What is the potential salary for Registered Nurses today? Find out!

Registered Nurses (RNs) thrive on the frontline of healthcare. Each day, these professionals can be found helping patients who are sick, injured, and disabled – whether they are assessing symptoms, coordinating tests, developing care plans, or administering treatment to those in need. Nurses wear many hats, take on many responsibilities, and ultimately show up to save lives. Their work is both personally and professionally rewarding. As an aspiring nurse, you can expect great salary potential and upward growth in the field.

Average Nursing Salary in the United States

Nationwide, the average salary for Registered Nurses is about $80,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure is the latest available, calculated in May 2020.

The annual RN salary translates to about $38.47 an hour, on average, for full-time nurses.

The top-paying industries for Registered Nurses are largely in government, followed by hospital settings:

• Government Nursing Positions: a median salary of $84,490 per year
• Hospital Registered Nurses: a median salary of $76,840 per year
• Ambulatory Nurses: a median salary of $72,340 per year

Of course, nursing salaries vary by workplace. In outpatient care centers, for example, Registered Nurses can expect to earn an average salary of $89,300 annually. RNs working in specialty hospitals, in certain specializations, can expect to earn almost $83,000 per year. In physicians’ offices, where nurses often benefit from a more traditional daytime schedule, the average annual salary is $71,660 for RNs.

Registered Nurse salaries also vary depending on the state in which you work. Certain states boast higher salary potential, with California and Massachusetts ranked among the top-paying states. In Connecticut, the average salary for RNs is almost $85,000 per year – over the national average.

Connecticut Registered Nursing Salary

The average salary for Registered Nurses in Connecticut is $84,850 annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This makes Connecticut one of the top 10 highest-paying states for Registered Nurses in the nation today. Hourly, this salary translates to $40.79 per hour for the full-time nurse in CT.

The RN Salary: One of Many Benefits of a Nursing Career

A great salary potential is just one of the many benefits of a nursing career. In addition to a comfortable living, Registered Nurses can also expect high respect, scheduling flexibility, upward mobility, and a great job market. Let’s look at those benefits in a bit more depth:

• Respect: Nurses are one of the most respected members of the healthcare team. Their versatile role holds great value in the field and keeps operations running each day. In many ways, nurses are the backbone of the healthcare field. If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that nurses are true heroes and the need for qualified nursing professionals is here to stay.
• Flexibility: Nursing professionals have great flexibility, depending on their workplace. Nurses that work in hospitals and outpatient care facilities often work in shifts to provide round-the-clock patient care. This often means three, 12-hour shifts during the week, followed by four days off. Sometimes, this can mean night shifts or early morning shifts, depending on your needs. Nurses who work in schools and offices that do not provide 24-hour care may work a more standard schedule during the day. This could be great for a nurse with kids in school, or other obligations at home.
• Room for Growth: In the nursing field, there are always ways to expand and grow in your career. For example, Registered Nurses can pursue specializations after earning licensure and expand their horizons to even more job opportunities as a result. Some RNs choose to go back to school for their BSN or MSN degrees and increase their salary potential even further. For instance, Nurse Managers with an advanced nursing degree can expect to earn over $104,000 annually in the U.S.
• Bright Job Outlook: The demand for Registered Nurses is high, and the need for nursing professionals is not going away. According to the latest BLS data, about 194,500 job openings will become available each year to Registered Nurses in the United States. This is one of the highest number of jobs to be seen across all occupations today. Nursing positions, at the RN level, are growing at a rate of 9% between 2020 and 2030.

There are many benefits of a nursing career, and the RN salary potential is just one to keep top-of-mind. As you begin exploring the nursing career path, and how much you can earn as a Registered Nurse, also keep in mind the personal reward that comes with this profession. Registered Nurses have the unique opportunity to help people in need, day-in and day-out, and to make a difference in the lives of others.

If you are ready for a fast-paced, exciting, and high-paying career, nursing may be the next step for you. To become a Registered Nurse today, you will need to earn an associate degree in Nursing at minimum. Higher-level nursing degrees can qualify you for higher earning potential. Once you earn your associate or bachelor’s degree in Nursing, you will need to pass your NCLEX-RN board examination. This will grant you licensure to start practicing – and earning – in the field.

Goodwin University offers a range of nursing programs for aspiring RNs and nurse leaders. If you are interested in jumpstarting your nursing career in Connecticut, or continuing your nursing education through one of our online programs, please do not hesitate to reach out. Contact Goodwin today to learn more about achieving a nursing degree.