Registered Nurse Salary in Lancaster, PA: $94,379 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Lancaster, PA earns a median $94,379/year (≈ $45.38/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Lancaster's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 98.3), that paycheck buys what $96,053 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.8% above the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, registered nurses receive a 2026 median annual salary of $94,379, which is notably lower than the national median of $102,730. The salary range in the area extends from $81,026 at the 10th percentile to $111,092 at the 90th percentile, representing variations in experience and specialization. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, this compensation structure reflects the local demand for highly skilled nurses, especially those with specialty certifications such as CCRN or CEN, which can command a premium in pay. The healthcare landscape in Lancaster offers diverse employment opportunities and is indicative of the regional economic factors influencing registered nurse pay in Lancaster PA.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $81,026 | $38.95 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $86,544 | $41.61 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $94,379 | $45.38 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $110,291 | $53.02 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $111,092 | $53.41 |
Median Salary Position
8.13% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lancaster
In Lancaster, PA, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $30,066 (2026 est.). At $94,379, the local median is 8.13% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lancaster: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lancaster Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Lancaster median: $94,379/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lancaster Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $93,630 | +0.80% more |
| National Average | $102,730 | -8.13% less |
Registered Nurses in Lancaster, PA earn a median of $94,379 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.13% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 0.80% above the Pennsylvania state average of $93,630.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lancaster has a cost of living 1.74% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lancaster, PA has a cost-of-living index of 98.257 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $94,379 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $96,053 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.77% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$70,450
2025 BLS Actual
$89,620
2026 Current Est.
$94,379
2019–2027 Growth
+41.1%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Lancaster (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,450 | Actual |
| 2020 | $71,590 | Actual |
| 2021 | $74,690 | Actual |
| 2022 | $78,040 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,470 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,180 | Actual |
| 2025 | $89,620 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $94,379 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $99,390 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lancaster metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 27.2% from $70,450 (2019) to $89,620 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $99,390 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,940 (41.08%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lancaster 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) | $81,026 – $86,544 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $86,544 – $94,379 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $94,379 – $110,291 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $110,291 – $111,092 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Lancaster
The local job market shows strength with approximately 5,640 registered nurses currently employed in Lancaster, offering a solid foundation for those entering the field. The cost of living index in Lancaster stands at 98.257, suggesting that residents experience lower living expenses compared to the national average, enhancing overall purchasing power. Among notable employers, hospital systems that emphasize acute care and critical care roles, particularly those identified as magnet-status facilities, tend to offer higher compensation packages. Factors contributing to the wage variance include shift differentials, where night and weekend shifts typically garner additional pay, along with incentives for specialty certifications. Nurses looking to increase their earnings can consider transitioning to travel nursing roles or seeking positions in specialty areas such as surgical centers and home health, where compensation may be more lucrative.
More salary data for Lancaster, 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 $89,620 for registered nursesin the Lancaster 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