Registered nurses comprise one of the largest segments of the U.S. workforce and are among the highest-paying large occupations. The Federal Government projects that more than 203,000 new registered nurse positions will be created annually from 2021-2031.
Also, Registered nurses are in high demand in both acute and community settings, including private practices, health management organizations, outpatient surgicenters, home health care, nursing homes, mental health agencies, the military, hospices etc.
Growth in the RN will drastically increase due to reasons including an increased emphasis on preventive care; growing rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity; and demand for healthcare services for the baby-boom population as they longer and more active lives.
In this article, we will discuss how much do Registered Nurses in the United States make an hour in the different states, the basic requirements or certification to be a Registered Nurse, the levels of Registered Nurses and their salary range as well as how to transition to become a Registered Nurse from other fields.
Recommended: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses.
Registered Nurse Certification
Why pursue nursing certification? Certification provides a level of assurance that a nurse has reached a high level of expertise in their field of speciality, with greatly increased potential for improved patient outcomes. Additionally, certification may open doors of employment.
Consequently, Registered Nurses can pursue a plethora of certifications. Therefore, to some, certification is a means of association and also a way to make money, others have real-life reasons that certification can be helpful to a nurse despite the huge cost involved in the process.
List Of Organizations That Offer Nursing Certifications
Here is a list of organisations that offer nursing certifications and nurse-related certifying bodies.
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPVB)
- American Association Of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN)
- American Board For Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN)
- American Nurses Credentialing Centre (ANCC)
- American Organisation For Nursing Leadership (AONL)
- Certification Board For Diabetes Care And Education (CBDCE)
- Commission On Nurse Certification (CNC)
- Competency And Credentialing Institute (CCI)
- Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC)
- National Assistant at Surgery certification (NASC)
- National Board for Certification And Recertification For Nurse Anaesthetists (NBCRNA)
- National League for Nursing (NLN)
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
- The National Certification Corporation (NCC)
- Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
Top 7 Nursing Certifications for Your Career
Below is a list of seven important widely accepted certifications for your nursing career.
1. Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCRN)
Critical care nurses provide intensive care to patients and are often called intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.
Requirements:
- A current U.S RN or APRN license
- 1,750 hours of direct care of critically ill patients in the previous two years before application, with 875 hours in the most recent year.
- Or, 5 years with at least 2,000 hours of direct care of critically ill adult patients, with 144 hours in the most recent year.
- Successfully passing the certification exam.
Average Salary For Critical Care Nurses: As of June 2022, the average annual salary of critical care nurses was $77,810 or $33.33 hourly wage.
2. Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)
A medical-surgical nurse plays a vital role in inpatient hospital settings ensuring safety, comfort etc. They help prepare patients for surgery.
Requirements:
- RN with a current US license
- Two years of practice as an RN in a medical-surgical setting
- 2,000 hours of practice within the previous three years
- Successfully passing the certification exam.
Average Salary: Although a certified medical-surgical registered nurse receives an average salary of $87k, this can also change between genders. However, a male CMSRN receives an average salary between $70k-$95k while a female CMSRN is paid $62k-$123k.
3. Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
A CEN is an RN who works in an emergency department caring for patients who may need urgent, lifesaving care.
Requirements:
- Must possess a current, unrestricted registered nurse license in the United States.
- Successfully passing the certification exam.
Average Salary: An emergency room nurse gets paid $152,898 per year.
4. Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
A CPN interacts with children, teenagers and their parents to identify health issues and implement a treatment plan designed by a physician.
Requirements:
- Must have a current, unrestricted RN license in the US or its territories
- Minimum of 1800 hours of pediatric RN clinical experience within the past two years.
- Minimum of five years and 3000 hours as a pediatric RN, with a minimum of 1000 hours within the past 24 months. Pediatric nursing residency program hours can also be included.
- Successfully passing the certification exam.
Average Salary: As of February 2024, the average hourly pay for a CPN in the US is $27/hour or $55.338/year.
5. Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN)
A CNRN provides care and preventive services to people from infants to the elderly with conditions affecting their brain or nervous system.
Requirements:
- Active, unrestricted RN license
- One year of full-time (2,080) neuroscience nursing practice in the previous three years.
- Successfully passing the certification exam.
Average Salary: The average hourly pay for a CPN in the US as of February 2024 is $27/hour or $55.338/year.
Relevant: Neuroscience Nurse Salary: Hourly Rate February 2024 USA
6. Certified Orthopaedic Nurse (CON)
A CON cares for patients with broken bones, patients recovering from orthopaedic surgeries and also patients with long-term orthopaedic conditions
Requirements:
- Two years of professional nursing experience, with an unrestricted nursing license
- At least 1000 hours of work experience as an RN in an orthopaedic setting in the past three years.
- Successfully passing the certification exam
Average Salary: The average hourly pay for a CON in the US as of February 2024 is $47/hour or $97,030/year.
7. Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)
An oncology nurse works with other medical professionals to prevent, diagnose, treat, and manage cancer symptoms as well as providing palliative care.
Requirements:
- Current and unrestricted RN license
- Two years of nursing experience within the previous four years.
- 2000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the previous four years
- 10 contact hours of nursing continuing education in oncology or an academic elective in oncology nursing within the three years before application.
- Successfully passing the certification exam
Average Salary: An Oncology Nurse receives an average salary of $44/hour, or $91,094/year.
Registered Nurse Salary
How Much Do Registered Nurses Make in the United States
Generally, the average salary for a registered nurse in the United States is $43.71/hour, $451/day, $1,707/week, or $6,604/month, or $93,281/year, and $12,000 overtime per year.
In addition, it is recorded that 63% of registered nurses in the United States think their salaries are enough for the cost of living in their area.
Salaries Of Registered Nurses By Years Of Experience In The United States
| Years of Experience | Per Hour |
| Less than 1 year | $39.50 |
| 1 to 2 years | $42.46 |
| 3 to 5 years | $44.57 |
| 6 to 9 years | $46.18 |
| More than 10 years | $51.63 |
Highest Paying Cities For Registered Nurses Near The United States
| List of Cities | Salaries/hour |
| New York, NY | $57.98 |
| Brooklyn, NY | $52.43 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $48.82 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $44.86 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $42.79 |
| Chicago, IL | $42.27 |
| Dallas, TX | $41.23 |
| Houston, TX | $39.85 |
| Miami, FL | $39.73 |
Registered Nurse Salary in the US.
This is a list of the states in the United States and the annual mean salary of registered nurses in each state.
| States | Annual Mean Salary | States | Annual Mean Salary |
| Alabama | $66,910 | Montana | $78,350 |
| Alaska | $103,310 | Nebraska | $73,510 |
| Arizona | $86,740 | Nevada | $96,310 |
| Arkansas | $66,530 | NewHampshire | $83,420 |
| California | #133,340 | NewJersey | $96,670 |
| Colorado | #86,590 | NewMexico | $85,580 |
| Connecticut | #94,260 | NewYork | $100,130 |
| Delaware | $85,020 | NorthCarolina | $77,420 |
| District of Columbia | $98,230 | NorthDakota | $75,000 |
| Florida | &9,910 | Ohio | $78,450 |
| Georgia | $85,180 | Oklahoma | $76,920 |
| Guam | N/A | Oregon | $106,610 |
| Hawaii | $113,220 | Pennsylvania | $80,630 |
| Idaho | $78,610 | PuertoRico | $37,360 |
| Illinois | $82,220 | RhodeIsland | $88,250 |
| Indiana | $75,580 | South Carolina | $74,330 |
| Iowa | $69,370 | SouthDakota | $64,500 |
| Kansas | $$71,990 | Tennessee | $72,480 |
| Kentucky | $77,620 | Texas | $84,320 |
| Louisiana | $75,920 | Utah | $76,400 |
| Maine | $77,410 | Vermont | $79,990 |
| Maryland | $87,990 | Puerto Rico | $69,200 |
| Massachusetts | $104,150 | Virginia | $81,860 |
| Michigan | $80,660 | Washington | $101,670 |
| Minnesota | $88,860 | WestVirginia | $72,230 |
| Mississippi | $67,930 | Wisconsin | $81,000 |
| Missouri | $71,860 | Wyoming | $81,010 |
Top 15 Highest-Paying Nursing Jobs
Here are the top 15 high-paying nursing jobs, the cities and also their average salaries.
1. Registered Nurse RN
Average Salary: $89,869 per year
Highest Paying Cities
- New York, NY
- Atlanta, GA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas, TX
2. Clinical Nurse Specialist CNS
Average Salary: $93,252 per year
Highest Paying Cities: N/A
3. Nursing Administrator
Average Salary: $101,340 per year
Highest Paying Cities
- Los Angeles, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- Philadelphia, PA
- Houston TX
- St. Louis, MO
4. Rehabilitation Nurse
Average Salary: $102,215 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- Baltimore, MD
- Austin, TX
- Houston, TX
- St. Louis, MO
- Kansas City, Mo
5. Certified Midwife
Average Salary: $102,746 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- New York, NY
- Chicago, IL
- Atlanta, GA
- Brooklyn, NY
- Dallas, TX
6. Medical-Surgical Nurse Manager
Average Salary: $110,323 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Berkeley, CA
- New Hyde Park, NY
- Dallas, TX
7. Research Nurse
Average Salary: $110,804 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- New York, NY
- Bethesda, MD
- Denver, CO
- Chicago, IL
- Baltimore, MD
8. Pain Management Nurse
Average Salary: $111,292 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- Charlotte, NC
- Bronx, NY
- Tucson, AZ
9. Travel Nurse
Average Salary: $111,962 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Denver, CO
- Atlanta, GA
10. Advanced Practise Registered Nurse (APRN)
Average Salary: $112,078 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- Chicago, IL
- Tampa, FL
- Cleveland, OH
- Miami, FL
- Albuquerque, NM
11. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Average Salary: $114,268 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Brooklyn, NY
- Dallas, TX
12. General Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Average Salary: $123,441 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- New York, NY
- Chicago, IL
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Brooklyn, NY
13. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse
Average Salary: $130,781 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- Los Angeles, CA
- Atlanta, GA
- Dallas, TX
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
14. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Average Salary: $150,543 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- Washington, DC
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Columbus, OH
- San Antonio, TX
15. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Average Salary: $152,608 per year
Highest Paying Cities:
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Dallas, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Nashville, TN
Conclusion: How Much Do Registered Nurses Make an Hour in America?
Although the process involved in acquiring a certificate as a registered nurse is difficult, it is nonetheless worth it in the long run. Getting more certification as a registered nurse key that can open so many doors for you. In this post, we have discussed the different certifications that are of importance to a registered nurse as well as the requirements and their respective average salary income. We also answered the question of how much do Registered Nurses make; the annual mean salary of registered nurses in the United States of America. And lastly, the top 15 high-paying nursing jobs.
I hope you found useful information here which is relevant to your career.
Editor’s Recommendation
- · 30 Legally Registered Recruitment Agencies in the UK
- · 11 Top Professional Nursing Organizations: Networking and Certifications
- · How Many Hours is Part Time Job in USA?
- · 20 Nursing Healthcare Interview Questions and Answers
- · Personal Statement for Mental Health Nursing Sample
- · Top 15 Nursing Schools in the UK for International Students
- · Best Nursing Specialties in the UK
- · Nashville State Community College Review | Tuition, Admission, Programs, Scholarships
- · O’Grady-Peyton International Review
- · How to Get a Job Fighting Human Trafficking
- · How to Get a Job and Move Abroad
- · Horry County Schools USA | Review, Fees, Jobs
