Registered Nurse Salary in Jacksonville, NC: $89,250 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Jacksonville, NC earns a median $89,250/year (≈ $42.90/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Jacksonville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.1), that paycheck buys what $96,921 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.4% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Jacksonville, North Carolina, registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $89,250, which highlights a significant gap compared to the national median of $102,730. The salary ranges from $70,305 at the lower end (10th percentile) to as much as $128,931 for those in the top 10 percent. These figures are derived from the 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, projected into 2026, revealing the dynamics of local healthcare compensation. The disparity in pay is particularly marked between staff nurses and travel nurses in the area, with travel positions often commanding higher rates due to the ongoing demand for personnel in specialty and acute care settings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,305 | $33.80 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $70,305 | $33.80 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $89,250 | $42.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,995 | $51.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $128,931 | $61.99 |
Median Salary Position
13.12% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Jacksonville
In Jacksonville, NC, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $58,626 (2026 est.). At $89,250, the local median is 13.12% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Jacksonville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Jacksonville Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Jacksonville median: $89,250/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Jacksonville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $87,158 | +2.40% more |
| National Average | $102,730 | -13.12% less |
Registered Nurses in Jacksonville, NC earn a median of $89,250 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.12% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 2.40% above the North Carolina state average of $87,158.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Jacksonville has a cost of living 7.92% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Jacksonville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 92.085 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $89,250 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $96,921 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.59% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$63,210
2025 BLS Actual
$84,750
2026 Current Est.
$89,250
2019–2027 Growth
+48.7%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Jacksonville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $63,210 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,890 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,990 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,230 | Actual |
| 2023 | $76,240 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,860 | Actual |
| 2025 | $84,750 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $89,250 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $93,989 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Jacksonville metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 34.1% from $63,210 (2019) to $84,750 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $93,989 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,779 (48.69%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Jacksonville 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) | $70,305 – $70,305 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $70,305 – $89,250 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $89,250 – $107,995 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,995 – $128,931 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Jacksonville
With around 870 registered nurses currently employed in Jacksonville, the local job market remains robust despite a relatively lower cost of living index of 92.085, indicating favorable purchasing power for healthcare workers. Employers such as hospital systems, particularly those with magnet status or emergency departments, tend to offer higher salaries to attract skilled professionals. Factors contributing to the wide pay range include shift differentials, which can add $3 to $7 per hour for night and weekend shifts, as well as additional pay for specialty certifications and charge nurse roles. For RNs looking to maximize registered nurse pay in Jacksonville, actively seeking positions in high-demand specialties and considering roles in travel nursing may yield the best financial rewards.
More salary data for Jacksonville, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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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 $84,750 for registered nursesin the Jacksonville 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