What We Do
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members. RNs must have a large amount of specialized knowledge to assess, plan and intervene to better promote good health and to prevent disease in patients. When they are providing direct patient care, nurses often observe, assess and record vital health information. This provides other health care professionals with a basis for care planning and intervention.
Work Environment
Registered nurses work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Others work in correctional facilities, schools, or serve in the military.
Many nurses must work closely with people who may have some type of infectious disease. They often also come into contact with harmful drugs and chemicals. This is why RNs must be sure to follow very strict guidelines to guard against illness and disease. It also is important to be aware of other dangers in the work environment, such as radiation, accidental needle sticks or hazardous chemicals.
How to Become
Registered nurses usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses must also be licensed.
In all nursing programs, you will need to take tough courses in physiology, anatomy, microbiology, nutrition, psychology and chemistry. A bachelor’s degree program also will have education in physical and social sciences, leadership, communication and critical thinking.
You also can work for a time with an associate’s degree in nursing, and eventually earn your bachelor’s degree. This flexibility in entry into the profession is one of the biggest advantages of nursing.
Job Outlook
Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will occur for a number of reasons, including an increased emphasis on preventative care; growing rates of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity; and demand for healthcare services from the baby boomer population, as they live longer and more active lives.
Also, there is more financial pressure on hospitals to turn out patients as soon as they can. This will increase the numbers of people who are sent to long term care facilities and outpatient care centers. So it is logical that there will be strong job growth for nurses in those organizations.
Salary
The average national salary of jobs for this career was $64,000 with a high confidence ranking based on over 250 sources. Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide are 7% higher than average salaries for all job postings nationwide.
The top 10 percent in the field earn over $94,000. Generally, these professionals have many years of experience, and usually have their master’s degree in nursing.
Workers who are employed for the government generally receive the highest salaries, followed by nurses at various types of hospitals. The lowest-paid RNs work in doctors’ offices.
Area of Focus
Direct Patient Care
Training & Certification Requirements
Must take and pass the NCLEX-RN certification exam.
Education Requirements
Bachelors
Compare the Top Salary Sites
There are many career websites that discuss Registered Nurse salaries. They all appear to have the same job search, salary, career development tips, etc. However, there are differences regarding salary quoted from each site. For example, some quote median salaries while others quote average salaries. Below you’ll find salary data from Indeed.com, Careerbuilder.com and SimplyHired.com.
Below are the salaries for Registered Nurse, as quoted by the top job websites:
$64,000
$69,466
$49,000
All brand names are trademarks of their respective owners. All salary source data is public & accurate as of 2014-06-11.
Average Salaries Across The Country
Salary by State
The following lists ranks salaries in each state around the country.
Alaska – $52,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 47th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Alaska are 22% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$52,000
Alabama – $67,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 11th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Alabama are 1% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$67,000
Arkansas – $64,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 21st
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Arkansas are 4% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$64,000
Arizona – $57,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 41st
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Arizona are 15% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$57,000
California – $73,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 7th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in California are 8% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$73,000
Colorado – $59,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 36th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Colorado are 12% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$59,000
Connecticut – $76,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 4th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Connecticut are 12% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$76,000
DC – $80,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 2nd
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Washington, DC are 18% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$80,000
Delaware – $60,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 32nd
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Delaware are 10% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$60,000
Florida – $63,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 24th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Florida are 6% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$63,000
Georgia – $76,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 5th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Georgia are 14% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$76,000
Hawaii – $43,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 51st
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Hawaii are 36% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$43,000
Iowa – $65,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 18th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Iowa are 4% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$65,000
Idaho – $46,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 50th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Idaho are 32% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$46,000
Illinois – $74,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 6th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Illinois are 9% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$74,000
Indiana – $65,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 19th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Indiana are 3% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$65,000
Kansas – $60,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 33rd
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Kansas are 10% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$60,000
Kentucky – $57,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 42nd
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Kentucky are 15% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$57,000
Louisiana – $57,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 43rd
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Louisiana are 15% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$57,000
Massachusetts – $79,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 3rd
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Massachusetts are 17% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$79,000
Maryland – $68,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 10th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Maryland are 2% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$68,000
Maine – $58,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 40th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Maine are 14% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$58,000
Michigan – $67,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 12th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Michigan are the same as average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$67,000
Minnesota – $59,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 37th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Minnesota are 12% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$59,000
Missouri – $66,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 14th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Missouri are 2% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$66,000
Mississippi – $73,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 8th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Mississippi are 9% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$73,000
Montana – $63,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 25th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Montana are 6% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$63,000
North Carolina – $66,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 15th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in North Carolina are 2% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$66,000
North Dakota – $59,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 38th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in North Dakota are 11% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$59,000
Nebraska – $50,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 48th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Nebraska are 26% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$50,000
New Hampshire – $66,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 16th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in New Hampshire are 2% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$66,000
New Jersey – $72,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 9th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in New Jersey are 7% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$72,000
New Mexico – $59,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 39th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in New Mexico are 12% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$59,000
Nevada – $56,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 45th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Nevada are 17% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$56,000
New York – $81,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 1st
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in New York are 21% higher than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$81,000
Ohio – $64,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 22nd
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Ohio are 4% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$64,000
Oklahoma – $61,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 31st
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Oklahoma are 9% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$61,000
Oregon – $63,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 26th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Oregon are 6% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$63,000
Pennsylvania – $63,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 27th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Pennsylvania are 7% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$63,000
Rhode Island – $63,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 28th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Rhode Island are 6% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$63,000
South Carolina – $63,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 29th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in South Carolina are 6% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$63,000
South Dakota – $49,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 49th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in South Dakota are 26% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$49,000
Tennessee – $63,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 30th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Tennessee are 7% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$63,000
Texas – $65,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 20th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Texas are 4% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$65,000
Utah – $53,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 46th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Utah are 21% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$53,000
Virginia – $67,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 13th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Virginia are the same as average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$67,000
Vermont – $60,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 34th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Vermont are 10% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$60,000
Washington – $66,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 17th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Washington are 2% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$66,000
Wisconsin – $60,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 35th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Wisconsin are 10% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$60,000
West Virginia – $64,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 23rd
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in West Virginia are 4% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$64,000
Wyoming – $57,000
(High Confidence (more than 250 sources))
Salary Rank: 44th
Average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings in Wyoming are 15% lower than average Registered Nurse salaries for job postings nationwide.
In USD as of Feb 27, 2014
55k
110k
165k
Registered Nurse
$57,000
Learn more about Registered Nurse
Visit Website
Authority Rank
Registered Nurses : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S …
High
Registered Nurse RN | Nursing Career & Jobs, Salary …
Average
Registered nurse – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Medium
Registered Nurse ( RN ) (US) Salary – PayScale
Average
How to Become a Registered Nurse | eHow
Average