Registered Nurse (RN) salaries: $62.85/hr median.
Registered Nurses provide direct patient care across all healthcare settings. From critical care ICU nurses to labor and delivery specialists, RN roles span every clinical specialty and represent the largest segment of the healthcare workforce.
Showing 100 titles (94 with pay data) across 24 tracks and 51 states. Latest data as of April 30, 2026.
Compare the tracks that make up Registered Nurse (RN).
The titles paying most in Registered Nurse (RN).
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| Role | Category · Track | Median /hr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (RN) | Registered Nurse (RN) · Registered Nurse (RN) | $47.50 | $42.00–$60.00 | 46,675 |
| Labor & Delivery Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Women's Health Nurse | $79.42 | $67.85–$85.29 | 21,228 |
| ICU Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Critical Care Nurse | $64.00 | $57.50–$75.54 | 15,972 |
| Cath Lab Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Cardiac Nurse | $77.00 | $72.33–$82.06 | 15,511 |
| Emergency Department Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Emergency Nurse | $62.44 | $56.67–$69.78 | 12,408 |
| Medical Surgical Nurse (MedSurg) | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $58.00 | $52.23–$62.36 | 10,839 |
| Med-Surg Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $60.63 | $54.36–$66.02 | 8,829 |
| Telemetry Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Progressive Care Nurse | $60.25 | $54.83–$65.00 | 8,330 |
| Operating Room (OR) Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $75.15 | $71.68–$80.25 | 6,269 |
| PCU Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Progressive Care Nurse | $60.43 | $55.38–$64.58 | 6,136 |
Registered Nurse (RN) pay across every state with live data.
Showing all 51 states with live data. Bars scale to the highest-paying state.
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How to become a Registered Nurse (RN).
Registered Nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and families about health conditions, and provide emotional support throughout treatment. The RN umbrella spans every clinical specialty — from ICU and ER to labor & delivery, oncology, OR, and ambulatory care — so the licensing path is shared but specialty training comes after.
Most RNs complete either an ADN or a BSN, then pass the NCLEX-RN to earn state licensure. The market has shifted decisively toward BSN-preferred (and increasingly BSN-required) hospital hiring — Magnet-designated and academic medical centers typically require a BSN, and many hospitals will hire ADNs only on the condition they complete an RN-to-BSN bridge within 3-5 years.
| Degree | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree in NursingADN | 2-3 years | Entry-level nursing degree offered at community colleges. Qualifies graduates to take NCLEX-RN. |
| Bachelor of Science in NursingBSN | 4 years | Preferred by most hospitals and required for many positions, including Magnet-designated facilities. Opens doors to leadership and specialized roles. |
| Accelerated BSNABSN | 12-18 months | Intensive program for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. Lets career-changers reach NCLEX eligibility quickly. |
| Master of Science in NursingMSN | 2-3 years post-BSN | Required for advanced practice roles like Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, or nurse leadership. |
| Direct-Entry MSN | 3 years | Combined RN-to-APRN route for non-nursing bachelor's holders who want to become an RN and an APRN in one program. |
State-issued license required to practice nursing. Must pass NCLEX-RN and meet your state board's background and education requirements.
CPR and basic emergency cardiovascular care certification — required at hire by essentially every inpatient employer.
Multi-state license available in compact states (~40 states as of 2026). Valuable for travel nursing and telehealth — your home-state license lets you practice in any other compact state without re-applying.
| Credential | Issued by | Pay impact |
|---|---|---|
| CCRN Critical Care Registered Nurse Standard credential for ICU/critical care RNs. Requires ~1,750 hours of direct critical-care experience. | AACN | +8-15% |
| CEN Certified Emergency Nurse Validates specialty knowledge in emergency department nursing. | BCEN | +5-10% |
| PCCN Progressive Care Certified Nurse For nurses caring for acutely ill adult patients in step-down and progressive care units. | AACN | +5-10% |
| RNC-OB Registered Nurse Certified - Inpatient Obstetric Specialty certification for labor & delivery and high-risk OB nurses. | NCC | +5-10% |
| OCN Oncology Certified Nurse Validates expertise in adult oncology nursing — infusion, inpatient, and outpatient settings. | ONCC | +5-10% |
| CNOR Certified Perioperative Nurse Standard for OR/perioperative nurses; demonstrates competence across surgical specialties. | CCI | +5-10% |
- 0-1 yearsNew Graduate RN / Residency
Entry-level position, often in a structured 6-12 month nurse residency program. Focus on building foundational bedside skills with preceptor support.
- 1-3 yearsStaff RN
Independent bedside nurse with growing autonomy and clinical judgment. Often the point at which a nurse picks a specialty (ICU, ER, OR, L&D, etc.).
- 3-5 yearsSenior RN / Charge Nurse
Takes on leadership responsibilities, mentors new nurses, coordinates unit activities. Typically holds a specialty certification.
- 5-8 yearsClinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Educator
Advanced roles requiring MSN. Focus on improving care quality, evidence-based practice, or training staff.
- 8+ yearsNurse Manager / Director
Leadership oversight of nursing units, budgets, and staff. MSN often required; MBA or DNP common at the director level.
- 15+ yearsChief Nursing Officer (CNO)
Executive leadership overseeing all nursing operations across a hospital or system. Requires MSN/DNP and extensive operational experience.
Schedule. Inpatient nursing is dominated by 12-hour shifts (typically 3 shifts per week). Outpatient roles run business hours with no nights/weekends. Travel contracts are usually 13 weeks at 36-48 hours per week.
Physical demands. Physically demanding: long stretches on your feet, frequent patient lifting and repositioning, and consistent exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Emotionally demanding in acute care.
Nursing remains one of the fastest-growing US occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects ~193,000 RN openings per year through 2032, driven by an aging population, retiring baby-boomer nurses, and the continued post-pandemic acuity bump. Travel and per-diem rates have settled below 2021-2022 peaks but remain above pre-pandemic baselines.