PermanentPosted today
RN Cardiology Clinic
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
Registered Nurse jobs in Waco, TX
The median registered nurse pay in the Waco area is $41.98 per hour ($87,330 a year), with the typical range running from $35.92 to $47.19. That ranks 119th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 94th of 335 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Waco. The free report below lists employers near Waco and what they pay.
- $41.98median pay per hour, Waco
- $36–$47typical range per hour
- 2,520registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 93cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Registered Nurse roles in Waco
23 more open roles from employers in Waco. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Per diemPosted today
RN Hospice PRN
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN SICU Night
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN Operating Room Weekends
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
Per diemPosted today
RN Seasonal PRN Progressive Care Unit
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
Per diemPosted today
RN Acute PRN
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN Acute Care 10K Sign on Bonus
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN Medical Surgical 10K Sign on Bonus
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN Emergency Department 10K sign on Bonus
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN Acute Care 5K Sign on Bonus
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN Progressive Care Unit 5K Sign on Bonus
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN Float Pool 10K Sign on Bonus
Baylor Scott & White Health · Waco, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
Registered Nurse pay in Waco, TX
The metro median is 3% below the Texas statewide median of $43.27 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 2,520 registered nurses employed in the Waco metro area, 19.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.91).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.95 | $64,380 | 31% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $35.92 | $74,710 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $41.98 | $87,330 | 7% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $47.19 | $98,160 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $52.01 | $108,180 | 16% above U.S. median |
How Waco ranks
- 119th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 94th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th of 24 Texas metro areas
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.
Get the Waco Registered Nurse pay report
Named employers near Waco, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Waco
- Overall prices in Waco run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 16% below the U.S. average (index 83.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $41.98 median hour buys what $45.36 buys at the national price level, 1% above the national median.
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 Waco paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,511
- Per year: $75,564
- Per month: $6,297
- Texas has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Waco metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Waco
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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).
Open Registered Nurse roles in Texas
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Waco as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse (Critical Care) - Education Debt Reduction Program Authorized
Veterans Health Administration · San Antonio, TX
$86k–$174k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Nurse (Clinical/Ambulatory)
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Sam Houston, TX
$107k–$139k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
1,900+ more Registered Nurse roles for you in Texas
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PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse-Outpatient Home Based Primary Care
Veterans Health Administration · Lubbock, TX
$83k–$154k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse - Outpatient, Nursing Specialty
Veterans Health Administration · Corpus Christi, TX
$76k–$158k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Transplant Coordinator RN
CommonSpirit Health · Houston, TX
$43.10–$64.11/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Nurse (Clinical/Critical Care)
Defense Health Agency · Fort Hood, TX
$97k–$124k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Hospitals in Waco
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Waco, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Hillcrest Waco, TX | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Ascension Providence Waco, TX | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Oceans Behavioral Hospital Of Waco Waco, TX | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in McLennan County
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include McLennan County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 11 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple, TX | 33 mi | $45.77/hr | 96,267 |
| Killeen, TX | 46 mi | $45.77/hr | 160,616 |
| Burleson, TX | 67 mi | $47.47/hr | 56,253 |
| Georgetown, TX | 68 mi | $45.63/hr | 101,344 |
| Mansfield, TX | 70 mi | $47.47/hr | 80,803 |
| DeSoto, TX | 74 mi | $47.47/hr | 56,711 |
Registered Nurse jobs in Texas · Registered Nurse jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Texas
Texas 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 Texas license by endorsement.
Texas does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.
Other healthcare roles in Waco
Waco city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered nurses make in Waco, TX?
Registered Nurses in the Waco metro area have a median pay of $41.98 per hour, about $87,330 a year. The middle half earn between $35.92 and $47.19 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waco a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
Waco ranks 94th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 119th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Where do registered nurses work in Waco?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Waco, led by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Hillcrest. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Texas license to work in Waco as a registered nurse?
Texas 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 Texas license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Waco in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include McLennan 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 Waco?
The federal per diem benchmark in Waco is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place registered nurses in Waco?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Waco and across Texas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Waco.
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What do employers near Waco pay registered nurses? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportWaco, TX · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Veterans Health AdministrationSan Antonio, TX · 5 postings$62.40/ hr$36–$87
- Military Treatment Facilities under DHAFort Hood, TX · 3 postings$55.88/ hr$47–$67
- BrightSpring Health ServicesIRVING, TX · 4 postings$50.00/ hr$44–$55
- Select MedicalDallas, TX · 3 postings$46.19/ hr$32–$53
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$35Median$45.41High$55
124 RN postings with published pay in Texas, 105 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 124 RN roles
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care) - Education Debt Reduction Program AuthorizedPermanent$86k–$174k/ year
- Nurse (Clinical/Ambulatory)Permanent$107k–$139k/ year
+ 122 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.