NC · Durham · Updated October 15, 2026

Registered Nurse jobs in Durham, NC

Registered Nurses in North Carolina earn a median of $39.36 per hour, about $81,860 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $35.92 and $47.46. That is 13% below the U.S. median of $45.00 per hour. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Durham. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Durham.

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Open Registered Nurse roles in Durham

More open Registered Nurse roles in Durham

85 more open roles from employers in Durham. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

All Registered Nurse jobs in North Carolina

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Registered Nurse pay in Durham, NC

Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 108,510 registered nurses employed in North Carolina.

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$30.86$64,19031% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$35.92$74,71020% below U.S. median
Median$39.36$81,86013% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$47.46$98,7205% above U.S. median
Top 10%$51.50$107,12014% above U.S. median

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Durham

  • Overall prices in Durham-Chapel Hill run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.9).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Durham paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,417
  • Per year: $70,848
  • Per month: $5,904

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for North Carolina. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Durham

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$121
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,365
13-week assignment$17,745

Travel registered nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Durham

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Durham, 3 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Duke Regional Hospital
Durham, NC		Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Duke University Hospital
Durham, NC		Acute careFor-profit5 of 5Yes
Durham Va Medical Center
Durham, NC		Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
North Carolina Specialty Hospital
Durham, NC		Acute careFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Durham County

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Durham County (3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 16 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Chapel Hill, NC9 mi$39.36/hr64,028
Cary, NC14 mi$40.80/hr182,659
Apex, NC17 mi$40.80/hr75,977
Raleigh, NC18 mi$40.80/hr499,825
Wake Forest, NC22 mi$40.80/hr56,764
Burlington, NC33 mi$41.88/hr61,365

Registered Nurse jobs in North Carolina · Registered Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in North Carolina

North Carolina is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a North Carolina license by endorsement.

North Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

North Carolina state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Durham

Durham city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do registered nurses make in Durham, NC?

Registered Nurses in North Carolina have a median pay of $39.36 per hour, about $81,860 a year. The middle half earn between $35.92 and $47.46 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Who is hiring registered nurses in Durham?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Durham. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Durham.

Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Durham as a registered nurse?

North Carolina is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a North Carolina license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Durham in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Durham County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Durham?

The federal per diem benchmark in Durham is $121 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,365 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place registered nurses in Durham?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Durham and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Durham.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · RN near Durham, NC
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RN pay reportDurham, NC · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Veterans Health AdministrationFayetteville, NC · 2 postings$56.27/ hr$40–$75
  • Sentara HealthcareElizabeth City, NC · 12 postings$51.47/ hr$36–$61
  • Advocate HealthCharlotte, NC · 194 postings$47.75/ hr$36–$77
  • BrightSpring Health ServicesWINSTON-SALEM, NC · 4 postings$43.75/ hr$39–$48

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$36Median$47.75High$57

261 RN postings with published pay in North Carolina, 255 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 261 RN roles

  1. Registered Nurse - Veterans Affairs Surgery Quality Improvement Program Quality Consultant (VASQIP)Permanent
    $86k–$144k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Fayetteville, NC · posted today
  2. Clinical Nurse Specialist - CardiacPermanent
    $92k–$134k/ year
    ECU Health · Greenville, NC · posted today

+ 259 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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