Nurse Manager salary
A nurse manager earns about $121,680 a year — roughly $58.50/hour, with most earning between $98,790 and $131,010. This is an estimate — a starting point, not an exact figure.
Nurse Manager — U.S. national
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$121,680
Hourly
$58.50/hr
- Typical range
- $98,790–$131,010
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $175,920
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $85,840
- Newer nurses
What affects this pay
- Span of control (unit size)
- Facility size and system
- Director vs front-line manager
- Metro labor market
- Advanced degree (MSN/MBA)
About Nurse Managers
What they do
Nurse managers lead a nursing unit or department — hiring and scheduling staff, owning the budget, and answering for quality and patient-experience metrics — while staying accountable for clinical standards.
How to become a Nurse Manager
Nurse managers are experienced RNs who move into leadership, usually with a BSN and increasingly an MSN or MBA; some leadership roles map to the Medical & Health Services Managers occupation.
What drives the pay
Some nurse leaders are reported under Medical & Health Services Managers; figures here are based on registered nurse pay. Pay scales with span of control, facility size, and the step from front-line manager to director.
Nurse Manager pay by state
Where this role tends to pay the most.
| State | Annual pay | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| California | $167,920 | +38% vs national |
| Hawaii | $146,020 | +20% vs national |
| Alaska | $143,580 | +18% vs national |
| Oregon | $143,580 | +18% vs national |
| Washington | $143,580 | +18% vs national |
| Massachusetts | $139,930 | +15% vs national |
| New York | $137,500 | +13% vs national |
| District of Columbia | $136,280 | +12% vs national |
Compare next
Roles nurses weigh against this one.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled specialty estimate
Nurse Manager is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.30×, reflecting commonly reported pay differences. Treat as directional, not precise.
Source year 2024. Last reviewed June 1, 2025. Full methodology
This role isn’t broken out in public wage data, so the figure starts from registered nurse pay and sharpens as nurses submit their pay. Last reviewed June 1, 2025.