Behavioral Health nurse pay
$96,720median posted offer#273 of 379 specialties
Read from 175 live Behavioral Health postings that state pay — 1% above the all-nursing median of $95,680. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $74k
- 25th percentile
- $85k
- 75th percentile
- $120k
- 90th percentile
- $144k
Where does your pay sit in Behavioral Health?
Checked against 175 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $74k
- 25th percentile
- $85k
- 75th percentile
- $120k
- 90th percentile
- $144k
Enter your pay to see your percentile.
Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.
Where Behavioral Health pays the most
| # | State | Median | Top 10% from | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $143,936 | $144k | 23 |
| 2 | California | $123,760 | $194k | 15 |
| 3 | Washington | $106,576 | $142k | 10 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $106,539 | $125k | 5 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $105,726 | $113k | 7 |
| 6 | Maryland | $99,180 | $117k | 6 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $96,200 | $116k | 20 |
| 8 | Illinois | $95,810 | $106k | 6 |
| 9 | Georgia | $88,400 | $114k | 5 |
| 10 | New York | $88,203 | $111k | 6 |
| 11 | Arizona | $83,800 | $94k | 5 |
| 12 | Texas | $83,200 | $95k | 17 |
| 13 | Florida | $63,388 | $79k | 7 |
What the work is like and the way in: Psychiatric guide
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee open nursing rolesEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do Behavioral Health nurses make?
- Across 175 live Behavioral Health postings that state pay, the median offer is $96,720 a year. The middle half runs $85,000–$119,836, and the top 10% start at $143,936.
- Does Behavioral Health pay more than nursing overall?
- Behavioral Health ranks #273 of 379 specialties on posted pay. Its median is 1% above the all-nursing median of $95,680.
- Which states pay Behavioral Health nurses the most?
- By posted median right now: #1 Massachusetts ($143,936), #2 California ($123,760), #3 Washington ($106,576). Rankings move as postings change — this page updates continuously.