RN Salary: 10 Best Paying States, Cities, and Career Outlook
Are you thinking of stepping into the nursing field? If yes, you must be informed about every aspect of this industry, starting with how much do registered nurses (RNs) make. An RN nurse’s salary depends on many factors starting with education, work experience, speciality, and locations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for registered nurses, in general, was $75,330 as of May 2020. However, if you're interested in knowing in more detail how much does an RN nurse makes in different cities and states, then stay with us!
How Much Do Registered Nurses Make?
In exchange for their demanding and rigorous profession, registered nurses generally earn considerable income and benefits. However, a variety of factors, including years of work experience, can have an impact on an RN's hourly/yearly earning potential.
RN nurse yearly salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May 2020, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $75,330, as mentioned above. The lowest 10% of workers made less than $53,410, while the top 10% earned more than $116,230.
RN nurse hourly salary
According to Payscale, registered nurses make a median salary of $30.56 per hour, with the most experienced RN earning a median hourly wage of $42.73. Whereas the lowest hourly median RN nurse salary goes to $24.22.
RN nurse salary based on years of experience
The number of years you've worked as a nurse can have an impact on your pay. Working at the same job for a long time can often increase your earning opportunities.
The average RN with less than one year of experience earns roughly $28 per hour, rising to around $29 for those with one to four years of experience and approximately $32 for those with five to nine years of experience. Registered nurses with 10 to 19 years of experience can expect to earn about $35 per hour, while those with more than 20 years of experience make more than $36 per hour.
10 Best Paying States for RN
An RN's salary is influenced by their location, work environment, and the type of facility where they work. Despite the fact that each medical role is equally important, registered nurse salaries vary widely from state to state.
California is the highest-paying state for RNs, with nurses earning an average of $120,560 a year. Hawaii is second, with $104,830, and Massachusetts comes the third, with $96,250.
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The top 10 best-paid states for RNs list includes:
California - with an average RN nurse salary of $120,560, accounting for $57,96 per hour.
Hawai - with an average RN nurse salary of $104,830, accounting for $50,40 per hour.
Massachusetts - with an average RN nurse salary of $96,250, accounting for $46,27 per hour.
Oregon - with an average RN nurse salary of $96,230, accounting for $46,27 per hour.
Alaska - with an average RN nurse salary of $95,270, accounting for $45,81 per hour.
Nevada - with an average RN nurse salary of $89,750, accounting for $43,15 per hour.
New York - with an average RN nurse salary of $89,760, accounting for $43,16 per hour.
Washington - with an average RN nurse salary of $91,310, accounting for $40,90 per hour.
New Jersey - with an average RN nurse salary of $ 85,720 accounting for $41,21 per hour.
Connecticut - with an average RN nurse salary of $ 84,850, accounting for $40,79 per hour.
10 Best Paying Cities for RN
The average wage for a Registered Nurse varies greatly from city to city. California is the state with the highest income for nurses. It's no wonder, then, that this is where registered nurses earn the most money on average. As of May 2020, San Francisco is the highest-paying city for nurses. The average RN salary in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area is $149,200.
Top 5 paying metropolitan areas for Registered Nurses:
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA - with an average RN nurse salary of $149,200, accounting for $71,73 per hour.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - with an average RN nurse salary of $149,200 accounting for $71,73 per hour.
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA - with an average RN nurse salary of $142,140, accounting for $68,34 per hour.
Sacramento-Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA - with an average RN nurse salary of $134,350, accounting for $64,59 per hour.
Salinas, CA - with an average RN nurse salary of $132,160, accounting for 463,54 per hour.
Top 5 paying nonmetropolitan areas for Registered Nurses:
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California - with an average RN nurse salary of $103,890, accounting for $49,95 per hour.
Alaska - with an average RN nurse salary of $102,390, accounting for $49,23 per hour.
Eastren Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California - with an average RN nurse salary of $101,000, accounting for $48,56 per hour.
Hawaii/Kauai - with an average RN nurse salary of $97,950, accounting for $47,09 per hour.
North Coast of California nonmetropolitan area - with an average RN nurse salary of $92,760, accounting for $44,60 per hour.
RN Career Outlook
The employment of registered nurses is expected to expand at a rate of 9% from 2020 to 2030. Over the next decade, an average of 194,500 openings for registered nurses is projected to open.
Because of the considerable number of elderly individuals, who often have more medical problems than younger people, demand for healthcare services will rise. Nurses will also be required to educate and care for patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes and obesity.
Nurses in outpatient treatment centres, such as those that provide same-day chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and surgery, are also expected to increase considerably quicker than the national average. Furthermore, because many senior citizens choose to be treated at home or in residential care facilities, registered nurses will be in high demand in these settings.
Factors That Impact RN Nurse Salary
The main factors that can impact an RN nurse’s salary include education, work environment, speciality, and location.
Education
Your education level is one of the most important aspects that can affect your RN nurse salary. While you can get the position of a registered nurse with only an associate's degree, more and more workplaces are requiring candidates to have at least a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). As a result, associate's level RNs earn less and have a more difficult time obtaining work than those with a bachelor's degree.
Nurses who want to level up their careers can earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and become nurse practitioners (NPs) or advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Nurse practitioners can expect a compensation raise as a result of their expanded experience and responsibilities. In 2020, the national median wage for nurse practitioners was $117,670 per year.
Work Environment
As a nurse, the sort of facility you work in can have a significant impact on your earning potential. Registered nurses can work in a great range of settings, including acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, physician offices, and home healthcare.
The salary that various types of work settings offer often differs due to the different needs and expectations of these types of work environments. An RN may choose to work in a particular setting depending on the hours they would like to take on, the patient groups you're most interested in, and the kind of diseases you're most interested in treating.
Specialty
As your career as an RN progresses, you'll likely notice that there are a variety of options to specialize your abilities and narrow your emphasis. While this usually entails more training and education in the form of certifications, it can be beneficial in various ways.
Pursuing a specialization will not only allow you to go further into your passions, but it will also open up new employment prospects and raise your income. Travel nurse, nurse educator, oncology nurse, case management nurse, neonatal or perinatal nurse, and other specialty occupations for RNs are just a few occupations you can practice after specialization with high salaries.
Location
The size of your paycheck is influenced by where you work. Different locations can make a difference; urban areas tend to pay more than rural ones, and northern states, with the exception of California, pay more than southern and western states. Specific locations also have a more robust healthcare industry culture, which can result in greater pay and more generous overall compensation packages.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, every medical professional fills an essential place in the healthcare field and earns benefits accordingly. However, getting out of your comfort zone and getting the required education to become a registered nurse will give you a long list of advantages, including higher earning potential compared to other nurse positions.