How much do nurses make?
Understanding nursing salaries is crucial in choosing your career path. Dive into the topic below.
The Nursing Salary Landscape
Nurses are highly respected in any community, as they work with patients to promote healthy living, help with illnesses, and prevent disease. The nursing field also offers a diverse array of occupations for those interested in a nursing career. Before embarking on your path to a successful nursing career, it's helpful to answer one pertinent question: How much do nurses make?
There's no straight-cut answer to this question, as nurse salaries vary greatly depending on location, specialization, education level, and years of experience in the field. This article provides a detailed overview of nurse salaries for various roles and settings, offering valuable information to assist aspiring nurses and seasoned professionals who want to take their careers to the next level.
Registered Nurse (RN) Salary, Work Environment & Job Outlook
The U.S. workforce is largely comprised of registered nurses (RN), which is commonly regarded as the most common type of nurse. Thus, it's essential to consider the average salary, work environment and job outlook for this role. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs make an average annual salary of $81,220.
Most RNs work in a hospital setting, with smaller portions working in ambulatory healthcare services, nursing and residential care facilities, government, and educational services. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow faster than the average for all other occupations, with a projected growth of 6% from 2022 to 2032.1
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary, Work Environment & Job Outlook
A common type of advanced practice registered nurse is a Nurse Practitioner (NP). NPs are qualified to assess patient needs, order and interpret tests, diagnose disease, and prescribe medications. According to the BLS, NPs make an average annual salary of $121,610.
It's most common for NPs to work in physicians' offices, hospitals, and outpatient care facilities. Furthermore, NP employment is projected to grow 38% between 2022 and 2032, significantly faster than the average for all other occupations.2
Other Popular Nursing Careers
There are many other types of nurses and advanced healthcare professions on top of RNs and NPs. To give you a better idea of nursing career options and potential pay, here's the median salary for other types of nurses:
- Nurse Anesthetists: $129,4802
- Nurse Midwives: $129,4802
- Nurse Managers & Executives: $110,6803
- Travel Nurses: $101,1324
Highest Paying Cities for Nurses
As you take the path towards a nursing career, it's beneficial to consider which cities have the highest average RN salary. Californian cities dominate this statistic, but here are the top 10 cities and metro areas with the highest average nursing salary outside of California5:
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Kahului - Wailuku - Lahaina, HI
- Portland - Vancouver - Hillsboro, OR-WA
- Boston - Cambridge - Nashua, MA-NH
- Seattle - Tacoma - Bellevue, WA
- New York - Newark - Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Eugene, OR
- Anchorage, AK
- Medford, OR
- Albany, OR
Confidently Pursue a Nursing Career
There are many factors to consider when deciding on your nursing career path, with the average nurse's salary as one of the most crucial. We want to help you make a more informed decision regarding your nursing career.