Registered Nurse salary

The median pay for a registered nurse nationally is $87,360 a year — about $42.00 an hour. That is based on 33 job postings on LocalWork from the last 12 months that stated pay, so it reflects what employers are advertising rather than verified earnings. Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.

Most registered nurses nationally earn between $71,760 a year and $145,600 a year — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.

Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $71,760 a year. A quarter of registered nurses earn below $71,760 a year, so the first year or two typically sits in that band.

The top 10% of registered nurses nationally earn about $145,600 a year or more, roughly 1.7× the median. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — advanced certification, supervisory responsibility, or specialising in higher-paying work.

Registered nurses assess patients, deliver treatment and coordinate care across hospitals, clinics and community settings. It requires a nursing degree and state licensure. Day to day, that means assess and monitor patient condition, administer medication and treatments, coordinate with physicians and specialists and educate patients and families.

The usual route is: (1) complete an ADN (2 years) or BSN (4 years), (2) pass the NCLEX-RN, (3) obtain your state licence, (4) gain experience on a general unit. Employers typically look for ADN or BSN nursing degree, passing the NCLEX-RN examination and state RN licence.

Yes. Working as a registered nurse requires formal certification or licensing — specifically state RN licence and BLS certification; specialty certifications for some units. Requirements are set at state level in most cases, so check your own state's rules before committing to a programme.

There are currently 41 open registered nurses listed on LocalWork. Nursing demand is strong and broad-based, with shortages in most regions. Shift differentials and specialty premiums often matter more to earnings than base rate.

Two years for an associate degree (ADN) or four for a bachelor's (BSN), then the NCLEX-RN exam and state licensure. Many employers now prefer or require a BSN, and some fund ADN-to-BSN bridge programmes for staff.

Usually. Night, weekend and holiday differentials are standard in hospital nursing and can add meaningfully to annual pay. Advertised base rates often exclude them, so total earnings can exceed the posted figure.