Nurse salaries in Canada and the US after NCLEX or REx-PN
Compare official RN and practical-nurse wage figures, currencies and reporting periods without treating an exam pass as a job offer.
- Salary follows the licensed role, employer, location and experience—not the exam name alone.
- US figures are gross annual medians; Canadian figures are hourly wages.
- These figures cover workers at different experience levels and are not starting-salary guarantees.
Sources checked 6 October 2026.
Which job does each exam lead toward?
NCLEX-RN is the registration exam for RN applicants in the United States and participating Canadian jurisdictions. NCLEX-PN is for US practical/vocational nursing. REx-PN is for practical nursing in Ontario and British Columbia. Ontario calls that role RPN; British Columbia uses LPN. Passing is one step before licensure, legal entitlement to work and employment.
What are the reported US salaries?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports May 2025 median gross annual wages of USD 97,550 for registered nurses and USD 64,400 for licensed practical/vocational nurses. A median is the middle of the wage distribution, not a new-graduate offer. State, setting, shifts and experience change earnings.
| US role | Median gross annual wage | Reference period |
|---|---|---|
| RN | USD 97,550 | May 2025 |
| LPN/LVN | USD 64,400 | May 2025 |
What are the reported Canadian wages?
Canada Job Bank's figures, updated 19 November 2025 using the 2023–2024 reference period, show national hourly RN wages of CAD 30.00 low, CAD 43.27 median and CAD 54.37 high. National LPN wages are CAD 25.00, CAD 31.32 and CAD 38.00. Ontario medians are CAD 42.00 for RN and CAD 31.00 for practical nursing. These are occupation-level statistics, not a pay scale or individual offer.
| Canadian role | Low/hour | Median/hour | High/hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN | CAD 30.00 | CAD 43.27 | CAD 54.37 |
| LPN / Ontario RPN | CAD 25.00 | CAD 31.32 | CAD 38.00 |
How do I estimate annual pay and compare an offer?
As an illustration only, 37.5 paid hours per week for 52 weeks equals 1,950 hours. At the national median, that produces CAD 84,376.50 for RN or CAD 61,074 for LPN before deductions. Your paid hours, leave arrangements and employment contract may differ. Overtime and shift premiums are not included.
Compare base pay, guaranteed hours, pension/benefits, relocation obligations, union scale, tax and living costs in the actual location. Keep USD and CAD separate unless using a dated exchange rate. Budget regulator renewal and professional-liability costs separately. Exam passage alone does not guarantee employment, a visa or these earnings.