What Registered Nurses Actually Earn
Sources: BLS OES May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 · Vivian Health Travel Salary Data 2024. Salary figures are national estimates.
Sources: BLS OES May 2024 FL state data · CareerOneStop · Florida Center for Nursing. City estimates are approximations based on BLS metro area data.
Sources: BLS OES May 2024 TX state data · CareerOneStop · Texas BON. City estimates are approximations based on BLS metro area data.
How to Become a Registered Nurse
A 2-year nursing degree from a community college or vocational program. The fastest and most affordable path to RN licensure. Many ADN nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN bridge program online while working.
- Program cost: $10,000–$40,000 at community colleges
- Complete in 2 years full-time (some accelerated options available)
- Pass NCLEX-RN to become a licensed RN
- Many hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for RN-to-BSN completion
- Lower financial investment than BSN with same starting RN salary
The 4-year BSN degree is preferred or required by many hospital systems, particularly Magnet-designated facilities. Opens doors to leadership roles and NP programs faster than an ADN alone.
- Program cost: $40,000–$120,000 depending on institution
- Required or preferred at most major healthcare systems
- BSN-prepared RNs earn slightly higher starting salaries
- Direct pathway to MSN/NP programs without bridge coursework
- ROTC and military nursing programs offer full BSN funding
For career changers with a prior bachelor's degree in any field. Accelerated BSN programs compress nursing education into 12–18 intense months. Higher cost and intensity, but the fastest path to a BSN for non-nurses.
- Requires prior bachelor's degree — any major accepted
- 12–18 months of full-time intensive study
- Higher per-credit cost but shorter total time commitment
- Strong placement rates — ABSN grads are highly sought by hospitals
- Many programs include NCLEX prep and job placement support
Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Registered Nurse
A Day in the Life of a Registered Nurse
What you will need
Skills That Make a Great Registered Nurse
Skills That Make a Great Registered Nurse
Job market outlook
The Market for Registered Nurses in 2025
The Market for Registered Nurses in 2025
Registered nursing is the single largest healthcare occupation in the country — 3.2 million nurses providing the foundational layer of patient care in hospitals, clinics, schools, and communities. The 5% BLS growth projection understates the real demand picture, because it does not account for the massive wave of experienced RN retirements expected through the early 2030s.
The nursing shortage is not a projection — it is happening now. A 2024 National Center for Health Workforce Analysis study found that nurse dissatisfaction nearly doubled between 2017 and 2022. Healthcare systems are actively recruiting, offering sign-on bonuses, loan repayment, and expanded benefits to attract qualified RNs.
Travel nursing has permanently changed the RN income ceiling. Specialty nurses willing to take 13-week contracts in high-demand markets can earn $2,200–$3,500+ per week — more than double the staff RN rate. The travel nursing market is a direct benefit of the nursing shortage, and it is not going away.