Embarking on a career as a Registered Nurse (RN) is a decision to enter a profession that is not only personally rewarding but also offers significant financial stability and growth. For aspiring nurses and recent graduates, one of the most pressing questions is: "What can I expect to earn?" While the answer is multifaceted, the outlook is promising. With a national median salary well above the average for all occupations, nursing provides a strong financial foundation from day one.
This guide will break down the entry-level RN salary, explore the key factors that dictate your earning potential, and provide a clear picture of what you can expect as you launch your nursing career.
What Does an Entry-Level Registered Nurse Do?
An entry-level or new-graduate RN is a licensed healthcare professional who has completed their formal education and passed the NCLEX-RN exam but is just beginning their hands-on clinical practice. While responsibilities vary by workplace, their core duties are central to patient care and the healthcare system.
An entry-level RN's typical day involves:
- Patient Assessment: Performing head-to-toe assessments, monitoring vital signs, and evaluating patient conditions.
- Administering Care: Dispensing medications, dressing wounds, inserting IVs, and providing other direct treatments as prescribed.
- Documentation: Meticulously charting patient information, treatments, and responses in electronic health records (EHRs).
- Patient and Family Education: Explaining conditions, treatment plans, and post-discharge care to patients and their loved ones.
- Collaboration: Working as a crucial member of the healthcare team, communicating with doctors, therapists, and other nurses to ensure coordinated patient care.
This initial period is one of intense learning and skill development, building the foundation for a long and successful career.
Average RN Salary: From New Graduate to Seasoned Professional
To understand entry-level pay, it's helpful to first look at the salary landscape for all Registered Nurses. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for Registered Nurses was $86,070 as of May 2023.
This median figure represents the midpoint of all RNs. The salary range is quite broad:
- Lowest 10%: Earned less than $63,720
- Highest 10%: Earned more than $132,680
So, where does an entry-level RN fall? Salary aggregators provide specific data for new graduates.
- Salary.com reports that the average salary for a Staff Nurse - RN I (representing the entry-level) typically falls between $68,891 and $82,348, with a national average around $75,257 as of late 2024.
- Payscale notes that the average base salary for an entry-level RN is approximately $69,380 per year.
Your starting salary is just that—a start. With experience, specialization, and strategic career moves, your earning potential will grow significantly throughout your career.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
An RN's salary isn't a single, fixed number. It's a dynamic figure influenced by a combination of critical factors. Understanding these variables can help you maximize your earning potential.
### Level of Education
The primary pathways to becoming an RN are through an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). While both qualify you to take the NCLEX-RN, the BSN is increasingly becoming the industry standard and can impact your pay.
Many major hospitals and healthcare systems, particularly those with Magnet designation, show a strong preference for BSN-prepared nurses. While the starting salary difference may be modest in some regions, holding a BSN opens doors to higher-paying leadership, research, and administrative roles down the line. It is the necessary stepping stone for advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) roles like Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Anesthetist, which command six-figure salaries.
### Years of Experience
Experience is one of the most direct drivers of salary growth in nursing. As you transition from a new graduate to a seasoned professional, your skills, efficiency, and clinical judgment become more valuable.
- Entry-Level (0-1 year): As noted, expect a salary in the range of $69,000 - $75,000.
- Early Career (1-4 years): With a few years of experience, nurses see a notable jump in pay.
- Mid-Career (5-9 years): According to Payscale, RNs in this bracket see their average total compensation rise significantly.
- Experienced (10+ years): Senior RNs with a decade or more of experience often earn at the higher end of the national salary spectrum, especially if they have specialized skills or hold charge nurse responsibilities.
### Geographic Location
Where you work is arguably the single biggest factor influencing your salary. Demand, cost of living, and the presence of unions create vast differences in pay from state to state and even from one metropolitan area to another.
The BLS identifies the top-paying states for Registered Nurses (May 2023 annual mean wage):
1. California: $133,340
2. Hawaii: $119,710
3. Oregon: $113,440
4. Washington: $111,030
5. Alaska: $109,790
Conversely, states in the South and Midwest tend to have lower average salaries, though this is often offset by a lower cost of living. For a new graduate, relocating to a high-paying state can dramatically increase your starting salary.
### Type of Work Setting
Not all nursing jobs are in a hospital. Your choice of employer plays a significant role in your compensation. The BLS provides a breakdown of median annual wages by work setting:
- Government: $97,790
- Hospitals (State, Local, and Private): $90,600
- Ambulatory Healthcare Services (Outpatient Clinics, Doctor's Offices): $82,980
- Nursing and Residential Care Facilities: $79,590
- Educational Services: $66,630
Generally, acute care settings like hospitals and government facilities (e.g., VA hospitals) offer higher pay due to the complexity of care and often, union representation.
### Area of Specialization
As you gain experience, you can pursue a specialty. Specializing in a high-demand, high-acuity area can lead to a significant pay increase. While many specializations require a few years of general experience, they represent a clear path to higher earnings.
High-demand specialties for RNs include:
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Operating Room (OR) / Perioperative Nursing
- Cardiac Catheterization Lab
- Labor and Delivery
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Emergency Room (ER)
Obtaining specialty certifications, such as the CCRN (Certification for Adult, Pediatric or Neonatal Critical Care Nurses), further validates your expertise and can lead to bonuses or a higher base salary.
Job Outlook
The future for Registered Nurses is exceptionally bright. The BLS projects that employment for RNs will grow by 6% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
This translates to approximately 177,400 openings for registered nurses projected each year, on average, over the decade. This robust demand is driven by several factors, including an aging baby-boomer population requiring more healthcare services, a greater emphasis on preventive care, and the need to replace a large wave of nurses who are nearing retirement. This high demand ensures strong job security and competitive salary offers for new graduates.
Conclusion: Your Future in Nursing
For those considering a career in nursing, the financial outlook is strong and full of potential. An entry-level RN salary provides a comfortable living wage that serves as a launchpad for significant future growth.
Remember these key takeaways:
- Your starting salary is a solid foundation, not a ceiling.
- Maximizing your earnings involves strategic choices in education (BSN), geographic location, and work setting.
- The path to the highest salary brackets is paved with experience and specialization.
Beyond the numbers, nursing offers a career with unparalleled purpose and job security. By understanding the factors that shape your pay, you can not only care for patients but also build a prosperous and fulfilling professional life.