Provide basic nursing care, monitor patients, and report to registered nurses and doctors.
Nursing homes, hospitals, and clinics; on your feet, hands-on with patients.
Full-time and part-time; nights, weekends, and holidays are common.
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Certificate program
Training path: ~1-year practical nursing program.
Requires passing the NCLEX-PN and holding a state license.
The fastest route into nursing — many bridge to RN later, employer-paid.
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Standard Occupational Classification 29-2061. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.