Registered Nurse Hourly Pay in Salt Lake City, UT: $43.49 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a registered nurse working in Salt Lake City, UT runs $43.49 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $90,451 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Weighted against Salt Lake City's regional price level (BEA RPP 100.9, 1% above national), each hour of work buys what $43.12 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $54,279 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Salt Lake City, UT, the registered nurse hourly pay is projected to be $43.49 in 2026, demonstrating a significant difference from the national hourly median of $49.39. This pay scale highlights the earning potential for both full-time and part-time nurses working in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and home health visits. For example, part-time registered nurses working three days a week could earn a substantial income, particularly in specialized areas such as ICU or emergency departments. The hourly range spans from $36.30 for entry-level positions to $58.46 for top earners, indicating a robust market for registered nursing professionals in Salt Lake City. These figures are based on the 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
Registered Nurse Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36.30 | $290.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40.96 | $327.64 |
| Median (P50) | $43.49 | $347.94 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $53.43 | $427.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $58.46 | $467.66 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Salt Lake City
Based on $43.49/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $43.49/hr, a registered nurse working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Salt Lake City, UT can expect to earn approximately $90,466 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $52,192. With a cost-of-living index of 100.87 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Salt Lake City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Salt Lake City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,739.72 | $7,539 | $90,466 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,043.83 | $4,523 | $54,279 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $695.89 | $3,016 | $36,186 |
Compare RN Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (Salt Lake City) | $43.49 |
| 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 Salt Lake City, UT earn a median of $90,451 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.95% lower than the national median of $102,730.
Registered Nurse Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $43.49/hr = $54,279/year (purchasing power: $53,812).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $90,466/year (purchasing power: $89,687).
CoL index: 100.868 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$32.31/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$41.30/hr
2026 Current Est.
$43.49/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+41.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Salt Lake City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $32.31/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $33.02/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $36.89/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $38.50/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $38.49/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $39.97/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $41.30/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $43.49/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $45.80/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for registered nurses in Salt Lake City grew 27.8% from $32.31/hr (2019) to $41.30/hr (2025). At a 5.31% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $45.80/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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City
Analyzing the earning potential for registered nurses in Salt Lake City reveals several nuanced financial scenarios. Working a 24-hour week for three days, a registered nurse would accumulate around $54,036 annually, contrasting with full-time earnings. For those seeking flexibility through per diem roles, per diem registered nurse pay in Salt Lake City can vary widely, often ranging from $50 to $80 per hour depending on specialty. Additionally, travel nurses are experiencing lucrative contracts, with earnings from $2,000 to $4,500 per week, and crisis-rate positions can command between $5,000 to $8,000 in high-demand areas. While hospital systems tend to offer competitive hourly rates, nurses must weigh the benefits of health insurance and stability against potentially higher pay offered by travel nursing agencies or lower-paying positions in ambulatory clinics that lack benefits. In this vibrant market, registered nurses can negotiate their hourly rate based on specialty experience, shift differentials, and the current demand in Salt Lake City's healthcare landscape.
More salary data for Salt Lake City, UT:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for registered nurses in Salt Lake City in 2026?
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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 Salt Lake City. 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