Registered Nurse Salary in Abilene, TX: $84,501 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Abilene, TX earns a median $84,501/year (≈ $40.63/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Abilene's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.4), that paycheck buys what $93,512 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.6% below the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Abilene, TX, registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $84,501 as projected for 2026. This figure is notably below the national median of $102,730, reflecting a difference of approximately 17.74%. The salary range for registered nurses in this region spans from $67,283 at the lower end (P10) to $106,058 at the higher end (P90), with most nurses likely earning between $80,436 (P25) and $104,941 (P75). These statistics are derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys and indicate a consistent demand for nursing professionals in the area, highlighting the potential for growth in this field despite the lower compensation compared to national figures.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $67,283 | $32.35 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,436 | $38.67 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $84,501 | $40.63 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $104,941 | $50.45 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $106,058 | $50.99 |
Median Salary Position
17.74% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Abilene
In Abilene, TX, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $38,775 (2026 est.). At $84,501, the local median is 17.74% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Abilene: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Abilene Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Abilene median: $84,501/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Abilene Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $86,756 | -2.60% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -17.74% less |
Registered Nurses in Abilene, TX earn a median of $84,501 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.74% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 2.60% below the Texas state average of $86,756.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Abilene has a cost of living 9.64% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Abilene, TX has a cost-of-living index of 90.364 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $84,501 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $93,512 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.66% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$64,700
2025 BLS Actual
$80,240
2026 Current Est.
$84,501
2019–2027 Growth
+37.5%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Abilene (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,700 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,360 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,910 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $73,610 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,860 | Actual |
| 2025 | $80,240 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,501 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,988 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Abilene metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 24.0% from $64,700 (2019) to $80,240 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,988 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,288 (37.54%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Abilene 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) | $67,283 – $80,436 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,436 – $84,501 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $84,501 – $104,941 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $104,941 – $106,058 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Abilene
The employment landscape for registered nurses in Abilene is robust, with about 1,680 nurses working in various settings. While the overall cost of living in the city is relatively low, reflected by a cost-of-living index of 90.364, this can enhance the effective purchasing power of registered nurse pay in Abilene, TX. Local healthcare employers, including acute care hospitals and specialty clinics, typically offer higher wages for specialized roles such as ICU and emergency department positions. The significant variance in salaries can often be attributed to factors such as shift differentials, where night shifts can add an additional $3 to $7 per hour, and the presence of specialty certification stipends from organizations like the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. To maximize earnings in this market, pursuing advanced certifications and taking on supervisory or charge nurse roles can provide tangible benefits, further enhancing one's registered nurse salary in Abilene.
More salary data for Abilene, TX:
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 $80,240 for registered nursesin the Abilene 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