Nurse Salary Guide: How Much Do Nurses Make?
Nursing remains one of the most stable, versatile, and high-earning healthcare career paths in the United States. However, compensation in nursing varies significantly based on education, specialization, geographic location, and clinical setting. Knowing how much money you can make as a nurse can help you make decisions about your nursing career. In this guide, we’ll break down how much nurses make per year, the top factors impacting nursing salaries, and more so you know what to expect and how to increase your earning potential.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- How Much Do Nurses Make Per Year?
- The Nursing Pay Scale: Education and Role Tiers
- Top Factors Driving Nursing Salaries
- High-Demand Nurse Specialties
- Specialized Non-Bedside Nursing Roles
- Taking the First Step: Education and Passing the NCLEX
How much do nurses make per year?
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the May 2025 average annual pay for registered nurses (RNs) was $101,420 per year and $48.76 per hour. The lowest 10 percent earned $68,940, and the highest 10 percent earned $137,470. The BLS reports that the job outlook for nurses is also positive. Employment of RNs is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than average for all occupations.
The Nursing Pay Scale: Education and Role Tiers
Nursing compensation correlates strongly with educational attainment and scope of practice. The nursing hierarchy can be categorized into three major salary tiers:
- Entry-Level and Practical Nursing (LPN/LVN): Providing essential bedside care and administrative support, entry-level and practical nurses earn solid wages while completing shorter certification programs.
- Registered Nurses (RN): Serving as the core of direct patient care in hospitals and clinics, RNs earn competitive incomes depending on shift differentials and specialties.
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN): Requiring master’s or doctoral degrees, APRNs take on diagnostic, prescribing, and treatment responsibilities that command premium compensation rivaling many non-physician medical providers.
Average Pay for Nurses Based on Education and Role
In the table below, you can see the variation between some of the nurse salaries based on education and role, according to the most recent data available from the BLS:
| 2025 Average Annual Pay | 2025 Average Hourly Pay | |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN) | $67,050 | $32.24 |
| Registered Nurses (RN) | $101,420 | $48.76 |
| Nurse Midwives (APRN) | $136,980 | $65.86 |
| Nurse Practitioners (APRN) | $137,300 | $66.01 |
| Nurse Anesthetists (APRN) | $248,320 | $119.38 |
Top Factors Driving Nursing Salaries
If you’re looking to earn a top nursing salary, consider these factors as you continue your education and apply for jobs:
Industries with the Highest Employment for Registered Nurses
Review a list of the industries with the highest employment for RNs, according to data from the BLS:
| Industry | 2025 Employment |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 1,902,960 |
| Offices of Physicians | 232,420 |
| Home Health Care Services | 198,180 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 173,380 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 142,270 |
The following is a list of states with the highest employment for RNs, according to data from the BLS:
| State | 2025 Employment |
| California | 338,940 |
| Texas | 271,380 |
| Florida | 229,940 |
| New York | 205,810 |
| Pennsylvania | 146,520 |
High-Demand Nursing Specialties
For registered nurses working at the bedside, specialty certifications and working in high-acuity hospital units open up premium hourly rates, overtime opportunities, and on-call pay. Detailed below are some high-demand nursing specialties.
Critical Care/Intensive Care Unit Nurse
Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses care for unstable patients requiring advanced life support and continuous monitoring. Their high-stress, technical expertise typically commands upper-tier hospital pay scales and shift incentives.
Operating Room and Surgical Nurse
Surgical nurses assist surgeons during procedures, maintain sterile fields, and manage perioperative care. High demand for surgical procedures keeps compensation for operating room (OR) nurses well above general medical-surgical baselines.
Emergency Room and Trauma Nurse
Emergency room (ER) and trauma nurses specialize in rapid triage and critical care for life-threatening emergencies. Frequent night, weekend, and holiday differential pay elevates overall annual earnings.
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
Neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurses care for premature infants and critically ill newborns. The highly specialized clinical training required makes this one of the most sought-after inpatient nursing sub-specialties.
Specialized Non-Bedside Nursing Roles
Not all lucrative nursing roles involve traditional bedside shifts. Specialized administrative, technical, and flexible positions offer unique earning structures:
Informatics Nurse
Blending clinical care with computer science, informatics nurses analyze healthcare data and optimize electronic health record (EHR) systems for health systems, often earning upper-tier non-bedside salaries.
Travel Nurse
Operating on short-term contracts across high-demand regions, travel nurses receive elevated hourly wages, stipend allowances for housing, and travel bonuses, often out-earning traditional staff positions.
Nurse Educator
Working in university settings or healthcare systems, nurse educators train the next generation of nursing students and staff. While base pay varies, roles in private institutions and corporate healthcare training offer steady compensation and predictable schedules.
Case Manager and Nurse Advocate
Focusing on insurance coordination, discharge planning, and patient navigation, case managers enjoy regular business-hour schedules while maintaining solid mid-tier RN earning power.
Taking the First Step: Education and Passing the NCLEX
Every aspiring nurse must complete two fundamental milestones: earning an accredited degree or certificate and passing the official licensing exam—the NCLEX-PN (for practical/vocational nurses) or the NCLEX-RN (for registered nurses).
The NCLEX tests clinical judgment and decision-making skills under adaptive testing conditions, making structured preparation critical. Kaplan Nursing offers widely recognized prep resources to help students transition from nursing school to licensed practice:
- NCLEX Prep Courses: Kaplan offers comprehensive, structured course options tailored to different learning styles, including live online interactive classes led by expert nurse educators, self-paced courses, and 1-on-1 tutoring packages.
- Adaptive Practice and Question Banks (Qbanks): 2,200+ test-like questions and full-length Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs) designed to mirror the actual exam environment.
- Free NCLEX Prep Tools: Kaplan provides free access to daily NCLEX practice questions, a free NCLEX practice test trial, and more to help you get ready for test day.
Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Dr. Christi Doherty DNP, RNC-OB, CNE, CHSE, CDP. Dr. Doherty is the Executive Director of Nursing & i-Human Patients at Kaplan North America. She is a skilled researcher, valued professor of nursing, experienced clinical nurse, and designer of virtual simulations. Dr. Doherty has earned certifications in nursing education, healthcare simulation education, diversity, and inpatient obstetrics.
Nursing Job Growth: Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurses, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.
