Nurse Practitioner
Median wage · national
$132,300
Range: $118K – $157K
Employed
323K
Openings/yr
30K
Typically: master's degree
HEALTH
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurse earn $97,550 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $80,330 and $112,350. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Registered Nurse
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
- Median Wage
- $97,550
- Employed Nationally
- 3.4M
- Openings / Year
- 189,100
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Cardiac Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse)
Cardiac Nurse Specialist
Central Supply Nurse
Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR)
Charge Nurse
How Much Do Registered Nurses Make?
Registered Nurse earn $97,550 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $80,330 and $112,350. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$97,550
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$80K–$112K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$80,330
Entry-level
$97,550
Median
$112,350
Experienced
What Do Registered Nurses Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Registered Nurse roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Social Perceptiveness
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Service Orientation
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
Where Do Registered Nurses Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Registered Nurses?
The BLS projects +4.9% employment change for Registered Nurse through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 189,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +4.9%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
189,100
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
3.4M
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Registered Nurse professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $97,550 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 326,720 | $140,330 | +43.9% |
| 2 | Texas | 261,050 | $90,010 | -7.7% |
| 3 | Florida | 218,100 | $82,850 | -15.1% |
| 4 | New York | 204,120 | $105,600 | +8.3% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 146,840 | $87,610 | -10.2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Registered Nurse positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursing | 308,114 | $88,910 | 2,190 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Registered Nurses
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 4 | North Florida College Madison, FL | 91 | $804 | $33,929 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 6 | University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL | 90 | $4,815 | $71,588 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Registered Nurse, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Registered Nurse pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Registered Nurse Pros & Cons
The data on Registered Nurse shows 4 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $97,550 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.9% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $112,350 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Large, established field 3.4M people work in this occupation nationally, creating a broad job market with openings spread across every region and industry.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $97,550 median while building the experience employers require.
Registered Nurse Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Registered Nurse professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Registered Nurse is $97,550, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $80,330 and $112,350. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Registered Nurse a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $97,550 median, with +4.9% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to become a Registered Nurse?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Nursing are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $97,550 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurse?
The BLS projects +4.9% employment change for Registered Nurse through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 189,100 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 3.4M people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Registered Nurse professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Registered Nurse roles: Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, and Service Orientation. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
-
The Healthcare Pay Ladder, Rung by Rung
From a $37,000 dietetic technician to a $238,000 family physician, healthcare pay climbs with required schooling. But one rung breaks the pattern.
- Healthcare careers
- Median wage
- Entry education
- Nursing
- Physician pay
-
The Nursing-School Effect, Why Health Colleges Dominate the Earnings Charts
Health and nursing-named colleges earn 27 percent above the average school, and hospital-run nursing schools turn that into the steepest returns in the data.
- Nursing schools
- Health colleges
- Earnings
- College ROI
- Registered nurse
-
What a High-Stress Job Actually Pays Extra
High-stress careers pay about 14 percent more than moderate-stress ones, a real premium that survives even after you control for the degree required.
- Job stress
- Median wage
- Stress premium
- Career pay
- Hazard pay
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