Registered Nurse Salary in Greensboro, NC: $87,260 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Greensboro, NC earns a median $87,260/year (≈ $41.96/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Greensboro's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.9), that paycheck buys what $93,964 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.1% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
For registered nurses in Greensboro, North Carolina, the expected median salary for 2026 is projected at $87,260, reflecting a competitive landscape in the region. The salary spectrum reaches from $69,926 at the 10th percentile to $129,068 at the 90th percentile, highlighting opportunities for growth depending on experience and specialty. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, show a significant difference when compared to the national median of $102,730, indicating that local compensation is approximately 15.06% lower. Factors such as shift differentials for nights and weekends often enhance earnings, making certain positions especially lucrative for those willing to work non-traditional hours, which is a key aspect of the job market in Greensboro.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $69,926 | $33.61 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $81,773 | $39.31 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $87,260 | $41.96 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $104,204 | $50.10 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $129,068 | $62.05 |
Median Salary Position
15.06% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Greensboro
In Greensboro, NC, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,142 (2026 est.). At $87,260, the local median is 15.06% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Greensboro: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Greensboro Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Greensboro median: $87,260/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Greensboro Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $87,173 | +0.10% more |
| National Average | $102,730 | -15.06% less |
Registered Nurses in Greensboro, NC earn a median of $87,260 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.06% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 0.10% above the North Carolina state average of $87,173.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Greensboro has a cost of living 7.14% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Greensboro, NC has a cost-of-living index of 92.865 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $87,260 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $93,964 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.68% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$65,510
2025 BLS Actual
$82,860
2026 Current Est.
$87,260
2019–2027 Growth
+40.3%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Greensboro (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $65,510 | Actual |
| 2020 | $67,780 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,000 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,140 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,950 | Actual |
| 2024 | $84,200 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,860 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $87,260 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $91,893 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Greensboro metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 26.5% from $65,510 (2019) to $82,860 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $91,893 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,383 (40.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Greensboro 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) | $69,926 – $81,773 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $81,773 – $87,260 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $87,260 – $104,204 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $104,204 – $129,068 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Greensboro
The job market for registered nurses in Greensboro is robust, with 6,240 RNs employed across a variety of healthcare settings. The cost of living in the area, reflected in a 2026 index of 92.865, is below the national average, which can positively impact take-home purchasing power. In terms of the highest-paying employers, local hospital systems, especially those with magnet status and critical care units, typically offer the best compensation packages. The disparity in pay can often be attributed to factors such as shift differentials (with night shifts earning an additional $3-7 per hour), specialty certifications, and the varying demands of different healthcare roles. For nurses looking to maximize their registered nurse pay in Greensboro, pursuing specialty certifications and considering positions in emergency departments, ICUs, or travel nursing could significantly enhance earning potential.
More salary data for Greensboro, NC:
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 $82,860 for registered nursesin the Greensboro 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
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