Registered Nurse Salary in Salisbury, NC: $85,688 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Salisbury, NC earns a median $85,688/year (≈ $41.20/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Salisbury's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $91,547 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.7% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
The compensation for registered nursing in Salisbury, NC, sees an anticipated median annual salary of $85,688 in 2026, which lags by approximately 16.59% compared to the national figure of $102,730. Salaries range broadly from $60,977 at the 10th percentile to $113,002 at the 90th percentile, indicating that effective compensation can vary significantly based on factors such as shift differentials, with those working nights and weekends earning additional bonuses ranging from $3 to $7 per hour. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for local market conditions, presenting a snapshot of how much registered nurses can expect to earn in the region. In this evolving job market, Salisbury offers a unique blend of opportunities shaped by local healthcare needs and varying employment structures.
About the Salisbury Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($79,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,977 | $29.32 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $69,987 | $33.65 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,688 | $41.20 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $95,248 | $45.79 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $113,002 | $54.33 |
Median Salary Position
16.59% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Salisbury
In Salisbury, NC, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $52,025 (2026 est.). At $85,688, the local median is 16.59% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Salisbury: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Salisbury Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Salisbury median: $85,688/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Salisbury Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $87,169 | -1.70% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -16.59% less |
Registered Nurses in Salisbury, NC earn a median of $85,688 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.59% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 1.70% below the North Carolina state average of $87,169.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Salisbury has a cost of living 6.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Salisbury, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $85,688 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $91,547 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$61,140
2025 BLS Actual
$81,367
2026 Current Est.
$85,688
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Salisbury (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,140 | Actual |
| 2020 | $62,833 | Actual |
| 2021 | $64,727 | Actual |
| 2022 | $67,746 | Actual |
| 2023 | $71,791 | Actual |
| 2024 | $72,664 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,367 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,688 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $90,238 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Salisbury metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $61,140 (2019) to $81,367 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,238 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,098 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Salisbury 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) | $60,977 – $69,987 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $69,987 – $85,688 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,688 – $95,248 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $95,248 – $113,002 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Salisbury
In Salisbury, the local job market for registered nurses consists of just six positions, highlighting a somewhat limited scale of employment for this critical profession. The cost-of-living index at 93.6 suggests a favorable purchasing power for nurses, although it also implies that salaries may not be as competitive as those in higher-cost areas. Major healthcare employers in Salisbury, including hospital systems and specialty clinics, typically offer the highest pay scales, particularly for shift differentials and for nurses holding specialty certifications that are recognized by professional bodies like AACN. The pay disparity within the nursing sector here can be attributed to various factors such as charge nurse responsibilities, hospital magnet status, and the nuanced roles of ICU versus floor assignments. For nurses looking to maximize their earnings, seeking shifts during peak demand hours and pursuing specialty certifications can be practical strategies in the Salisbury market, given the ongoing demand for skilled nursing professionals in diverse settings.
More salary data for Salisbury, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in Salisbury, NC in 2026?
Is Salisbury, NC a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Can registered nurses make $100K in Salisbury?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted registered nurse salary in Salisbury?
How much does a registered nurse make per hour in Salisbury?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 $81,367 for registered nursesin the Salisbury 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 Salisbury 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