Registered Nurse Salary in Altoona, PA: $86,786 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Altoona, PA earns a median $86,786/year (≈ $41.72/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Altoona's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.5), that paycheck buys what $96,960 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.3% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Altoona, Pennsylvania, registered nurses can expect a median salary of $86,786 in 2026, which is notably lower than the national median of $102,730. The salary range for RNs in this area spans from $67,272 at the 10th percentile to $107,795 at the 90th percentile. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. As healthcare systems continue to evolve, there's a significant structural divide in pay between staff nurses and traveling nurses, the latter often enjoying higher compensation due to supply and demand dynamics. Understanding this disparity is crucial for RNs in Altoona, as it may impact career decisions and job satisfaction.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $67,272 | $32.34 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $76,929 | $36.98 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $86,786 | $41.72 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $106,763 | $51.33 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $107,795 | $51.82 |
Median Salary Position
15.52% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Altoona
In Altoona, PA, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $40,523 (2026 est.). At $86,786, the local median is 15.52% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Altoona: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Altoona Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Altoona median: $86,786/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Altoona Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $93,620 | -7.30% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -15.52% less |
Registered Nurses in Altoona, PA earn a median of $86,786 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.52% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 7.30% below the Pennsylvania state average of $93,620.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Altoona has a cost of living 10.49% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Altoona, PA has a cost-of-living index of 89.507 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $86,786 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $96,960 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$65,980
2025 BLS Actual
$82,410
2026 Current Est.
$86,786
2019–2027 Growth
+38.5%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Altoona (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $65,980 | Actual |
| 2020 | $67,000 | Actual |
| 2021 | $71,300 | Actual |
| 2022 | $73,620 | Actual |
| 2023 | $77,390 | Actual |
| 2024 | $80,460 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,410 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,786 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $91,394 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Altoona metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 24.9% from $65,980 (2019) to $82,410 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $91,394 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,414 (38.52%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Altoona 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) | $67,272 – $76,929 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $76,929 – $86,786 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $86,786 – $106,763 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $106,763 – $107,795 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Altoona
With approximately 1,390 registered nurses currently employed in Altoona, the local job market shows a steady strength despite the lower salary figures. Considering the cost of living index sits at 89.507, registered nurse pay in Altoona PA allows for a comfortable living, although it reflects a lower purchasing power compared to national averages. Employers such as the Altoona Regional Health System and specialty clinics tend to offer the highest salaries, particularly for roles in intensive care or surgical specialties. Factors such as shift differentials—where night and weekend shifts can add $3-7/hour—alongside opportunities for specialty certification stipends, charge nurse premiums, and incentives offered by magnet healthcare organizations, contribute to the variations in registered nurse salary in Altoona. For nurses seeking to maximize their earnings, pursuing specialties and considering shifts that offer a premium pay rate can be strategic moves.
More salary data for Altoona, PA:
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 $82,410 for registered nursesin the Altoona 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