How Much Do Nurses Make in Oklahoma? Salaries by Area
Written by:
Tulsa University
• Aug 18, 2025
Nurses play a vital role in the modern health care system. They work diligently with doctors and administrators to ensure that patients receive the highest possible level of care. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 194,500 new jobs for registered nurses (RNs) each year between 2023 and 2033. Studying local data can help nurses find the best position.
To learn more, check out the infographic below, created by The University of Tulsa’s RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN).
Being a Nurse
Nurses are the backbone of the health care system and perform a wide range of critical tasks.
Responsibilities
A nurse’s responsibilities include assessing patients’ conditions, recording their observations and patients’ medical histories and symptoms, and consulting and collaborating with doctors and other professionals to establish and modify patient care plans. They also operate medical equipment and administer patients’ medications and treatments. Nurses may help doctors perform diagnostic tests and analyze the results. They may also teach patients and their families how to manage their conditions after discharge.
Day-to-Day Tasks
Nurses draw blood and insert IVs. They admit and discharge patients, as well as communicate with patients’ families and care providers. Nurses also clean, organize, store, and sanitize medical equipment.
Work Environments
Nurses work in a wide variety of environments, including hospitals, physicians’ offices, and residential care facilities. They may also provide home care or work at a school or a research facility. Some nurses travel from facility to facility on temporary assignments.
Physical Demands
Because nurses work long hours, many physical demands come with the job. Nurses spend a lot of their time walking and standing. They also bend and stretch while working, as well as lift patients and equipment.
Exposure Risk
Nurses often spend time working closely with infectious patients, so health care facilities take precautions to protect nurses from exposure to pathogens, accidental needle pricks, and other risks. This usually takes the form of personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, masks, goggles, face shields, and respirators.
Sectors, Numbers of Nurses, and Annual Salaries in 2023
In 2023, general medical and surgical hospitals employed 1,749,320 registered nurses (RNs), who made a mean annual wage nationwide of $96,830. Physicians’ offices employed 220,070 RNs, who made a mean annual wage nationwide of $83,110. Home health care services employed 179,530 RNs, who made a mean annual wage nationwide of $87,430. Outpatient care centers employed 163,630 RNs, who made a mean annual wage nationwide of $102,640. Employment services employed 130,890 RNs, who made a mean annual wage nationwide of $110,230.
Nursing Salaries
Nursing salaries vary considerably by location, even within the same state.
Mean Annual Salary for RNs in Oklahoma in 2024
In 2024, the mean annual salary for RNs in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area was $85,880. In the Tulsa metropolitan area, it was $89,850, and in the Lawton metropolitan area, it was $90,700. RNs in the Enid metropolitan area made $76,870. In the Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area, they made $87,540. In the Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area, the mean annual salary was $78,070. In the Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area, RNs made $78,290, and RNs in the Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area made $76,110.
Nurses With RN to BSN Degrees
RNs who earn a BSN degree can move into leadership roles. These may be positions such as nursing managers or nurse case managers. They may also work as utilization review nurses, quality improvement nurses, or similar jobs.
Mean Annual Salary for Medical and Health Services Managers, Including Nursing Managers, in Oklahoma in 2024
In 2024, the mean annual salary for medical and health services managers in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area was $118,100. In the Tulsa metropolitan area, it was $119,210, and in the Lawton metropolitan area, it was $110,940. Medical and health services managers in the Enid metropolitan area made $113,840. In the Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area, they made $91,730. In the Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area, the mean annual salary was $98,830. Medical and health services managers in the Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area made $99,850, and medical and health services managers in the Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area made $153,210.
Travel Nurses
Nurses who want career flexibility can also take on roles as travel nurses. These professionals share almost all the same duties as traditional RNs, but they may be employed on a temporary basis in different facilities.
Average Weekly Pay for Travel Nurses by City in Oklahoma in 2021
In 2021, travel nurses in Woodward made an average of $2,284 a week. In Shawnee, they made $2,228. In Oklahoma City, they made $2,139, and in Tulsa, they made $2,135. In Muskogee, travel nurses made $1,952 a week. Travel nurses made $1,931 a week in Durant and $1,889 a week in Ponca City. In Lawton, they made $1,882; in Midwest City, $1,877; and in Clinton, $1,793.
Nursing in Oklahoma
Oklahoma offers extensive opportunities to nurses, but knowing the specifics about the area you’re interested in can help you make informed career choices. Whether you’re interested in large hospitals, outpatient care centers, or physicians’ offices, positions are available. Salaries and employment opportunities depend on location, so researching an area before applying to positions can help you plan your future.
Sources
American Nurses Association, PPE
IntelyCare, “A Day in the Life of a Nurse, According to Nurses Themselves”
News Medical, “Workplace of a Nurse”
Trusted Health, Find Your Nursing Salary Guide
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses
