Nurse Salary: Average Nursing Salaries in the U.S. (RN and LPN/LVN)
To become a registered nurse requires more training than a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse so, generally, registered nurse salaries
will be higher than LPN/LVNs.
If you are unclear of the differences, visit
types of nurses. Normally, an RN makes around
$26,360 more per year than an LPN. Wages for each vary greatly though as you can see below.
The highest paid LPNs ($56,010/year) can even make more than the lowest paid
RNs ($44,190/year).
RNs are also around 4 times more common.
Approximately 2,655,020 people in the U.S. work as an RN while only 730,290 work as an LVN.
RN Salary
RN Salary: What to Expect
On average, registered nurses in the U.S. receive a $64,690 ($31.10/hr) salary.
Most RNs in the U.S. have an annual wage of
$52,980 ($25.47/hr)
to $79,020 ($37.99/hr).
Some RNs do make significantly more. The top 10% earn an annual salary over $95,130 ($45.74/hr).
Determining a salary is based on many factors including area of the country, job description, and any specialties. So,
while we listed the "average" nursing salaries, the charts below should be much more helpful in determining what a nurse in your
situation may be likely to make.
National Annual RN Salary
$44,190
|
$52,980
|
$64,690
|
$79,020
|
$95,130
|
Very
Low | Low | Median | High | Very
High |
|
National RN Hourly Rate
$21.24
|
$25.47
|
$31.10
|
$37.99
|
$45.74
|
Very
Low | Low | Median | High | Very
High |
|
Top Paying Industries for Registered Nurses (RN)
| Personal Care Services |
410 |
$41.57 |
$86,470 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) |
65,610 |
$38.23 |
$79,530 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing |
130 |
$36.03 |
$74,940 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing |
50 |
$36.03 |
$74,930 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
31,540 |
$35.66 |
$74,180 |
Most Common Industries for Registered Nurses (RN)
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1,521,400 |
$32.99 |
$68,610 |
| Offices of Physicians |
232,000 |
$33.91 |
$70,530 |
| Home Health Care Services |
146,380 |
$30.70 |
$63,850 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
134,460 |
$28.84 |
$59,990 |
| Outpatient Care Centers |
89,090 |
$32.47 |
$67,550 |
Top Registered Nurse Salaries by State
The mean annual wage for an RN for each of the states below is listed.
Visiting the page for each individual state will provide more information about nursing salaries in that state.
The page will also allow you to view nursing job openings in various cities throughout the state.
| #1 | California | $87,480 | |
| #2 | Massachusetts | $84,990 | |
| #3 | Hawaii | $82,130 | |
| #4 | Alaska | $79,350 | |
| #5 | Maryland | $76,450 | |
| #6 | Washington, DC | $76,210 | |
| #7 | New Jersey | $75,440 | |
| #8 | Oregon | $75,350 | |
| #9 | Nevada | $75,320 | |
| #10 | New York | $74,000 | |
LVN/LPN Salary
LPN Salary: What to Expect
On average, an LPN (also called LVN) in the U.S. receives a $40,380 ($19.42/hr) salary.
Most LPNs in the U.S. have an annual wage of
$34,260 ($16.47/hr)
to $47,400 ($22.79/hr).
Some LPNs do make significantly more. The top 10% earn an annual salary over $56,010 ($26.93/hr).
Determining a salary is based on many factors including area of the country, job description, and any specialties. So,
while we listed the "average" nursing salaries, the charts below should be much more helpful in determining what a nurse in your
situation may be likely to make.
National Annual LPN Salary
$29,680
|
$34,260
|
$40,380
|
$47,400
|
$56,010
|
Very
Low | Low | Median | High | Very
High |
|
National LPN Hourly Rate
$14.27
|
$16.47
|
$19.42
|
$22.79
|
$26.93
|
Very
Low | Low | Median | High | Very
High |
|
Top Paying Industries for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
60 |
$24.17 |
$50,270 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
50 |
$22.80 |
$47,430 |
| Employment Services |
37,860 |
$22.21 |
$46,190 |
| Activities Related to Real Estate |
100 |
$21.66 |
$45,060 |
| Office Administrative Services |
1,590 |
$21.42 |
$44,540 |
Most Common Industries for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN)
| Nursing Care Facilities |
217,020 |
$20.48 |
$42,59 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
145,130 |
$19.35 |
$40,250 |
| Offices of Physicians |
90,090 |
$18.02 |
$37,480 |
| Home Health Care Services |
69,470 |
$20.46 |
$42,550 |
| Community Care Facilities for the Elderly |
41,040 |
$20.32 |
$42,270 |
Top LPN Salaries by State
The mean annual wage for an LPN for each of the states below is listed.
Visiting the page for each individual state will provide more information about nursing salaries in that state.
The page will also allow you to view nursing job openings in various cities throughout the state.
| #1 | Connecticut | $53,280 | |
| #2 | New Jersey | $50,950 | |
| #3 | Rhode Island | $50,900 | |
| #4 | California | $50,490 | |
| #5 | Nevada | $50,150 | |
| #6 | Massachusetts | $49,620 | |
| #7 | Washington, DC | $49,400 | |
| #8 | Maryland | $49,330 | |
| #9 | Arizona | $48,390 | |
| #10 | Delaware | $47,800 | |
The state and national nursing salaries data is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2010)
