WHITE PAPER. Top Nurse Salaries by State

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1 WHITE PAPER Top Nurse Salaries by State

2 Top Nurse Salaries by State Registered nurses (RNs) experience fast-paced, challenging work and some have the opportunity to earn very attractive salaries. The strong demand for qualified RNs means that hospitals, physicians offices, outpatient surgery facilities, nursing homes and other health care providers are willing to offer higher salaries to attract the best nurses. In May 2013, The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the average RN s annual salary was $68,910. The lowest 10% earned less than $46,000 and the top 10% earned more than $96,000. Nurses with the minimum required training generally start out toward the lower end of the scale, progressing toward the top end with advanced nursing education. Location, Location, Location Nurses are in demand in states across the country. Since they can work anywhere, salary is often a top consideration when nurses decide where they d like to live. According to the BLS, the following five states offer the highest pay for RNs; if you are thinking about relocation, perhaps a move to one of these places would be financially attractive. 2 Jacksonville University College of Health Sciences

3 California The Golden State is home not only to entertainment stars, but more than a quarter million RNs who are the highest-paid in the nation on average. With a ratio of nurses for every 1,000 people, California RNs earn a median hourly wage of $46.62 an hour, or $96,980 annually. Hawaii The nation s 50th state claims the second-highest position for RN annual median pay. The state s nurses for every 1,000 people earn an average wage of $41.05 an hour, which translates to $85,380 per year. Massachusetts This state is almost as endowed with well-paid nurses as it is with history. An impressive RNs per 1,000 people earn an average wage of $40.25 an hour, or an annual salary of $83,720. Alaska The nation s other outlying state commands a high average salary for RNs. Alaska has a ratio of nurses per 1,000 people, and these residents of The Last Frontier earn a median hourly wage of $40.21 hourly, or $83,640 a year. Oregon California s adjacent neighbor to the north is doing an impressive job of its own keeping pace with top-ranked nursing statistics. With an hourly median rate of $38.67 an hour $80,440 annually Oregon s RNs for every 1,000 people crack the five highest-paid median salaries by state. 3 Jacksonville University College of Health Sciences

4 The Remaining 45 Here is how other states rank in terms of annual median salaries for RNs: Nevada: $78,800 New Jersey: $77,360 Washington: $76,420 Connecticut: $76,280 New York: $75,470 Rhode Island: $74,080 Arizona: $71,430 Minnesota: $71,160 Maryland: $71,100 Delaware: $70,660 Colorado: $68,980 Texas: $67,860 Illinois: $66,730 Pennsylvania: $66,010 Michigan: $65,820 New Mexico: $64,900 New Hampshire: $64,540 Wisconsin: $64,460 Vermont: $63,260 Virginia: $63,150 Maine: $62,640 Florida: $62,060 Louisiana: $61,780 Ohio: $61,750 Georgia: $61,630 Wyoming: $61,480 Montana: $60,700 Utah: $60,090 Idaho: $59,770 South Carolina: $59,670 North Carolina: $59,290 Indiana: $58,320 Missouri: $58,040 Kentucky: $57,520 Oklahoma: $57,130 Nebraska: $56,920 Tennessee: $56,730 Mississippi: $56,530 Kansas: $56,410 Arkansas: $56,150 North Dakota: $56,030 Alabama: $55,870 West Virginia: $55,240 Iowa: $53,520 South Dakota: $53,050 4 Jacksonville University College of Health Sciences

5 Education Makes a Difference Education Standards Rising for Nurses Many of the best nursing jobs require higher education. In fact, some nursing career paths are only open to registered nurses (RNs) who have a bachelor s degree. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is the minimum educational requirement for professional nursing practice, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Organization of Nurse Executives, American Nurses Association and other leading nursing organizations. They recognize that the BSN degree has become an essential industry standard for organizations seeking a higher quality level of care as well as RNs planning to advance in their careers. As healthcare organizations continue to streamline and expect more of their RNs, demand for nurses with credentials beyond an associate s degree or diploma is expected to grow. A BSN program exposes nurses to a broad range of subjects from community health, critical care, research and assessment to general education subjects such as nutrition, statistics, and anatomy and physiology. Some Nursing Specialties Draw Higher Salaries According to Nursing Link information accessed September 2010, the following top nursing specialties offer the highest salaries. Compare these to recent reports about median annual salaries earned by RNs, both in their most common areas of employment and by state. 1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist: $135, Nurse Researcher: $95, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: $95, Certified Nurse Midwife: $84, Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse: $81, Orthopaedic Nurse: $81, Nurse Practitioner: $78, Clinical Nurse Specialist: $76, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner: $75, Neonatal Nurse: $74,000 5 Jacksonville University College of Health Sciences

6 Nurses Have Bright Prospects Ahead This is a very dynamic period for the nursing profession in the United States. Employment of registered nurses (RNs) is projected to grow 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations, according to a January 2014 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Fueled by tremendous growth in the healthcare industry and a rising demand for RNs with clinical nursing skills, there will likely be a shortage of more than 1 million RNs by 2020, the BLS projected in December The result is encouraging for current and future nurses. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for predicts favorable job opportunities for nurses through Salaries, as a significant indicator of job quality, have supported this forecast over the past decade. The median annual salary for RNs rose from $57,785 in 2004 to $66,973 in 2008, as reported by the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. Since then, median salaries have edged up further, to $65,470 in May 2012 and to $68,910 in May 2013, according to the BLS. In the most recent report, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,000 and the top 10 percent earned more than $96,000. Median annual salaries were further calculated in May 2013 for RNs in the top five areas in which they worked: 1. Outpatient Care Centers: $74, General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $70, Home Health Care Services: $66, Offices of Physicians: $62, Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): $62,010 Information has also been compiled concerning median pay for RNs by state and by top nursing specialties. 6 Jacksonville University College of Health Sciences

7 The Value of a Degree RNs with improved clinical nursing and assessment skills have increasingly been in demand. This means more nurses will be required to earn a degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, if they want to earn the higher salaries. Along with on-the-job training, a BSN offers a higher degree of education and a broad base of scientific knowledge that s indispensable. An RN to BSN degree is valued by many employers because it represents a well-rounded education. It s highly sought after for a number of positions including: Director of Education RN Telemetry Unit Charge Nurse ICU Staff RN Manager of Ambulatory Surgery Clinical Nurse Manager Healthcare Risk Manager Director of Case Management Chief Nursing Officer Hospitalist Service Unit RN Degrees Open Career Doors Competition can be strong in many of these high-salary areas, so you ll want every advantage possible when applying for a nursing job. Pursuing such advanced education as an RN to BSN or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from accredited, top-rated Jacksonville University is a great way to stand out from the crowd. Earning a degree will not only improve your chances for a top salary; it may also lead to better job security. 7 Jacksonville University College of Health Sciences

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