What to Pay a Registered Nurse in Houston, TX (2026)
How to set your RN pay range in Houston
Three pay positions, modeled against current Houston market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
RN salary percentile distribution in Houston, TX
Where the Houston market actually sits for RN base pay.
Most Houston employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($92,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $80,000 and a max of $105,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Texas pay transparency compliance for RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a RN in Texas.
For a RN role in Houston, a compliant good-faith range looks like $80,000 to $105,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $80,000–$105,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top RN employers in Houston — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring RNs in the Houston metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Methodist | Academic medical center system | $92K–$120K | Very common ($8K–$18K) |
| Memorial Hermann Health System | Health system | $88K–$115K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center | Specialty academic | $96K–$125K | Common ($5K–$12K) |
| Texas Children's Hospital | Pediatric specialty | $92K–$120K | Common ($5K–$10K) |
| HCA Houston Healthcare | Health system | $86K–$112K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Harris Health System | Public health system | $82K–$108K | Government benefits |
RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Houston
How hard is it to fill a RN role in Houston.
Houston's RN market is anchored by the Texas Medical Center — the largest medical complex in the world. MD Anderson, Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, and Texas Children's drive outsized demand for oncology, transplant, and pediatric specialty RNs. Bilingual Spanish-English fluency is essentially required.
Skill premiums RN candidates command in Houston, TX
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Oncology certifications (OCN, BMTCN) | +6–10% | Very high — MD Anderson demand |
| Pediatric certifications (CPN, CCRN-P) | +6–10% | Very high — Texas Children's demand |
| CCRN (Critical Care RN) | +7–11% | Very high |
| Bilingual Spanish | +4–7% | Very high — ~58% of postings require |
| BSN (vs ADN) | +5–8% | Standard at TMC institutions |
RN total compensation in Houston — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for RNs in Houston. "Prevalence" reflects share of Houston disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Houston Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $92,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–20% premium | ~92% |
| Sign-on bonus | $8,000–$18,000 | ~74% |
| Specialty certification pay | +6–10% premium | ~56% |
| Overtime opportunity | $8K–$18K annualized | ~93% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $3,000–$5,000/yr | ~62% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$115,000–$140,000 | — |
Houston's RN total comp is competitive with Northeast metros despite lower base — TMC sign-on bonuses ($10K–$18K) and specialty certification premiums close the gap. The OT opportunity is unusually high due to chronic specialty understaffing at TMC institutions.
RN pay by setting in Houston — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the RN range splits by employer type in the Houston metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute-care hospital (med-surg) | $88,000 | $78K–$102K | Moderate |
| ICU / Critical care | $106,000 | $94K–$122K | Very high |
| Emergency department | $102,000 | $90K–$118K | Very high |
| OR / Perioperative | $104,000 | $92K–$120K | High |
| Oncology (MD Anderson-affiliated) | $108,000 | $95K–$124K | High |
| Ambulatory / clinic | $78,000 | $70K–$88K | Moderate |
Acute-care hospitals dominate, with the Texas Medical Center cluster commanding top-of-market pay for oncology, transplant, and pediatric cardiothoracic specialties. Outside the TMC, Sugar Land and The Woodlands suburban hospitals fill out the geography.
RN salary in Houston vs. other Texas and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Houston | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land, TX | $92,000 | — | Above national avg |
| Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX | $90,000 | −2.2% | Moderate |
| Austin–Round Rock, TX | $94,000 | +2.2% | Moderate |
| San Antonio–New Braunfels, TX | $84,000 | −8.7% | Moderate |
| Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, AZ | $96,000 | +4.3% | Moderate |
| Texas statewide | $86,000 | −6.5% | — |
| U.S. national | $93,600 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Registered Nurse in Houston, TX
Related RN pay benchmarks — Texas metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.