Registered Nurse Hourly Pay in Houston, TX: $50.55 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a registered nurse working in Houston, TX runs $50.55 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $105,131 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Weighted against Houston's regional price level (BEA RPP 98.6, 1% below national), each hour of work buys what $51.25 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $63,085 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Houston, the registered nurse hourly pay stands at an attractive median of $50.55, which not only exceeds the national hourly median of $49.39 but also reflects the city's robust healthcare demand. This rate provides ample opportunities for part-time and per-diem nurses, who frequently find themselves working in a variety of settings such as hospital floors, intensive care units (ICUs), emergency departments, and outpatient clinics. For these professionals, the hourly range extends from $37.90 at the entry-level to as much as $66.04 for high earners, offering flexibility and competitive compensation. The official figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, underscore the growing importance of registered nursing in Houston’s healthcare landscape.
Registered Nurse Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37.90 | $303.21 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $41.46 | $331.68 |
| Median (P50) | $50.55 | $404.39 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $58.73 | $469.85 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $66.04 | $528.32 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Houston
Based on $50.55/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $50.55/hr, a registered nurse working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Houston, TX can expect to earn approximately $105,142 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $60,659. With a cost-of-living index of 98.63 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Houston.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Houston
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,021.95 | $8,762 | $105,142 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,213.17 | $5,257 | $63,085 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $808.78 | $3,505 | $42,057 |
Compare RN Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (Houston) | $50.55 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (National Avg) | $29.34 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) (National Avg) | $18.60 |
| Nurse Practitioner (National Avg) | $63.50 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $19.70 |
Registered Nurses in Houston, TX earn a median of $105,131 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.34% higher than the national median of $102,730 and 21.10% above the Texas state average of $86,813.
Registered Nurse Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $50.55/hr = $63,085/year (purchasing power: $63,962).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $105,142/year (purchasing power: $106,603).
CoL index: 98.629 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$38.77/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$48.00/hr
2026 Current Est.
$50.55/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+37.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Houston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38.77/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $40.49/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $38.07/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $39.59/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $44.87/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $47.02/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $48.00/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $50.55/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $53.23/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for registered nurses in Houston grew 23.8% from $38.77/hr (2019) to $48.00/hr (2025). At a 5.31% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $53.23/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem registered nurses can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Registered Nurse in Houston
When examining the potential income for part-time registered nurses, those working three days a week can take home an impressive sum relative to full-time counterparts. Depending on their scheduling, part-timers can enjoy a significant income while maintaining work-life balance. Additionally, per diem registered nurses in Houston often bill between $50 and $80 per hour, allowing specialty nurses to capitalize on fluctuating demand. Travel nursing opportunities further elevate earning potentials; contracts can yield between $2,000 and $4,500 weekly, particularly in high-need areas like ICUs. For many RNs, the choice between slightly lower hourly rates with benefits and higher pay without them often requires careful consideration. It’s wise for nurses to negotiate effectively based on their unique circumstances, particularly in a city where various employers, including acute care hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and home health agencies, offer diverse pay structures.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for registered nurses in Houston. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov