The Average Annual Income for a Registered Nurse
Registered nurses treat and educate patients and help doctors in caring for the sick. The profession typically requires a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree or a diploma for an accredited nursing program. National licensing is also required. Salaries at the top end of this profession are typically slightly more than double at the lowest end.
Basics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that in 2009, the median compensation of registered nurses was $30.65 hourly or $63,750 yearly. The bottom 10 percent made $21.14 or $43,970, and the upper 10 percent receive $45.05 or $93,700.
Industries
The type of industry dictates compensation. The top five highest-paying industries for this profession are medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, in which compensation is $37.44 hourly or $77,870 annually; the federal government, in which compensation is $37.42 hourly or $77,830 annually; civic and social organizations, in which compensation is $37.42 hourly or $77,830 annually; newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishers, in which compensation is $36.05 hourly or $74,990 annually; and business and professional organizations, in which compensation is $35.88 hourly or $74,630 annually.
States
The state with the job can control a nurse's income. This profession's highest-paying states are California, with wages of $40.90 hourly or $85,080 annually; Massachusetts, with wages of $39.32 hourly or $81,780 annually; Hawaii, with wages of $38.47 hourly or $80,020 annually; Maryland, with wages of $36.70 hourly or $76,330 annually; and New Jersey, with wages of $36.05 hourly or $74,990 annually.
Cities
The city of employment determines wages, with the top five all in California. These cities include Visalia, with a rate of $53.38 hourly or $111,030 annually; San Jose, with a rate of $52.92 hourly or $110,080 annually; San Francisco, with wages of $47.55 hourly or $98,900 annually; Oakland, with a rate of $46.77 hourly or $97,280 annually; and Sacramento, with a rate of $43.16 hourly or $89,770 annually.
Employment Levels
Areas with the greatest number of jobs do not always offer the best income. For example, the industries with the most jobs are general medical and surgical hospitals, with salaries at $32.57 hourly or $67,740 annually; and the offices of physicians, with salaries at $32.35 hourly or $67,290 annually. None of these are the top five payers. The state with the highest concentration of registered nurses is South Dakota, which offers salaries of $25.73 hourly or $53,520 annually. This state is not in the top five for income. However, second-ranked Massachusetts is also second-highest in terms of pay. Finally, the cities with the highest concentration of jobs are Rochester, Minnesota, with unreleased salaries; and Gainesville, Florida, with wages of $29.95 hourly or $62,300 annually. None of these are the top payers.
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