salary$84,830 a year$41 an hour · median pay in the Raleigh-Cary, NC area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$72,460per year
Top pay (top 10%)$110,220per year
Jobs in the area12,780people work this job
Can a registered nurse afford Cary?
OK. Rent of $2,050 a month takes 29.0% of the median registered nurse salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Registered Nurse pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Cary
Nurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations ManagerLawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Cary, NC?
The median pay for a registered nurse in the Raleigh-Cary, NC area is $84,830 a year ($41 an hour). Most earn between $72,460 and $110,220.
Can a registered nurse afford to live in Cary?
Typical rent of $2,050 a month takes 29.0% of the median registered nurse salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area.