Registered Nurse Salary in Bear, DE: $100,120 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Bear, DE earns a median $100,120/year (≈ $48.14/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Bear's price level (2% above national, BEA RPP 101.7), that paycheck buys what $98,446 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.2% below the Delaware state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Registered nurses in Bear, Delaware, can anticipate a median annual salary of $100,120 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $102,730. The salary range for registered nurses in this area varies significantly, starting from approximately $74,721 at the 10th percentile and reaching up to $129,155 at the 90th percentile. These estimates, based on 2025 BLS data projected to 2026 with regional price adjustments, reflect the local job market's dynamics. Specialty certifications, such as CCRN and CEN, can enhance base pay, yielding higher compensation opportunities. Bear’s job market is promising for registered nurses, underscoring the importance of qualifications and certifications in this competitive healthcare environment.
About the Bear Market
Salary estimated from Delaware average ($85,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $74,721 | $35.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $83,863 | $40.32 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $100,120 | $48.14 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $110,376 | $53.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $129,155 | $62.09 |
Median Salary Position
2.54% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bear
In Bear, DE, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $54,434 (2026 est.). At $100,120, the local median is 2.54% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bear: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bear Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Bear median: $100,120/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bear Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware Average | $104,510 | -4.20% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -2.54% less |
Registered Nurses in Bear, DE earn a median of $100,120 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.54% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 4.20% below the Delaware state average of $104,510.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bear has a cost of living 1.70% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bear, DE has a cost-of-living index of 101.7 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $100,120 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $98,446 — a 1.67% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$71,438
2025 BLS Actual
$95,072
2026 Current Est.
$100,120
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Bear (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $71,438 | Actual |
| 2020 | $73,416 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,629 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,157 | Actual |
| 2023 | $83,884 | Actual |
| 2024 | $82,841 | Actual |
| 2025 | $95,072 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $100,120 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $105,437 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bear metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $71,438 (2019) to $95,072 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $105,437 by 2027 — a total increase of $33,999 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bear 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $74,721 – $83,863 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $83,863 – $100,120 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $100,120 – $110,376 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $110,376 – $129,155 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Bear
In Bear, the local job market consists of only six registered nurses, emphasizing the tightness of the supply in relation to demand. The cost of living index in this area stands at 101.7, which is slightly above the national average and might affect the purchasing power of nurses’ salaries. Employers that tend to provide more competitive pay include hospital systems, particularly those with magnet status that value BSN-prepared nurses and specialty certifications. Pay disparities largely stem from factors such as shift differentials for nights and weekends, supplemental pay for specialized roles, and the high demand for travel nurses in the current healthcare climate. To maximize earnings in Bear, registered nurses should consider targeting positions in high-demand specialties or facilities that offer additional incentives for certifications and flexible scheduling.
More salary data for Bear, DE:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $95,072 for registered nursesin the Bear metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Bear is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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