Registered nurses are typically paid less than physician assistants and nurse practitioners, regardless of the state they practice in.
This information comes from May 2022 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Here is the average annual wage for physician assistants, registered nurses and nurse practitioners in every state and Washington D.C.:
Alabama
Physician assistant: $94,220
Registered nurse: $66,910
Nurse practitioner: $106,610
Alaska
Physician assistant: $144,460
Registered nurse: $103,310
Nurse practitioner: $116,390
Arizona
Physician assistant: $122,420
Registered nurse: $86,740
Nurse practitioner: $121,410
Arkansas
Physician assistant: $68,270
Registered nurse: $66,530
Nurse practitioner: $107,110
California
Physician assistant: $144,520
Registered nurse: $133,340
Nurse practitioner: $158,130
Colorado
Physician assistant: $122,330
Registered nurse: $86,590
Nurse practitioner: $116,440
Connecticut
Physician assistant: $143,280
Registered nurse: $94,260
Nurse practitioner: $131,490
Delaware
Physician assistant: $124,140
Registered nurse: $85,020
Nurse practitioner: $120,570
District of Columbia
Physician assistant: $126,230
Registered nurse: $98,230
Nurse practitioner: $131,270
Florida
Physician assistant: $110,930
Registered nurse: $79,910
Nurse practitioner: $110,310
Georgia
Physician assistant: $113,260
Registered nurse: $85,180
Nurse practitioner: $115,440
Hawaii
Physician assistant: $106,960
Registered nurse: $113,220
Nurse practitioner: $128,310
Idaho
Physician assistant: $120,220
Registered nurse: $78,610
Nurse practitioner: $117,720
Illinois
Physician assistant: $124,810
Registered nurse: $82,220
Nurse practitioner: $122,310
Indiana
Physician assistant: $122,850
Registered nurse: $75,580
Nurse practitioner: $121,730
Iowa
Physician assistant: $123,490
Registered nurse: $69,370
Nurse practitioner: $128,180
Kansas
Physician assistant: $114,470
Registered nurse: $71,990
Nurse practitioner: $111,670
Kentucky
Physician assistant: $105,980
Registered nurse: $77,620
Nurse practitioner: $109,290
Louisiana
Physician assistant: $119,600
Registered nurse: $75,920
Nurse practitioner: $118,210
Maine
Physician assistant: $126,630
Registered nurse: $77,410
Nurse practitioner: $118,300
Maryland
Physician assistant: $113,340
Registered nurse: $87,990
Nurse practitioner: $119,650
Massachusetts
Physician assistant: $131,920
Registered nurse: $104,150
Nurse practitioner: $138,700
Michigan
Physician assistant: $116,870
Registered nurse: $80,660
Nurse practitioner: $113,780
Minnesota
Physician assistant: $125,680
Registered nurse: $88,860
Nurse practitioner: $128,160
Mississippi
Physician assistant: $77,290
Registered nurse: $67,930
Nurse practitioner: $117,260
Missouri
Physician assistant: $111,610
Registered nurse: $71,860
Nurse practitioner: $113,180
Montana
Physician assistant: $122,310
Registered nurse: $78,350
Nurse practitioner: $119,960
Nebraska
Physician assistant: $120,740
Registered nurse: $73,510
Nurse practitioner: $118,970
Nevada
Physician assistant: $141,360
Registered nurse: $96,310
Nurse practitioner: $136,230
New Hampshire
Physician assistant: $136,200
Registered nurse: $83,420
Nurse practitioner: $125,780
New Jersey
Physician assistant: $131,070
Registered nurse: $96,670
Nurse practitioner: $143,250
New Mexico
Physician assistant: $133,630
Registered nurse: $85,580
Nurse practitioner: $129,560
New York
Physician assistant: $135,620
Registered nurse: $100,130
Nurse practitioner: Estimate not released
North Carolina
Physician assistant: $119,830
Registered nurse: $77,420
Nurse practitioner: $114,450
North Dakota
Physician assistant: $122,590
Registered nurse: $75,000
Nurse practitioner: $113,940
Ohio
Physician assistant: $117,200
Registered nurse: $78,450
Nurse practitioner: $117,440
Oklahoma
Physician assistant: $116,710
Registered nurse: $76,920
Nurse practitioner: $121,740
Oregon
Physician assistant: $136,600
Registered nurse: $106,610
Nurse practitioner: $136,250
Pennsylvania
Physician assistant: $110,140
Registered nurse: $80,630
Nurse practitioner: $120,550
Rhode Island
Physician assistant: $128,660
Registered nurse: $88,250
Nurse practitioner: $125,250
South Carolina
Physician assistant: $106,200
Registered nurse: $74,330
Nurse practitioner: $109,130
South Dakota
Physician assistant: $119,010
Registered nurse: $64,500
Nurse practitioner: $115,610
Tennessee
Physician assistant: $106,110
Registered nurse: $72,480
Nurse practitioner: $99,330
Texas
Physician assistant: $132,980
Registered nurse: $84,320
Nurse practitioner: $124,660
Utah
Physician assistant: $124,860
Registered nurse: $76,400
Nurse practitioner: $115,610
Vermont
Physician assistant: $132,860
Registered nurse: $79,990
Nurse practitioner: $116,610
Virginia
Physician assistant: $118,920
Registered nurse: $81,860
Nurse practitioner: $116,980
Washington
Physician assistant: $145,390
Registered nurse: $101,670
Nurse practitioner: $135,590
West Virginia
Physician assistant: $114,260
Registered nurse: $72,230
Nurse practitioner: $106,790
Wisconsin
Physician assistant: $121,630
Registered nurse: $81,000
Nurse practitioner: $121,210
Wyoming
Physician assistant: $131,340
Registered nurse: $81,010
Nurse practitioner: $115,230