Registered Nurse Salary in Port Arthur, TX: $87,450 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Port Arthur, TX earns a median $87,450/year (≈ $42.04/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Port Arthur's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.0), that paycheck buys what $91,094 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.8% above the Texas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In 2026, registered nurses in Port Arthur, TX, can expect a median annual salary of $87,450, which reflects the region's job market dynamics and cost of living adjustments. For those with specialty certifications such as CCRN or CEN, a premium can be added to base pay, substantially increasing earning potential. With a salary range from $61,831 at the 10th percentile to $120,838 at the 90th, the local pay structure allows for significant upward mobility depending on experience, specialization, and the specific healthcare setting. These estimates are based on 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, and highlight the competitive compensation landscape for nurses in this area.
About the Port Arthur Market
Salary estimated from Texas average ($85,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61,831 | $29.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $71,379 | $34.32 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $87,450 | $42.04 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99,664 | $47.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $120,838 | $58.10 |
Median Salary Position
14.87% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Port Arthur
In Port Arthur, TX, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,007 (2026 est.). At $87,450, the local median is 14.87% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Port Arthur: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Port Arthur Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Port Arthur median: $87,450/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Port Arthur Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $86,756 | +0.80% more |
| National Average | $102,730 | -14.87% less |
Registered Nurses in Port Arthur, TX earn a median of $87,450 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.87% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 0.80% above the Texas state average of $86,756.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Port Arthur 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.
Port Arthur, TX has a cost-of-living index of 96 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $87,450 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $91,094 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,398
2025 BLS Actual
$83,041
2026 Current Est.
$87,450
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Port Arthur (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,398 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,126 | Actual |
| 2021 | $66,058 | Actual |
| 2022 | $69,140 | Actual |
| 2023 | $73,268 | Actual |
| 2024 | $82,636 | Actual |
| 2025 | $83,041 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $87,450 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $92,094 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Port Arthur metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $62,398 (2019) to $83,041 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $92,094 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,696 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Port Arthur 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) | $61,831 – $71,379 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $71,379 – $87,450 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $87,450 – $99,664 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $99,664 – $120,838 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Port Arthur
Employment opportunities for registered nurses in Port Arthur remain stable, with around 12 professionals currently practicing in the area. The cost of living index stands at 96, slightly below the national average, which can positively impact local purchasing power. Employers such as acute care facilities, surgical centers, and home health agencies may offer the highest salaries, particularly for nurses willing to work night shifts or weekends, which often come with differentials of $3-7 per hour. Additionally, specialty certifications and charge nurse roles can boost income further. To maximize pay in Port Arthur, nurses should strategically seek positions in higher-paying environments and pursue certifications that align with market demand, ensuring they remain competitive in a dynamic field that values advanced skills and flexibility.
More salary data for Port Arthur, 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 $83,041 for registered nursesin the Port Arthur 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 Port Arthur 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