All careersHealthcare

Registered Nurse

$97,550
median pay per year
$68,940 – $137,470
what most earn (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Assess patients, give treatments and medications, and coordinate care as part of the medical team.

Where you work

Hospitals, clinics, and homes; fast-paced, on your feet most of the shift.

The hours

Often long shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$97,550
per year
What most earn
$68,940–$137,470
10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~189,100
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+5%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
3,379,720
people, nationwide

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.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: BSN — or the cheaper ADN route to the same license.

License or certification

Requires passing the NCLEX-RN and holding a state license.

What it takes

CompassionCritical thinkingAttention to detailCommunication

The honest take

The associate-degree route earns the same RN license for a fraction of the cost.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-1141. 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.