How much does a nurse make? This is the the bigger question here. in the current health pandemic, it comes as little to no surprise that there is a sharp increase in the demand for health professionals all across the country. As a result, a lot of people are now looking for careers in the medical industry and in particular as nurses. One can also find best nursing schools in the USA. One can also visit our page medical school for having idea on other different factors related to a medical schools.

Because let us be real, if you are doing something, then you need to be earning through it. In the current financial climate, volunteering is the route to ruin. Now, we are not saying do no volunteer. But, do make it a point to earn whatever you can. 

With that out of the way, let us also talk about a few other things, namely –

1. How much does a nurse make a year?
2. How much does a nurse make an hour?
3. Cost of becoming a nurse?

Now that we have created a setup, let us get on with addressing them. 

How Much Does A Nurse Make A Year

Now before we proceed any further, let us give you a quick rundown of both of them. This will allow you to understand the differences in the financial gains later down the line much more easily. So without further ado, let us get started. You may also be looking for what is the highest paid nurse.

Now that we have given you the bare bones of the differences between the paths to becoming a registered nurse and given you the idea about how much does a nurse make, let us now give you a state-wise breakdown of the earnings. 

1. Alaska – 88,000 USD per year on average
2. Maine – 66,000 USD per year on average
3. New Hampshire – 70,000 USD per year on average
4. Vermont – 70,000 USD per year on average
5. Rhode Island – 77,000 USD per year on average
6. Massachusetts – 89,000 USD per year on average
7. New York – 83,000 USD per year on average
8. Michigan – 69,000 USD per year on average
9. Wisconsin – 69,000 USD per year on average
10. Minnesota – 78,000 USD per year on average
11. North Dakota – 63,000 USD per year on average
12. Montana – 66,000 USD per year on average
13. Washington – 80,000 USD per year on average
14. Idaho – 65,000 USD per year on average
15. Wyoming – 65,000 USD per year on average
16. South Dakota – 57,000 USD per year on average
17. Iowa – 56,000 USD per year on average
18. Illinois – 58,000 USD per year on average
19. Indiana – 72,000 USD per year on average
20. Ohio – 66,000 USD per year on average
21. Pennsylvania – 70,000 USD per year on average
22. New Jersey – 82,000 USD per year on average
23. Connecticut – 80,000 USD per year on average
24. District of Colombia – 90,000 USD per year on average
25. Delaware – 73,000 USD per year on average
26. Maryland – 75,000 USD per year on average
27. West Virginia – 60,000 USD per year on average
28. Kentucky – 62,000 USD per year on average
29. Missouri – 63,000 USD per year on average
30. Nebraska – 62,000 USD per year on average
31. Colorado – 73,000 USD per year on average
32. Nevada – 85,000 USD per year on average
33. Oregon – 89,000 USD per year on average
34. California – 103,000 USD per year on average
35. Arizona – 75,000 USD per year on average
36. Utah – 63,000 USD per year on average
37. Kansas – 60,000 USD per year on average
38. Arkansas – 59,000 USD per year on average
39. Tennessee – 60,000 USD per year on average
40. Virginia – 68,000 USD per year on average
41. North Carolina – 63,000 USD per year on average
42. South Carolina – 64,000 USD per year on average
43. Alabama – 58,000 USD per year on average
44. Mississippi – 58,000 USD per year on average
45. Louisiana – 64,000 USD per year on average
46. Oklahoma – 62,000 USD per year on average
47. New Mexico – 70,000 USD per year on average
48. Florida – 65,000 USD per year on average
49. Georgia – 67,000 USD per year on average
50. Texas – 72,000 USD per year on average
51. Hawaii – 97,000 USD per year on average

One thing to note here is that all of the salaries mentioned here are averages. So the earnings will vary from district to district, as evidenced by the gap in earnings in the district of Colombia and the rest of the state.  Incorporating all of this, the national average comes around at a solid 75,000 USD per year. 

Another trend worth noticing here is that how much does a nurse make decreases rapidly as we move towards the center of the country. This is due to a myriad of different socio-economic factors. However, another thing to note is that despite offering higher salaries, places like New Jersey, etc. have a much higher cost of living as well. 

So before you decide to move around because of the lure of a higher pay, do factor in these things as well for understanding how much does a nurse make. With that being said, let us now discuss the differences between the starting pay of registered nurses with an associate’s degree and the ones with a bachelor’s degree.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Nurse

Let us talk about how long does it take to become a nurse, the types of nursing jobs available and its course duration out there. For the sake of simplicity, and to make you understand how much does a nurse make, we shall be discussing the two broad categories of nurses in our endeavors, namely –

1. Registered Nurse with an associate’s degree
2. Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s degree 

1. Registered Nurse with an associate’s degree –

In order to opt for this career path and to get the answer on how much does a nurse make, you will need to attend a 2 year associate’s program. This program will teach about the essentials that you will be needing as a nurse. You can also become a nurse without it, but this is the minimum requirement in order for you to become a registered nurse.

2. Registered Nurse with a bachelor’s degree –

To know how much does a nurse make we should also consider in order to go down this route, you will need to attend college for 4 years rather than the 2 in associate’s degree. This is a lot more comprehensive program where you will be learning all there is to know as a beginner. However, as a result of these additional years and knowledge, the cost of education will be much higher. 

1. Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s degree – 48,000 USD per year on average
2. Registered Nurse with an Associate’s degree – 34,000 USD per year on average

Keep in mind while thinking about how much does a nurse make, that these are starting salaries with just a year of experience and these numbers will vary significantly from one state to another. However, it is plain to see that there is a significant salary difference between graduates of the two different programs. One can also look for what education is needed to become a registered nurse.

This can easily be accounted for by seeing the differences in the courses and initial investment made during the investigation on how much does a nurse make. With that being said, the eventual earnings down the line pretty much even out. The only difference is how soon will one hit the ceiling of what one can earn as a nurse. 

People from both the courses will arrive at the same pay ceiling but at different points of time. And they will see growth in their earnings. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses say a pay bump of around 4% each year. So, the job won’t be stagnating. 

And if someone has higher aspirations on how much does a nurse make, then they can easily branch out to a different branch within the hospital. It is worth keeping in mind that as a nurse, the only way you can go is up in the hospital staff ladder. 

Another thing that makes the whole prospect of becoming a registered nurse all the more attractive is the job security on offer. The medical industry for the most part is independent of the market and its fluctuations. Plus, with the medical industry endlessly expanding, there is a demand for more personnel. 

In light of these factors and considering the point how much does a nurse make, the prospect of getting a job within the medical industry is very appealing. Plus, as long as you do a good enough job, you will be able to easily hold on to your job. So there is that too. 

Plus, if you are into the gig economy, then you can always opt to work in a private clinic. The hourly income as a registered nurse averages out to around 45 USD an hour. This will once again wary significantly from one state to another. But as mentioned before, states with higher pays will also have a higher cost of living. So choose wisely. One can also search for accelerated nursing programs houston.

With that out of the way, let us now talk about how to get to point where you become a professional and how much it will set you back by and your answer on how much does a nurse make.

How To Become A Nurse – Costs Details

The process of becoming and understanding how to become a nurse, you should know a registered nurse is pretty straightforward. You need to get the education needed and then you need to work towards getting your registrations and maintaining them. 

However, it is the cost of things that we are more interested in today. So with that being said, let us take a look –

1. Cost of associate’s degree – 

1. Traditional schooling – 21,000 USD per year on average
2. Online schooling – 3,000 USD per year on average
3. Cost of bachelor’s degree –

1. Traditional schooling – 40,000 USD per year on average
2. Online schooling – 7,000 USD per year on average

So as you can see, the cost of a bachelor’s degree is much higher than that of an associate’s degree. This pricier education does factor in down the line when you begin your career as a registered nurse. This will be considering the point how much does a nurse make. As illustrated before, a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree will earn more money than one with an associate’s degree, right off the gates. 

Another interesting trend that has been emerging with regards to education is the increase in the number of students opting for online courses. These courses usually offer the same degrees that carry the same weight at a much lower price. 

So if you are someone with financial, health, or time constraints, then you can opt for these online courses in order to become a registered nurse. And can enjoy your classes and can have answer to the question of how much does a nurse make. Not only they will provide you with quality education, but you will be able to attend the classes from the comfort of your home or from anywhere in the world. One can also visit accredited online healthcare degrees, if they want to have a different field knowledge.

But before you get enrolled in a program, be it in a traditional college or in an online school, be sure to check its accreditation. Without proper accreditation, your degree will be useless and it will be money down the drain. So in order to avoid getting scammed, make it a point to check for accreditation beforehand, and only enroll in legitimate ones. One can visit fully accredited online colleges.

How Much Does A Registered Nurse Make In Terms Of Career Growth

As mentioned before about how much does a registered nurse make, once you become a registered nurse, the only way you can go is up. So if you are someone who is looking to rapidly go up the chain, consider getting additional qualifications. With those in your hand, you would be able to branch out more easily and far more effectively. To understand more on how much does a nurse make, then keep reading here below. 

Some of the higher career options include joining the hospital administration staff or becoming a general practitioner themselves. These careers offer the same job security but with greater financial perks and further scope for improvement. So as we said before, all you need to do is get your foot through the door. After that, the world is your oyster. 

With all of this being said about how much does a nurse make, if you are someone who is passionate about helping people and has an aptitude for medical education, then you can easily become a registered nurse. A career as a registered nurse has a lot going for it such as a decent pay and unmatched job security. And if that is not enough, there is quite a lot of scope for growth as well. 

As far as how much does a nurse make is concerned, we believe that we have given quite an exhaustive answer to that question. Still, if you have any more queries regarding that or anything in general, be sure to let us know down below. After all, we are here to help you out in any way, shape, or form! Contact us at Online Schools Near Me.