What Is the Income for an RN?

Registered nurses (RNs) serve as doctors' right hand. While job duties vary according to setting, registered nurses are trained to deliver life-saving care, administer medications and other medical treatments, perform diagnostic tests and monitor patients' conditions. If you love helping others and have an interest in medicine, becoming an RN may be for you. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job opportunities through 2018 to be excellent for RNs. However, it's wise to understand how much you can expect to earn before choosing any career.

National Averages

• Registered nurses in the United States made a median annual wage of $62,450 in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle 50 percent earned between $51,640 and $76,570. According to PayScale, RNs made an average hourly wage of $22.07 and $30.75 in 2010, or between $46,641 and $66,868 a year, including bonuses and overtime.

Industry

• What industry an RN chooses to work in can have a big impact on how much he earns. For instance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses working in health care facilities in 2008 made about $57,060, while those working in employment services made $68,160 on average. The 2010 PayScale survey, meanwhile, revealed that RNs working in acute care hospitals earned the most, while those in general health care settings earned the least.

Education

• Level of education also makes a difference in earnings. For instance, those with a nursing diploma had the highest hourly wage in 2010, according to PayScale, at between $24.58 and $33.38 an hour, while those with an Associate of Applied Science earned the least, at between $21.74 and $329.71.

Location

• Where you choose to live can also impact your earnings as an RN. Five of the top 10 paying cities are in California, according to PayScale. San Francisco and San Jose topped the list, with average earnings for RNs between $29.99 and $54.15 and between $29.70 and $54.15, respectively.

Considerations

• Registered nurses often work long hours. However, their compensation cannot be measured by income figures alone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many employers offer RNs flexible work schedules, educational benefits and child care. Additionally, about a fifth of all RNs in the United States are members of a union or are covered by a union contract. Lastly, a shortage of RNs in the country means that there is no shortage of overtime work for those who want to earn above their salaries or hourly incomes.