Registered Nurse Salary in Galveston, TX: $87,050 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Galveston, TX earns a median $87,050/year (≈ $41.85/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Galveston's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.0), that paycheck buys what $90,677 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% above the Texas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Galveston, the compensation for registered nurses in 2026 reflects both the demand for nursing staff and the ongoing structural divide between staff and travel nurses. With a median annual salary of $87,050, registered nurse pay in Galveston TX is notably lower than the national average, which stands at $102,730. Salaries for local nurses range from $60,110 at the 10th percentile to $121,552 at the 90th percentile, indicating a competitive yet varied salary structure influenced by specialty and experience. These figures, based on 2025 BLS data projected to 2026, reveal a growing market, likely fueled by the ongoing need for skilled healthcare professionals amidst an evolving healthcare landscape in the region.
About the Galveston Market
Salary estimated from Texas average ($85,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $70,042 | $33.68 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $87,050 | $41.85 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $100,170 | $48.16 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $121,552 | $58.44 |
Median Salary Position
15.26% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Galveston
In Galveston, TX, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $61,442 (2026 est.). At $87,050, the local median is 15.26% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Galveston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Galveston Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Galveston median: $87,050/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Galveston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $86,790 | +0.30% more |
| National Average | $102,730 | -15.26% less |
Registered Nurses in Galveston, TX earn a median of $87,050 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.26% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 0.30% above the Texas state average of $86,790.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Galveston has a cost of living 4.00% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Galveston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 96 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $87,050 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $90,677 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,112
2025 BLS Actual
$82,661
2026 Current Est.
$87,050
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Galveston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,112 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,832 | Actual |
| 2021 | $65,756 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,823 | Actual |
| 2023 | $72,933 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,854 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,661 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $87,050 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $91,673 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Galveston metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $62,112 (2019) to $82,661 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $91,673 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,561 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Galveston 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) | $60,110 – $70,042 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $70,042 – $87,050 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $87,050 – $100,170 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $100,170 – $121,552 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Galveston
Analyzing the employment market, only 10 registered nurses are currently employed in Galveston, a factor that can compress salary growth despite the area's attractive cost of living index of 96. This index suggests that nurses, while facing lower nominal salaries, may experience a relatively favorable purchasing power compared to other locations with high living costs. Facilities like acute care hospitals and specialty centers are typically the top employers, as they often offer higher wages, particularly for nurses with certifications in critical care or specialty areas. The pay gap within the registered nurse salary in Galveston can also be attributed to shift differentials, with premiums for nighttime and weekend shifts adding substantially to earnings. For maximizing compensation, potential strategies include seeking positions in magnet hospitals that favor BSN-educated nurses and pursuing specialty certifications that open doors to higher-paying roles.
More salary data for Galveston, 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 $82,661 for registered nursesin the Galveston 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 Galveston 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