Registered Nurse Salary: Hourly and Annual Data (2020 BLS)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2020) — latest comprehensive occupational data:

National RN Wages

• Median annual wage: $77,600
• Median hourly wage: $37.31
• 10th percentile: $59,450 / $28.58
• 90th percentile: $120,250 / $57.81

By Work Setting (Median Hourly)

• General medical/surgical hospitals: $38.47
• Outpatient care centers: $39.82
• Specialty hospitals: $39.12
• Home health care: $37.12
• Nursing care facilities: $32.70
• Physician offices: $33.23
• Government: $39.76
• Educational services: $36.95

Top-Paying States (Mean Annual)

• California: $124,000
• Hawaii: $106,530
• Oregon: $98,630
• Massachusetts: $96,630
• Alaska: $95,270

Job Outlook (2020–2030)

• Growth: 9% (faster than average) — ~194,500 openings/year.
• Drivers: Aging population, chronic disease, retirements, expanded access, pandemic aftermath.

Advancement Impact

• BSN vs ADN: ~$5,000–$8,000/year differential.
• Specialty certification (CCRN, CEN, etc.): $2–$4/h differential.
• APRN (NP, CRNA, CNS, CNM): $100K–$200K+.
• Leadership (manager, director, CNO): $100K–$250K+.

Note: 2023–2024 wages are 15–25% higher due to pandemic-era demand and inflation. Consult current BLS OEWS for latest figures.