Nurse salary in the US
Most nurse ads in the United States pay $75,000 – $100,000 a year before tax, and $105,000 – $140,000 for charge nurses and specialty RNs. Pay varies a lot by state and city, so compare the full package: health insurance, 401(k) match, paid time off and bonus can add 20–30% on top of base pay.
What employers ask for
Most nurse job ads in the US ask for an RN licence from the state board after passing the NCLEX-RN; internationally trained nurses usually need a CGFNS credential review and an English test. The sectors hiring most are hospitals, outpatient clinics and home health, and many openings are in California, Texas, New York and Florida.
Visa sponsorship and work authorisation
Most US roles require existing work authorisation. Some employers sponsor an H-1B visa, and the ad usually says so: search the description for "sponsorship". See our visa sponsorship jobs for employers that hire from abroad.
Before you apply
US recruiters expect a one- or two-page résumé with no photo, date of birth or marital status, and most screen with an ATS first. Paste the ad into our free CV checker to see which keywords you're missing and whether your layout will read correctly. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
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