How Much Do Part Time Registered Nurses Make

Illustration of a hand holding a stethoscope up to a wallet.

Nursing is a massive part of our healthcare system. You run across what nurses do—how they meet patients wherever they're at, how they comfort, assist, care for and advise people—and you could come across yourself in that kind of chore.

But beyond that, you're not as sure about the details. What type of nursing is an option for you lot? What nursing didactics would you seek out? How much exercise nurses make in a yr? In this detail question—no one figure volition give you an accurate estimate. At that place are and so many unlike types of nurses, and they all come with different requirements and benefits.

"In full general, there are three things that touch on a nurse's starting salary," says Dr. Amanda Immature, DNP, FNP-BC. "Education level and certifications, previous experience and geographic locations." These factors tin can all change the landscape of your job search afterwards you graduate nursing school.

But even though a simple single-figure answer roofing every position within nursing is out of attain, learning more about how nursing salaries work can give y'all an idea of what the average salary for your particular situation would be.

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half dozen Nursing salary insights to keep in heed

We combined research and cardinal insights from nurses about factors that influence bacon differences to requite you a more accurate look at nursing salaries.

i. Nursing salaries vary between types of nurses

The first affair to decipher whether you are request how much do nurses make is to pivot down what type of nurse yous're referring to.

Licensed practical or vocational nurses (LPNs and LVNs) provide nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and doctors. The 2020 median annual salary for LPNs and LVNs was $48,820, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹

Registered nurses make up the largest portion of the nursing industry. They provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and family members and can pursue a variety of specialties and unique roles. The 2020 median almanac bacon for RNs was $75,330, according to the BLS.¹

Nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives are often grouped into the category of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). These nurses oft provide principal and specialty healthcare with a wider range of responsibilities and scope of exercise (for example, in many states APRNs tin can prescribe medicine). The 2020 median almanac salary for APRNs was $117,670, according to the BLS.¹

Further complicating things is the fact that at that place are many other specialized types of nurses out there. Our article "Peak 25 Types of Nurses Employers Are Hoping to Hire" will provide you lot a better motion picture of the wide variety of potential nursing options—and salaries—out at that place.

two. Education level matters

"In full general, bachelor'southward caste-educated registered nurses make more money per hour than acquaintance-level nurses, and more than LPN/LVN nurses," Young says. For Jane Rabun, staff RN at Abrupt Memorial Hospital, having a Available's of Science in Nursing (BSN) was crucial to getting a better starting salary. "Back when I practical, a BSN degree was not required simply the American Nursing Association was starting to button for it," Rabun says. "Having a BSN degree definitely helped me get a larger starting bacon."

The correlation between education level and earning potential isn't just based on anecdotes. Nurse.com'due south 2018 Nursing Salary Research Report surveyed approximately 4,520 nurses around the country. Their report establish clear salary differences based on educational activity. They constitute the boilerplate salary increased with each advance in didactics, with a peculiarly big jump at the Main of Science in Nursing (MSN) level:ⁱⁱ

Diploma: $66,092
ADN: $67,162
BSN: $73,995
MSN: $90,288

3. Gender pay disparities bear upon nurses as well

Gender appears to have some impact on nursing salaries. The Nursing Salary Research Report noticed that male RNs earned a higher average salary ($78,342) than their female person counterparts ($68,227) and were besides more likely to negotiate for a higher salary.^two

While this pay gap is certainly frustrating for women, the report did observe that this gap narrowed significantly amidst nurses with professional certifications.ⁱⁱ The written report doesn't attempt to explain why this change is present, but this is at least worth considering if you're on the fence about pursuing professional certifications as a nurse.

4. Geography tin can play a office in nursing salaries

"There will definitely be substantial differences in the hourly rate of RNs across the land, but the goal is to continue all nurses within the same income subclass, no matter where they live," Young points out. "The hourly rate is straight proportional to the cost of living of the location of the infirmary."

Young explains that in private practice clinics—pay disparities might exist a bit more noticeable since they don't attach to the same generalities hospitals do.

"In major cities, where there is a surplus of nurses looking for employment, many hospitals tin (and do) make the need for Available-educated nurses but," Young says, adding that rural areas experiencing shortages are more likely to accept experienced nurses regardless of their didactics level. "In these situations, pay differences are nonexistent," Young says. "But medium-sized cities, with a diverse mix of nurses, will pay more for higher education and/or experience."

But Immature likewise says you lot will see the most geographic variance in nursing salaries when it comes to RNs. "For advanced practice nurses pay is roughly the same no matter what geographic location you live in. The nurse practitioner in Davenport, Iowa, makes about the same as a nurse practitioner in NYC, despite the drastic and polar opposite of toll of living."

five. The blazon of healthcare facility can alter your nursing salary also

Typically, private practice clinics and doctor'south offices pay less than a hospital, according to Immature. Usually this comes with a merchandise-off—nurses in minor clinics and doctor's offices may still prefer the more traditional "business concern hours" schedule over the potential for additional compensation. That said, nurses who piece of work irregular hours in a hospital are probable to see a flake more compensation.

"My starting salary was most impacted by my BSN and the fact that I worked in a specialty unit of measurement," Rabun says. She started in a surgical ICU that required boosted certifications and too came with a step-upwards in wage. "I also started by working night shifts, which paid more than day shifts—so I had a larger starting salary," Rabun explains.

6. Nursing advocacy typically involves more education

Nurses are always learning, and experience is definitely the best instructor. But at that place may be simply then far you can go without new credentials. Young says that nurses can negotiate for a better salary (particularly if switching jobs) afterwards they've gained a few years of feel.

But there is also a ceiling to that—co-ordinate to Rabun, who says pay raises can start to dull down. If you hit a point in your career where your experience is racking upwards, but your salary isn't growing—advancing your credentials to include new responsibilities or specialties tin can really broaden your salary potential.

Is the nurse bacon worth it?

With all these factors to consider, y'all tin can meet why nursing salaries are a complicated question. But if you've been dreaming well-nigh condign a nurse, you can fill in some of these blanks for your specific situation. What kind of nurse practise you want to exist? Where do you lot hope to piece of work? What geographical area volition yous exist working in?

These specifics tin can lead you much closer to an accurate nursing salary estimate. But to sympathize whether the salary pays off—you likewise need to know what kind of investment it takes to become a nurse. Check out our commodity "How to Become a Nurse: A Beginner'southward Guide" to learn more well-nigh the potential paths ahead of you.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed September, 2021] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged information for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
^twoNurse.com, 2018 Nurse.com Nursing Bacon Research Report, [accessed July, 2019] http://mediakit.nurse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2018-Nurse.com-Salary-Enquiry-Study.pdf. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of didactics and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your expanse may vary.