It’s pretty hard to get a firm handle on what makes up the “average” starting salary for nurses. There are a lot of variables to consider, such as: location and geography, years of experience (entry-level RNs make less than more experienced nurses), characteristics of employment (for example, whether you work per diem/hourly or in a facility), shift schedule, position and title within the organization, whether you’re part of a union or professional association, etc.
The average starting salary for a nurse depends on various factors such as the state, the hospital and the position or role. Before you start your journey as a nurse, it’s important to know all of your options so that you can make informed decisions about your career and your salary. The following will give you an understanding of how to determine what your salary will be as a nurse.
What is the average starting salary for a nurse
Introduction
The BLS has released new data for 2016, and it shows that the average starting salary for a registered nurse is about $70,000. The highest earning are in states like California and the lowest are in states like Alabama. This number will vary based on factors such as education, experience, credentials, location and specialty area.
The average salary for registered nurses is around $70K.
The average salary for registered nurses is around $70K.
- The highest-paying states were California, New Jersey and Massachusetts, with salaries averaging $84K to $87K.
- In contrast, the lowest-paying states were Alabama ($64K), New Mexico ($65K) and Mississippi ($66K).
- The BLS reports that the median wage for RNs in 2016 was $68,450:
The highest earners were in California and the lowest were in Alabama.
According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest earners were in California and New York. The lowest salaries were reported in Alabama and Mississippi, with an average salary for RNs in the US coming out to $68,450.
The BLS reports that the 2016 median wage for RNs was $68,450.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the 2016 median wage for RNs was $68,450. This mean is a better indicator of the average wage than the median because it takes into account how wages are distributed across all employed nurses. The mean is sensitive to outliers at either end of the distribution. A few high-earning RNs can skew this number upward, while many low-paying RNs will pull it down.
Salary depends on education, experience and credentials but also on location and specialty.
The salary you can expect to earn as a nurse depends on factors such as your education, experience and credentials. It also depends on where you work. The cost of living in certain areas is higher than others, so it makes sense that nurses who practice in larger cities will earn more than those who practice at hospitals in rural areas. In addition, some specialties have a higher demand than others because they’re more specialized or require specific training that’s hard for people outside the field to learn.
Specialty: Nurses who choose a specialty have many options for their careers; however, the average salary for nurses with different specialties varies widely depending on their level of education and experience (see graph). For example, registered nurses (RNs) with Master’s degrees make an average annual salary of $73K while RNs with Bachelor’s degrees make only $57K per year—a difference of almost 25%.
Find out more by applying to schools now!
Find out more by applying to schools now!
The average salary for a nurse is around $70K, but the highest earners were in California and the lowest were in Alabama. The BLS reports that the 2016 median wage for RNs was $68,450.
Conclusion
The demand for nurses is expected to continue to rise, especially as the population grows and ages. If you’re interested in beginning or advancing your nursing career, find out more information by contacting schools with degree programs that interest you.