Nursing

How Much Do RNs Make in Texas?

Written by: University of Tulsa • Aug 5, 2025

A nurse greets a patient in a wheelchair at an assisted living facility.

How Much Do RNs Make in Texas?

Registered nurses (RNs) are in great demand across the U.S., as states from coast to coast feel the impact of the ongoing nursing shortage. For example, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) projects a deficit of about 56,000 nurses by 2036 in the Lone Star State alone by 2036.

Licensed health care professionals who’ve completed an accredited nursing program and who are looking to build or advance their nursing careers may find good opportunities in Texas. First, however, they should understand as much as possible about nursing in the state, including how much nurses make in Texas.

What Do RNs Do in Texas?

Nurses are responsible for various duties and responsibilities, depending on the type of facility, their level of education, workplace experience, and seniority. The duties of RNs in Texas may include the following:

Assessing and monitoring patients
Providing basic care or administering medication
Reporting on and recording patient status
Educating patients and their families on care services and procedures
Coordinating care plans and collaborating with other health care professionals to provide the best patient care
Ensuring that medical records are properly kept and updated

RNs with a bachelor’s degree in nursing or who’ve completed an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program may find themselves in leadership roles, such as nursing administrator or nurse case manager, that generally involve more advanced responsibilities. These duties may include the following:

Managing staff and scheduling
Hiring, training, and supervising nurses
Providing more complex or advanced procedures in patient care
Developing and implementing health care plans
Working with other leadership members and executives to shape the direction of the nursing program

Where Do Nurses Work in Texas?

RNs in Texas work in various settings in both rural and urban areas, including hospitals, physicians’ offices, community centers, schools, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. According to a 2022 report from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, 41% of nurses in Texas worked in hospitals. Another 30% worked in nursing or long-term care facilities and home health services. About 10% of nurses worked in physicians’ offices.

Geographically, the nurse-to-population ratio is highest in the Panhandle (the northernmost part of the state) and lowest in the Rio Grande Valley (the southernmost part of the state).

Texas RN Job Outlook and Salary Information

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Texas employs the second-highest number of nurses in the country – trailing only California. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranks among the country’s top five metropolitan areas for nurse employment.

ONET OnLine, which is maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, projects 15% job growth for RNs in Texas from 2022 to 2032. That’s more than double the 6% nationwide growth projection from the BLS.

DSHS anticipates the greatest need for nurses over the next decade to be in Central Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, with demand particularly great in nursing homes, residential care, and home health settings.

Texas Nurse Salaries

When evaluating how much nurses make in Texas, having the national average for comparison is helpful. According to the BLS, RNs earn a median annual salary of $93,600 nationwide. In Texas, that figure falls slightly to about $90,000, according to ONET OnLine, with 10% of RNs earning about $65,000 or less and 10% earning about $122,000 or more.

In addition to the facility, type of role, and level of experience, geography significantly influences salaries. Nurses in urban areas of the state generally earn more than those in rural areas, although the rural areas often have the greatest need for nurses.

ONET OnLine has published a list of median salaries for RNs in about 30 cities or metropolitan areas in Texas. The highest-paid locations for nurses in Texas include the following:

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington: $98,740
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands: $97,810
Killeen-Temple: $95,210
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos: $94,900
Midland: $88,460

The lowest-paid locations for nurses in Texas include the following:

Eagle Pass: $73,890
San Angelo: $75,440
Brownsville-Harlingen: $75,810
Texarkana: $76,560
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission: $77,240

Nurses in Waco and San Antonio earn median salaries in the upper $80,000s, while median salaries for nurses in most other areas of Texas fall within the $77,000 to $82,000 range.

Education can also have a major impact on how much nurses make in Texas — and across the country. For example, according to Payscale, the median annual salary for graduates with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is about $79,000, markedly less than the $97,000 median annual salary for graduates with a BSN. Moreover, a higher salary is just one benefit of a BSN program.

Prepare for a Nursing Career in Texas with a BSN

With the need for RNs in Texas far outpacing the need nationally over the next few years, RNs starting or advancing their careers should consider the Lone Star State. There wll likely be opportunities across the state in various health care settings.

One way to capitalize on these opportunities, including those in nursing leadership, is to enroll in a BSN program. The online RN to BSN program at The University of Tulsa provides current RNs a path to hone their skills and expertise, develop their leadership capabilities, and prepare for the future of the industry.

RN to BSN students are required to hold an associate degree and a valid RN license. The flexible program can be completed in 12 to 18 months and helps build skills that RNs can begin using immediately in their roles. After graduating, RNs can begin applying for new roles or pursue advanced degrees, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Explore how TU can propel you forward in your nursing career.

Recommended Readings

Lifelong Learning in Nursing: What It Is and How a BSN Can Help

A Nurse’s Role in Interprofessional Collaboration in Health Care

How Much Do RNs Make in Oklahoma?

Sources:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Workforce Fact Sheet

American Nurses Association, How to Become a Nurse

American Nurses Association, Types of Nurses and What They Do

Health Resources & Services Administration, Workforce Projections

Indeed, How to Become a Registered Nurse: A Complete Guide

ONET OnLine, Texas Wages