candidates at this level. The gap between the median and the 90th percentile is $35,090, which reflects how much specialization and experience can shift compensation expectations.
What is the salary range for a registered nurse in Georgia?
The salary range for a registered nurse in Georgia runs from $68,920 at the 10th percentile to $128,640 at the 90th percentile. When building a compensation band, use the 25th percentile of $79,090 as a floor for entry-level hires and the 75th percentile of $106,330 as a benchmark for experienced candidates. Anchoring your offer to the specific seniority and specialization of the role will help you stay competitive without overpaying for the position.
What is the average registered nurse salary in Georgia?
The average registered nurse salary in Georgia is $95,080 per year, with a median of $93,550. The $1,530 gap between the two figures is modest, but it does signal that a segment of higher-compensated roles pulls the average slightly above the midpoint. For most hiring decisions, the median of $93,550 is the more practical anchor when setting an initial offer.
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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