Registered Nurse
Assesses patients, gives treatments and medications, and coordinates care in hospitals, clinics, and homes.
BLS OES May 2025 · projections 2025–35
What is in this guide
Each part of the registered nurse guide has its own page. Start with the figure you came for.
Salary
$97,550 typical · 51 states, 515 metrosPay by state, metro, and work settingHow to become
2 to 4 yearsDegree, exam, license, first jobPrograms and schools
2,125 colleges, 256,911 graduates in 2024Every college by state, from NCES IPEDSLicensing
51 boards, 40 in the compactLookup, renewal, CE, and fees for each boardCompact states
40 of 51 boardsWhere a multistate license is acceptedCareer path
CNA $42,260 → LPN $64,400 → RN $97,550 → NP $132,300Each rung and its bridge programJobs
180,800 openings a yearWhere the jobs are, by setting and stateInterview
Questions and answersWhat hiring managers ask RNsResume
Guide and sample layoutHow to lay out an RN resumeWhat does a registered nurse do?
A registered nurse assesses patients, gives medications and treatments, coordinates care with physicians and other clinicians, and records what happened. Most RNs work in general medical and surgical hospitals; others work in physician offices, home health, outpatient care centers, and skilled nursing facilities.
The work is licensed. Every RN has passed the NCLEX-RN and holds a license from a state board of nursing. Pay, licensing rules, and the number of training programs all vary by state, which is why this guide has a page for each.
How much do registered nurses make?
Typical RN pay is $97,550 a year across the United States. Among the ten states that employ the most registered nurses, it ranges from $140,270 in California to $82,510 in Ohio. See all 51 states and 515 metro areas.
RN pay in the ten largest states
All 51 states →| State | Typical pay a year | Vs national $97,550 | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $140,270 | +44% | 338,940 |
| New York | $109,440 | +12% | 205,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,430 | -1% | 146,520 |
| Illinois | $95,990 | -2% | 138,910 |
| Texas | $95,970 | -2% | 271,380 |
| Michigan | $94,300 | -3% | 104,950 |
| Georgia | $93,550 | -4% | 100,950 |
| North Carolina | $84,350 | -14% | 111,120 |
| Florida | $84,190 | -14% | 229,940 |
| Ohio | $82,510 | -15% | 143,730 |
BLS OES May 2025 · the ten states with the most registered nurses, ranked by typical pay
How do you become an RN?
2 to 4 years from first class to first job. Read the full guide.
Earn a nursing degree
An associate degree in nursing takes about two years; a bachelor's takes four. Both qualify a graduate for the licensing exam.
Pass the NCLEX-RN
The national licensing exam for registered nurses, required by every state board.
Get a state license
Apply to the state board of nursing. In compact states, one multistate license is recognized by all 40 member boards.
Start the first job
BLS projects about 180,800 RN openings a year. General medical and surgical hospitals employ the most RNs.
Do you need a license?
Yes, in every state. All 51 boards require the NCLEX-RN, and 40 of 51 belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate license from a member state is accepted in every other member state. Look up any state board or see the compact states.
Where can you train?
2,125 colleges graduated 256,911 registered nurses in 2024, according to NCES IPEDS. Community colleges award most associate degrees; universities award the bachelor's. Find RN programs by state.
What does each nursing rung pay?
RN career path →BLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay, United States
Questions about becoming an RN
- How much does a registered nurse make?
- Typical RN pay is $97,550 a year (BLS OES May 2025). California pays the most at $140,270; Texas pays $95,970.
- How long does it take to become an RN?
- Two to four years: an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing, then the NCLEX-RN.
- Do RNs need a license in every state?
- Yes. Every state board requires the NCLEX-RN. 40 of 51 boards are in the Nurse Licensure Compact, whose multistate license is accepted in every member state.
- What is the NCLEX-RN?
- The national licensing exam for registered nurses, required by every state board.
- How many RN programs are there?
- 2,125 colleges reported RN completions to NCES IPEDS for 2024, graduating 256,911 registered nurses.
- What can an RN become next?
- A nurse practitioner, with typical pay of $132,300, after a master's or doctoral degree and national certification.
Related nursing professions
Licensed Practical Nurse
$64,400About 12 months to trainNurse Practitioner
$132,300Master's or doctorate after the RNCertified Nursing Assistant
$42,260State-approved training, then the state examBLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay