Registered Nurse in Cedar Park, TX

The Salary Picture: Where Cedar Park Stands

As a local who has watched the healthcare landscape evolve in Central Texas for over a decade, I can tell you that Cedar Park offers a solid, if not spectacular, earning potential for Registered Nurses. It’s not Austin proper, with its sky-high demand and sometimes inflated cost of living, but it provides a stable, family-friendly environment with strong hospital networks right at your doorstep.

The median salary for an RN in Cedar Park is $85,450/year, which translates to an hourly rate of $41.08/hour. This places you in a comfortable middle ground. It’s slightly below the national average of $86,070/year, but the key here is context. Texas has no state income tax, which immediately boosts your take-home pay compared to many states at that national average. When you factor in the local cost of living, which sits at a 97.6 index (US avg = 100), your dollar stretches further here than in most major U.S. metros.

The job market is active but not explosive. There are approximately 710 nursing jobs in the metro area, and the 10-year job growth is projected at 6%. This isn't a boomtown hiring spree, but it indicates steady, reliable demand. You won't be fighting for a single position, but you also won't see the frantic turnover of larger, more transient cities. It’s a market built on retention.

To break it down further, here’s how salaries typically progress with experience in this region:

Experience Level	Typical Years of Experience	Estimated Annual Salary Range
Entry-Level	0-2 years	$72,000 - $79,000
Mid-Career	3-9 years	$82,000 - $92,000
Senior	10-19 years	$94,000 - $105,000
Expert/Specialist	20+ years	$108,000+

Insider Tip: Your specialty drastically impacts your earning potential. An RN with a BSN in a high-demand area like OR, ICU, or L&D will consistently hit the top of the range for their experience level, while Med-Surg or general acute care nurses might hover in the middle. Certifications (like CCRN for critical care or OCN for oncology) are gold here.

How Cedar Park Compares to Other Texas Cities:

• Austin (Metro): Salaries are often 5-10% higher ($90k+ median), but rent and housing costs are 30-40% higher. The commute into Austin proper from Cedar Park is also a major factor (I-35 traffic is notoriously brutal).
• Houston (Metro): Salaries are very competitive ($85k-$90k median), with a massive concentration of major medical centers (Texas Medical Center). However, the city is vast, and the suburban sprawl can mean long commutes.
• Dallas-Fort Worth (Metro): Similar to Houston in salary and opportunity, with a few large health systems dominating. The cost of living is comparable to Cedar Park's, but the metro's sheer size can be overwhelming.
• San Antonio: Salaries tend to be slightly lower ($80k-$84k median), reflecting a lower cost of living. It's a great market for military healthcare (Brooke Army Medical Center) and has a unique hospital ecosystem.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s get practical. A $85,450 salary sounds good on paper, but what does it mean for your monthly life in Cedar Park?

Monthly Budget Breakdown for an RN earning $85,450:

• Gross Monthly Pay: $7,121
• Estimated Taxes (Federal, FICA, State): ~$1,950 (Texas has no state income tax, but you still pay federal and FICA)
• Estimated Take-Home Pay: $5,171/month

Now, let's layer in the biggest expense: rent. The average 1BR rent in Cedar Park is $1,220/month. This is very reasonable for the Austin metro.

Expense Category	Monthly Cost	Notes
Take-Home Pay	~$5,171
Rent (1BR Average)	$1,220	You can find quality 1BRs in the $1,100-$1,400 range.
Utilities (Electric, Water, Internet)	$150 - $200	TX summers (AC) and winters (occasional heating) can spike this.
Groceries	$300 - $400	HEB is the king here; it's affordable and everywhere.
Car Payment/Insurance/Gas	$400 - $600	You need a car. Public transit is limited.
Health Insurance (if not covered)	$200 - $400	Employer-based is standard, but verify.
Savings/Retirement	$500 - $1,000	This is the variable. Prioritize 401k match.
Discretionary Spending	$1,000 - $1,500	Dining out, entertainment, etc.

Can They Afford to Buy a Home?
Yes, but it requires careful planning. The median home price in Cedar Park is roughly $450,000 - $500,000. With a $85,450 salary, a 20% down payment ($90k-$100k) is a significant hurdle. Most first-time homebuyers here use FHA (3.5% down) or conventional loans with 5-10% down. Your monthly mortgage payment (including taxes and insurance) on a $475,000 home with 5% down would be approximately $3,200 - $3,400. This would consume over 60% of your take-home pay if you were buying solo, which is not advisable. However, with a dual-income household (common in Cedar Park) or if you advance to a senior/specialist role ($100k+), buying a home becomes very feasible. Many nurses in the area buy in nearby, more affordable suburbs like Leander or Liberty Hill.

Where the Jobs Are: Cedar Park's Major Employers

Cedar Park is a hub within the larger Austin metro. Your job search will primarily target these local and regional giants:

1. St. David's Cedar Park Hospital: This is the main acute care hospital in the city itself, part of the massive HCA Healthcare network. It’s a 100+ bed facility with an ER, surgery, and women’s services. They are the largest single employer of RNs in Cedar Park. Hiring trends are steady, particularly in Med-Surg, ER, and L&D. Insider Tip: HCA has strong internal mobility. Starting here in Med-Surg can be a direct path to an ICU or OR position after a year or two.

2. Ascension Seton Medical Center Williamson (in Round Rock): Just a 15-minute drive south, this is a major Level II Trauma Center and the primary teaching hospital for the area (affiliated with Dell Medical School). It offers more specialized and critical care roles. Hiring is very active, especially for experienced nurses in ICU, Cath Lab, and PACU. They often have sign-on bonuses for hard-to-fill specialties.

3. Dell Seton Medical Center (in Austin): About a 25-minute commute (with traffic). This is the flagship hospital for the UT Dell Medical School. It’s a research-focused, urban academic medical center. Ideal for RNs looking to be at the cutting edge, with roles in oncology, complex surgery, and trauma. Commute is the biggest downside.

4. Baylor Scott & White Clinic – Cedar Park: A massive clinic system. While not a hospital, it's a huge employer of RNs in outpatient roles (infusion, dialysis, primary care, specialty clinics). These jobs offer regular daytime hours, no weekends/holidays, and are perfect for work-life balance. Demand is high, and it's a great alternative to bedside hospital nursing.

5. Austin Regional Clinic (ARC): Another major outpatient clinic system with a strong presence in Cedar Park and Round Rock. They hire RNs for similar roles as Baylor and offer a fast-paced, patient-facing environment without the hospital stress. They often promote from within for clinic management roles.

6. Round Rock Specialty Hospital: A long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) in nearby Round Rock. These facilities care for patients with complex, chronic conditions. It’s a niche but steady employer, often paying a premium for RNs with experience in wound care, trach/vent management, and complex care coordination.

Getting Licensed in TX

If you're moving from another state, the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is your new best friend. It's a straightforward but bureaucratic process. Start the application before you move if possible.

Key Requirements & Steps:

1. Application: Submit the online application through the Texas BON website. There is a non-refundable fee of $100. You'll also need to pay a one-time $200 Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam fee.
2. Fingerprinting: Complete a background check via a vendor contracted with the Texas BON. Cost is around $50.
3. NCLEX: If you’re a new grad or need to take the NCLEX-RN, you must register with Pearson VUE and the Texas BON.
4. Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE): This is a Texas-specific exam on state laws and rules. It’s open-book and taken online. You must pass it to be licensed.
5. Endorsement (for out-of-state RNs): You need verification of your original license and, for nurses licensed after 2007, proof of 200 clinical hours in the last 2 years. Texas is compact, so if you hold a license in another compact state (e.g., Florida, Oklahoma), the process is faster.

Timeline & Cost:

• Timeline: From application to an active license can take 4-8 weeks if all documents are submitted correctly. Delays are usually due to missing information or background check issues.
• Total Estimated Cost: $350 - $450 (application + NJE + fingerprinting + any transcript fees).

Insider Tip: Start the process the moment you have a serious job offer or are seriously considering a move. You can work on a temporary permit while the full license is processed, but it’s smoother to have it in hand.

Best Neighborhoods for Registered Nurses

Living in Cedar Park means balancing commute, lifestyle, and school districts. Here’s a local breakdown:

1. Cedar Park Central (The "Old" Town): Walking distance to the historic downtown, HEB, and the library. Very family-friendly with top-rated schools (Leander ISD). Commute to St. David's Cedar Park is 5-10 minutes; to Seton Round Rock is 15-20. Rent: 1BR: $1,250-$1,400; 2BR: $1,600-$1,900.

2. Whitestone / Avery Ranch: Newer developments on the north side, closer to the 183A toll road and Lake Travis. Slightly more remote, but with master-planned amenities (pools, trails). Commute to St. David's is 10-15 mins; to Seton Round Rock is 20-25 mins. Rent: 1BR: $1,300-$1,500; 2BR: $1,650-$2,000.

3. Rounds Rock (East Side): Technically part of Round Rock but adjacent to Cedar Park. Offers a quieter, more suburban feel with easy access to I-35 and 79. Commute to Seton Round Rock is 5-10 mins; to St. David's Cedar Park is 15-20 mins. Rent: 1BR: $1,150-$1,300; 2BR: $1,500-$1,750.

4. Brushy Creek / Park at Cypress Creek: A popular, established area with great parks and a strong community vibe. It’s centrally located within Cedar Park. Commute to any local hospital is easy (10-15 mins). Rent: 1BR: $1,200-$1,350; 2BR: $1,550-$1,800.

5. Leander (West): Technically a separate city but a 10-minute drive from Cedar Park's core. Offers more affordable housing (both renting and buying) and a slightly slower pace. Commute to St. David's is 15-20 mins; to Seton Round Rock is 25-30 mins. Rent: 1BR: $1,050-$1,200; 2BR: $1,350-$1,600.

The Long Game: Career Growth

Cedar Park is a fantastic place to build a long-term nursing career, especially if you value stability over constant change. The growth is methodical.

Specialty Premiums & Advancement:

• Hospital-Based Specialties: ICU, OR, L&D, and ER typically offer a $3,000 - $8,000 salary premium over base Med-Surg. Certifications (CCRN, CWCN) can add another $2,000 - $5,000 annually.
• Advanced Practice (NP/CRNA): This is the biggest leap. A Nurse Practitioner in the Austin metro can earn $115,000 - $140,000+. The path requires a Master's or DNP (2-3 years of school). Local schools like UT Austin (Dell Med) and Texas State have strong programs.
• Nurse Leadership (Charge Nurse, Manager): This path often requires a BSN and solid experience. It’s less about bedside care and more about operations and staff management. Salaries range from $95,000 - $130,000.

10-Year Outlook (Based on 6% Growth):
The 6% job growth is a conservative estimate. The real driver in Central Texas is the continued population influx into the Austin metro. As more people move to suburbs like Cedar Park, the demand for healthcare services will grow in tandem. However, the market will prioritize nurses with a BSN (most hospitals now require it for new hires) and those with a good mix of technical skill and patient empathy. The trend is toward more outpatient and community-based care (home health, clinics), which offers better work-life balance. Long-term, Cedar Park is a stable, low-risk market with a ceiling that is raised by proximity to the high-growth Austin hub.

The Verdict: Is Cedar Park Right for You?

Pros	Cons
High Quality of Life: Excellent schools, safe communities, abundant parks and outdoor recreation (near Lake Travis, Hill Country).	Limited Specialties: Fewer niche or cutting-edge roles compared to major academic centers in Austin proper.
Affordable Cost of Living: Low rent and no state income tax make a $85,450 salary go far.	Traffic to Austin: Commuting into Austin for certain jobs can be painful and time-consuming.
Stable Job Market: A handful of major employers mean consistent opportunities without the chaos of a boomtown.	Less "Big City" Vibe: Fewer cultural events, nightlife, and diverse dining options compared to Austin.
Proximity to Austin: All the benefits of Austin (airport, concerts, professional sports) are a 20-45 minute drive away.	Public Transit is Minimal: A car is an absolute necessity.
Family-Friendly: It’s a magnet for young professionals raising families.	Summers are Hot and Long: The Texas heat is no joke, and AC bills are real.

Final Recommendation:

Cedar Park is an excellent choice for an RN who values stability, family-friendly living, and a work-life balance. If you're early in your career, it's a great place to get solid experience at a major hospital system without the overwhelming pace of a mega-city. If you're mid-career and looking to buy a home, start a family, or transition to less stressful outpatient nursing, Cedar Park offers a compelling financial and lifestyle equation.

It may not be the best fit for the RN who craves the absolute pinnacle of specialized, research-focused bedside nursing or a vibrant urban nightlife. The Verdict: For most RNs, Cedar Park provides a fantastic blend of career opportunity and quality of life. Come for the hospital jobs, stay for the HEB, the bluebonnets in spring, and the feeling of being in a community, not just a city.

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FAQs

1. What's the real "housing crisis" in Austin, and how does Cedar Park factor in?
The Austin metro has seen a population surge, driving up home prices dramatically. Cedar Park, as a direct suburb, is part of this. However, it remains more affordable than Austin proper. The "crisis" is for single-income homeowners. For dual-income households, especially with a nurse's salary ($85,450+), buying a home in Cedar Park is very possible with planning.

2. Do I need a BSN?
While not universally required by law, it's becoming the standard for hospital employment in the Austin metro. St. David's