Registered nurses work in a career that offers stable employment opportunities.
Registered Nurses are the worker bees of any health enterprise. In a private physician practice, they record vital statistics and answer triage questions. In hospitals, they provide direct patient care under a physician's supervision. Nurses enjoy a wide salary band that incorporates professionals at all levels of skill and work experience and the relative job security that comes from working in the health care industry.
Starting Salaries
Across the United States, a registered nurse with up to one year of experience earns $19.62 to $25.10 per hour. Much of the variation is regional; nurses in the Great Plains and the Rust Belt tend to earn slightly less than their peers in major coastal cities. Nurses with one to four years of experience make $20.97 to $27.24 per hour. These wage statistics were collected by PayScale Inc., a national human-resource company, and reflect data as of March 2011.
Median Salaries
The median national salary for a registered nurse, irrespective of any advanced degrees or years of experience, is $63,750, according to 2009 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS also reports that 25 percent of RNs make $77,790 per year or more, and 25 percent make $52,520 per year or less.
Years of Experience
Years of experience proves a critical factor in annual nursing compensation. PayScale data shows that a nurse with 20 or more years of experience earns $26.94 to $36.07 per hour, compared to the entry-level salary band of $19.62 to $25.10 per hour. Experienced nurses who promote into management or non-clinical positions can earn even more per hour, although this data reflects only RNs who continue to provide direct patient care.
Education Correlation
Many entry-level nurses earn their Registered Nurse certificate and begin working. As they accumulate clinical experience, these nurses can earn bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, or obtain specialty clinical certification in areas such as cardiology, emergency medicine, rehabilitation or oncology.
Nurses with advanced degrees or certifications often earn a wage premium but many who seek additional education leave bedside nursing altogether and focus on management, teaching, utilization management or quality assurance.
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