North Carolina · VA nurse locality pay · 2026
VA nurse pay scale, Asheville, NC (station 637)
The Department of Veterans Affairs pays nurses on Title 38 locality pay schedules that each medical center sets for its own labor market. These are this station's schedules as the VA publishes them, grade by step, with a calculator.
- VA station 637 sets nurse locality pay for Asheville, NC, Rutherfordton, NC, Hickory, NC, Franklin, NC, Candler, NC, Fairview, NC.
- Registered nurses (RN) on this station's base schedules earn $74,305 at Nurse I, step 1 up to $150,613 at the top of the highest grade, per the VA's nurse locality pay file (effective ).
- Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN: nurse practitioners and other APRNs) earn $127,003 to $222,535.
- The station also publishes 8 specialty and supervisory schedules (operating room, critical care, managers and others), summarised in the table below.
- Data current as of 3 Sept 2026 in the VA's national nurse locality pay spreadsheet. Locality pay is already built into these rates.
Registered nurse locality pay schedule NH34, Clayton, GA, Arden, NC, Asheville, NC, Black Mountain, NC and 18 more
| Step \ Grade | Nurse I | Nurse II | Nurse III |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $76,438 | $95,065 | $113,246 |
| 2 | $78,731 | $97,916 | $116,643 |
| 3 | $81,024 | $100,767 | $120,040 |
| 4 | $83,317 | $103,618 | $123,437 |
| 5 | $85,610 | $106,469 | $126,834 |
| 6 | $87,903 | $109,320 | $130,231 |
| 7 | $90,196 | $112,171 | $133,628 |
| 8 | $92,489 | $115,022 | $137,025 |
| 9 | $94,782 | $117,873 | $140,422 |
| 10 | $97,075 | $120,724 | $143,819 |
| 11 | $99,368 | $123,575 | $147,216 |
| 12 | $101,661 | $126,426 | $150,613 |
| 13 | $103,954 | ||
| 14 | $106,247 | ||
| 15 | $108,540 | ||
| 16 | $110,833 | ||
| 17 | $113,126 | ||
| 18 | $115,419 | ||
| 19 | $117,712 |
| Step | Salary | vs. selected |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $78,731 | +$2,293 |
| 3 | $81,024 | +$4,586 |
| 4 | $83,317 | +$6,879 |
| 5 | $85,610 | +$9,172 |
| 6 | $87,903 | +$11,465 |
Worked example as rendered: Nurse I, step 1 = $76,438 a year, $6,369.83 a month spread over 12 months. Monthly and daily figures are arithmetic on the published annual cell, before any supplement, stipend or deduction.
Title 38 nurse locality pay schedule NH34 for VA station 637, from the VA's national nurse locality pay spreadsheet (current as of 3 Sept 2026).
Nurse I entry levels 1-3 share one rate table in the source; it is shown once.
These are basic pay rates. Locality pay is already built in; premium pay, recruitment and retention incentives are not.
Registered nurse locality pay schedule NV43, Connellys Springs, NC, Hickory, NC, Morganton, NC, Valdese, NC
| Step \ Grade | Nurse I | Nurse II | Nurse III |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $74,305 | $95,630 | $113,246 |
| 2 | $76,534 | $98,498 | $116,643 |
| 3 | $78,763 | $101,366 | $120,040 |
| 4 | $80,992 | $104,234 | $123,437 |
| 5 | $83,221 | $107,102 | $126,834 |
| 6 | $85,450 | $109,970 | $130,231 |
| 7 | $87,679 | $112,838 | $133,628 |
| 8 | $89,908 | $115,706 | $137,025 |
| 9 | $92,137 | $118,574 | $140,422 |
| 10 | $94,366 | $121,442 | $143,819 |
| 11 | $96,595 | $124,310 | $147,216 |
| 12 | $98,824 | $127,178 | $150,613 |
| Step | Salary | vs. selected |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $76,534 | +$2,229 |
| 3 | $78,763 | +$4,458 |
| 4 | $80,992 | +$6,687 |
| 5 | $83,221 | +$8,916 |
| 6 | $85,450 | +$11,145 |
Worked example as rendered: Nurse I, step 1 = $74,305 a year, $6,192.08 a month spread over 12 months. Monthly and daily figures are arithmetic on the published annual cell, before any supplement, stipend or deduction.
Title 38 nurse locality pay schedule NV43 for VA station 637, from the VA's national nurse locality pay spreadsheet (current as of 3 Sept 2026).
Nurse I entry levels 1-3 share one rate table in the source; it is shown once.
These are basic pay rates. Locality pay is already built in; premium pay, recruitment and retention incentives are not.
Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) locality pay schedule NH35, Asheville, NC, Franklin, NC, Rutherfordton, NC
| Step \ Grade | Nurse II | Nurse III | Nurse IV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $127,003 | $142,244 | $167,326 |
| 2 | $130,813 | $146,511 | $172,345 |
| 3 | $134,623 | $150,778 | $177,364 |
| 4 | $138,433 | $155,045 | $182,383 |
| 5 | $142,243 | $159,312 | $187,402 |
| 6 | $146,053 | $163,579 | $192,421 |
| 7 | $149,863 | $167,846 | $197,440 |
| 8 | $153,673 | $172,113 | $202,459 |
| 9 | $157,483 | $176,380 | $207,478 |
| 10 | $161,293 | $180,647 | $212,497 |
| 11 | $165,103 | $184,914 | $217,516 |
| 12 | $168,913 | $189,181 | $222,535 |
| Step | Salary | vs. selected |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $130,813 | +$3,810 |
| 3 | $134,623 | +$7,620 |
| 4 | $138,433 | +$11,430 |
| 5 | $142,243 | +$15,240 |
| 6 | $146,053 | +$19,050 |
Worked example as rendered: Nurse II, step 1 = $127,003 a year, $10,583.58 a month spread over 12 months. Monthly and daily figures are arithmetic on the published annual cell, before any supplement, stipend or deduction.
Title 38 nurse locality pay schedule NH35 for VA station 637, from the VA's national nurse locality pay spreadsheet (current as of 3 Sept 2026).
Nurse I entry levels 1-3 share one rate table in the source; it is shown once.
These are basic pay rates. Locality pay is already built in; premium pay, recruitment and retention incentives are not.
Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) locality pay schedule NS41, Hickory, NC, Morganton, NC
| Step \ Grade | Nurse II | Nurse III |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $127,003 | $142,244 |
| 2 | $130,813 | $146,511 |
| 3 | $134,623 | $150,778 |
| 4 | $138,433 | $155,045 |
| 5 | $142,243 | $159,312 |
| 6 | $146,053 | $163,579 |
| 7 | $149,863 | $167,846 |
| 8 | $153,673 | $172,113 |
| 9 | $157,483 | $176,380 |
| 10 | $161,293 | $180,647 |
| 11 | $165,103 | $184,914 |
| 12 | $168,913 | $189,181 |
| Step | Salary | vs. selected |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $130,813 | +$3,810 |
| 3 | $134,623 | +$7,620 |
| 4 | $138,433 | +$11,430 |
| 5 | $142,243 | +$15,240 |
| 6 | $146,053 | +$19,050 |
Worked example as rendered: Nurse II, step 1 = $127,003 a year, $10,583.58 a month spread over 12 months. Monthly and daily figures are arithmetic on the published annual cell, before any supplement, stipend or deduction.
Title 38 nurse locality pay schedule NS41 for VA station 637, from the VA's national nurse locality pay spreadsheet (current as of 3 Sept 2026).
Nurse I entry levels 1-3 share one rate table in the source; it is shown once.
These are basic pay rates. Locality pay is already built in; premium pay, recruitment and retention incentives are not.
Specialty and supervisory schedules
Step 1 of each grade and the highest cell on each schedule. Each is a separate locality pay schedule, set by the station alongside the base RN schedule.
| Schedule | Nurse I step 1 | Nurse II step 1 | Nurse III step 1 | Top cell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RN STAFF - ASST MGR N084 · Hickory, NC | $92,954 | $109,523 | $123,175 | $163,820 |
| RN STAFF - CLINICAL NURSE LD N0NH · Asheville, NC | – | $99,771 | $117,728 | $156,569 |
| RN - Supervisory Program Mgr/C N0NV · Asheville, NC, Candler, NC, Franklin, NC +1 | – | $109,523 | $123,175 | $163,820 |
| RN/Nurse Executive NU15 · Asheville, NC, Fairview, NC, Hendersonville, NC +1 | – | – | – | $228,000 |
| RN STAFF - ASST MGR NV40 · Asheville, NC, Candler, NC, Rutherfordton, NC | $92,954 | $109,523 | $123,175 | $163,820 |
| RN,Mgr/Head Nurse NV41 · Asheville, NC, Franklin, NC, Rutherfordton, NC | – | $121,906 | $136,530 | $181,575 |
| RN,Mgr/Head Nurse NV42 · Hickory, NC | – | $121,906 | $136,530 | $181,575 |
| RN STAFF - SHIFT SUPERVISOR NW93 · Asheville, NC | – | $112,681 | $125,118 | $166,401 |
Questions people ask
How much does the VA pay registered nurses in Asheville, NC?
On station 637's base RN schedules, from $74,305 (Nurse I, step 1) to $150,613 at the top of the highest grade, effective June 28, 2026. The grade and step are set at hiring from education and experience under the VA's nurse qualification standard.
How much does the VA pay nurse practitioners in Asheville, NC?
$127,003 to $222,535 on the station's advanced practice RN schedules.
Other VA stations in North Carolina
All stations: VA nurse pay by location. Federal General Schedule and locality tables: federal pay.