Registered Nurse Salary in Niagara Falls, NY: $103,718 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Niagara Falls, NY earns a median $103,718/year (≈ $49.86/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Niagara Falls's price level (16% above national, BEA RPP 115.9), that paycheck buys what $89,489 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.5% below the New York state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, registered nurses in Niagara Falls, NY, can anticipate a median annual salary of $103,718, reflecting a slight increase over the national median of $102,730. The local salary range varies significantly, with entry-level positions starting at $74,354 and top earners reaching up to $137,294. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data, project a healthy compensation environment influenced by local market conditions. Nurses in this region may find that working nights and weekends contributes to a more effective compensation strategy, as shift differentials often provide additional earnings that enhance overall pay structures. Given this context, the job market for registered nurses in Niagara Falls appears robust, suggesting competitive opportunities for those entering the field.
About the Niagara Falls Market
Salary estimated from New York average ($104,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $74,354 | $35.74 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,037 | $40.88 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $103,718 | $49.86 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $115,682 | $55.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $137,294 | $66.01 |
Median Salary Position
0.96% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Niagara Falls
In Niagara Falls, NY, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $62,940 (2026 est.). At $103,718, the local median is 0.96% above the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Niagara Falls: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Niagara Falls Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Niagara Falls median: $103,718/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Niagara Falls Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $105,297 | -1.50% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | +0.96% more |
Registered Nurses in Niagara Falls, NY earn a median of $103,718 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.96% higher than the national median of $102,730 and 1.50% below the New York state average of $105,297.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Niagara Falls has a cost of living 15.90% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Niagara Falls, NY has a cost-of-living index of 115.9 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $103,718 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $89,489 — a 13.72% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$74,005
2025 BLS Actual
$98,488
2026 Current Est.
$103,718
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Niagara Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $74,005 | Actual |
| 2020 | $76,054 | Actual |
| 2021 | $78,346 | Actual |
| 2022 | $82,001 | Actual |
| 2023 | $86,898 | Actual |
| 2024 | $118,749 | Actual |
| 2025 | $98,488 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $103,718 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $109,225 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Niagara Falls metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $74,005 (2019) to $98,488 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $109,225 by 2027 — a total increase of $35,220 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Niagara Falls 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) | $74,354 – $85,037 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,037 – $103,718 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $103,718 – $115,682 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $115,682 – $137,294 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Niagara Falls
Despite only 10 registered nurses currently employed in the area, it is crucial to understand how local economic factors shape compensation. With a cost-of-living index of 115.9 in Niagara Falls, the purchasing power for registered nurse salaries can be challenging. Employers such as hospital systems including acute care and ICU services tend to offer some of the highest salaries, along with compensation from surgical specialty centers and home health agencies. The observed disparity between lower and higher salaries can be attributed to several factors, including the demand for specialty certification, skills, and the tough schedules associated with travel nursing. Additionally, nurses can maximize their earnings by pursuing certifications, taking night and weekend shifts, and possibly seeking employment in Magnet-status hospitals, which favor BSN-prepared nurses.
More salary data for Niagara Falls, NY:
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 $98,488 for registered nursesin the Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls 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