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What to Pay a Registered Nurse in New York, NY (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings
Market Median
$105,000
base, annual
Competitive Range
$90K–$122K
25th–75th percentile
YoY Movement
+3.6%
trailing 12 months
Days to Fill
~30
New York metro average
To hire a Registered Nurse in New York at market, plan on a base salary range of $90,000 to $122,000, with $105,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 30 days, expect to lead at $122K–$142K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. New York REQUIRES pay range disclosure under the NY Pay Transparency Law.

How to set your RN pay range in New York

Three pay positions, modeled against current New York market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market
Pay Below Median
$78K–$90K
Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the New York average.
Match Market — recommended
Pay at Median
$99K–$111.8K
Default for most New York employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~30 days. A range width of ~30% (min $90,000 to max $122,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a RN's typical 8–12 year tenure.
Lead Market
Pay Above Median
$115.2K–$142K
Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

RN salary percentile distribution in New York, NY

Where the New York market actually sits for RN base pay.

10th $78K
25th $90K
Median $105K
75th $122K
90th $142K

Most New York employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($105,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $90,000 and a max of $122,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

New York pay transparency compliance for RN job postings

What you must post when hiring a RN in New York.

Required. New York requires employers with 4+ employees to include a good-faith salary range in every job posting, promotion, or transfer opportunity advertised to NYC-area candidates.
Requirement Applies When Penalty for Non-Compliance
Salary or hourly range in posting 4+ employees; role performed in NY Up to $1,000 first violation; up to $3,000 subsequent
Job description included Where description exists Same schedule

For a RN role in New York, a compliant good-faith range looks like $90,000 to $122,000. A compliant good-faith range for this role in New York is $90,000–$122,000.

Top RN employers in New York — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring RNs in the New York metro and what they're posting.

Employer Type Disclosed Range Sign-on Bonus
NewYork-Presbyterian Academic medical center $104K–$138K Common ($5K–$12K)
Mount Sinai Health System Academic medical center $102K–$135K Common ($5K–$10K)
NYU Langone Health Academic medical center $106K–$140K Common ($5K–$12K)
Northwell Health Integrated health system $100K–$132K Very common ($8K–$18K)
NYC Health + Hospitals Public health system $96K–$126K Government benefits
RWJBarnabas Health Health system (NJ) $95K–$124K Common ($8K–$15K)

RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in New York

How hard is it to fill a RN role in New York.

~30
Avg Days to Fill
~12,500
Active Postings
~122,000
New York RN Workforce
Tight
Supply : Demand

NYC has the largest RN workforce in the country (~122,000) and the highest total demand. NY State's pay transparency law (2023) has shifted how ranges are posted, but underlying supply remains tight due to high cost of living and chronic ICU/ER understaffing across Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, and NYC Health + Hospitals.

Skill premiums RN candidates command in New York, NY

Skill / Credential Pay Premium Demand Signal
CCRN (Critical Care RN) +8–12% Very high
CEN (Emergency RN) +7–11% Very high
CNOR (Perioperative) +8–12% High
Bilingual (Spanish, Mandarin, Russian) +4–7% Very high — multilingual NYC demand
BSN (vs ADN) +5–8% Standard at major systems

RN total compensation in New York — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for RNs in New York. "Prevalence" reflects share of New York disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component Typical Value Prevalence in New York Postings
Base salary $105,000 (median) 100%
Shift differential +15–24% premium ~92%
Sign-on bonus $5,000–$18,000 ~68%
Certification pay +5–12% premium ~54%
Union pension (1199SEIU, NYSNA) Strong defined-benefit ~42% unionized
Tuition reimbursement (BSN, MSN) $3,000–$6,000/yr ~62%
Estimated total comp benchmark ~$135,000–$160,000 —

Union representation (NYSNA at major academic centers, 1199SEIU at NYC H+H) significantly shapes the pay structure — union RNs see compressed bands but stronger pension and healthcare benefits. Non-union systems compete on sign-on bonuses ($10K–$18K) and faster step progression.

RN pay by setting in New York — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the RN range splits by employer type in the New York metro.

Setting Median Competitive Range Hiring Difficulty
Acute-care hospital (med-surg) $102,000 $92K–$118K High
ICU / Critical care $122,000 $108K–$140K Very high
Emergency department $118,000 $104K–$135K Very high
OR / Perioperative $120,000 $106K–$138K High
Labor & Delivery $116,000 $102K–$132K High
Ambulatory / clinic $92,000 $82K–$104K Moderate

Acute-care hospitals dominate — NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, NYU Langone, and Northwell run the largest RN employer footprints. Specialty units (ICU, ER, L&D) command 15–25% premiums over med-surg. Union representation (NYSNA, 1199SEIU) shapes the pay structure.

RN salary in New York vs. other New York and nearby metros

What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.

Location Median Base vs. New York Hiring Difficulty
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA $105,000 — Above national avg
Boston–Cambridge–Nashua, MA-NH $108,000 +2.9% Tight
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD $92,000 −12.4% Moderate
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV $98,000 −6.7% Above national avg
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA $130,000 +23.8% Very tight
New York statewide $98,000 −6.7% —
U.S. national $93,600 — —

FAQ: hiring a Registered Nurse in New York, NY

Market median is $105,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $105,000 — typically $90,000 to $122,000. To lead the market, plan on $122K–$142K base plus a sign-on bonus.
Yes. New York's pay transparency law (effective September 2023) requires a good-faith salary or hourly range in every posting for roles that can or will be performed in New York.
$94,000 falls below the New York market median of $105,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.
Roughly 68% of NYC RN postings include a sign-on bonus. Northwell and RWJBarnabas lead with $10,000–$18,000 offers, particularly for ICU and ER. Union shops (NYP, Mount Sinai under NYSNA) offer them less frequently but at higher amounts when they do.
Average fill time is approximately 30 days in the New York metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($122K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($90K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.
By New York-metro posting volume: NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai Health System, NYU Langone Health, Northwell Health, NYC Health + Hospitals lead the pack.
A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for RN in New York — for example, $90,000 to $122,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months. New York does not specify a maximum range width, but the range must be a good-faith estimate of what the employer will pay.
Yes. New York's law covers internal transfer and promotion postings, not just external job ads.

Related RN pay benchmarks — New York metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros
RN pay benchmark — Los Angeles, CA → RN pay benchmark — Chicago, IL → RN pay benchmark — Houston, TX → RN pay benchmark — Phoenix, AZ → All RN pay benchmarks →
Related roles in New York
Certified Nursing Assistant pay benchmark — New York → Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist pay benchmark — New York → Licensed Practical Nurse pay benchmark — New York → Nurse Practitioner pay benchmark — New York → Travel Nurse pay benchmark — New York → Emergency Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — New York → ICU Registered Nurse pay benchmark — New York → Operating Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — New York → All roles' pay benchmarks →

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.