Registered nurses are growing in the US and there were 3,332,460 employed as of May 2023: July 2026, a 6% increase from the year before. Yet the workforce doesn’t look anything like a single, uniform profile, with part time coverage at 24% and rural hospitals seeing vacancy rates 20% higher than urban settings. Let’s connect the dots across demographics, education, licensing, and staffing so the picture of nursing capacity is clearer than it first appears.
Key Takeaways
- 15.2% of RNs are male as of 2023.
- Average age of US RNs is 46 years old in 2022.
- 19.3% of RNs identify as Hispanic or Latino.
- 82% of US nurses hold a BSN or higher degree as of 2023 survey data.
- In 2022, 18.7% of RNs had an associate degree as their highest nursing education.
- Master's degree held by 14.3% of registered nurses in the US in 2022.
- BSN-prepared nurses reduce patient mortality by 6.5 per 1000 discharges.
- Every 10% increase in BSN nurses lowers readmission rates by 4.5%.
- Nurses prevent 87% of medical errors through interventions daily.
- 92% of nurses report high job satisfaction with patient impact.
- Nurse retention improves 12% with mentorship programs.
- 75% of new nurses leave within first year without support.
- CE hours required average 20 per year for license renewal in US., category: Professional Development and Retention
- Mean annual wage for RNs in US was $89,010 as of May 2023: July 2026.
- Top 10% of RNs earned over $129,400 annually in 2023.
With an aging, growing workforce still dominated by White non-Hispanic nurses, retention and staffing remain critical.
Related reading
01 · Category
Salary And Benefits25 stats
01
Mean annual wage for RNs in US was $89,010as of May 2023.
02
Top 10% of RNs earned over $129,400 annually in 2023.
03
LPNs median wage was $59,730per year in May 2023.
04
Nurse anesthetists average salary reached $212,650in 2023.
05
Nursing instructors median pay was $84,540in 2023.
06
78% of nurses report burnout impacting compensation satisfaction in 2023.
07
Average signing bonus for travel nurses was $12,000in 2023.
08
UK nurses average salary is £34,581 per year as of 2023.
09
65% of US nurses have access to tuition reimbursement benefits.
10
Nurse practitioners median wage $126,260in May 2023 US data.
11
Average RN salary in California is $133,340,highest state.
12
Hawaii RNs earn median $106,530annually.
13
Lowest RN pay in South Dakota at $67,480median.
14
Travel nurse daily pay averages $2,500in 2023.
15
55% of nurses receive shift differentials averaging 10% pay boost.
16
Pension benefits offered to 62% of hospital nurses.
17
Australia average nurse salary AUD 80,000 per year.
18
Canada RN average hourly wage CAD 40.50.
19
Oregon RNs highest hourly wage at $51.70median.
20
Night shift premium averages 15% over base pay.
21
401(k) matching offered to 71% of nurses.
22
Loan forgiveness via PSLF used by 20% of nurses.
23
Germany nurse salary averages €42,000 yearly.
24
Weekend differentials average 25% pay increase.
25
Charge nurse roles add 10-15% to base salary.
Interpretation
Salary And Benefits Interpretation
In the Salary And Benefits category, RN pay stays strong with a mean of $89,010 in May 2023 and top earners above $129,400, yet persistent burnout affects how satisfied nurses feel about compensation, with 78% reporting it in 2023.
02 · Category
Patient Safety And Care24 stats
01
BSN-prepared nurses reduce patient mortality by 6.5 per 1000 discharges.
02
Every 10% increase in BSN nurses lowers readmission rates by 4.5%.
03
Nurses prevent 87% of medical errors through interventions daily.
04
Optimal nurse staffing reduces patient mortality by 7% per patient.
05
Hospital-acquired infections drop 10% with higher RN hours per patient day.
06
Nurses administer 90% of all medications in hospitals.
07
Fall rates decrease by 31% with specialized geriatric nurses.
08
Nurse-led clinics improve chronic disease management by 20% outcomes.
09
US nurses handle 4.3 million patient visits daily on average.
10
Telehealth nursing consultations rose 154% during COVID-19 peak.
11
Pressure ulcers incidence drops 8% with BSN nurses.
12
Nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:4 reduces mortality 9% in ICUs.
13
Sepsis recognition by nurses saves 20% more lives timely.
14
Pain management satisfaction 85% higher with advanced practice nurses.
15
Vaccine administration by nurses reaches 95% coverage rates.
16
Post-op complications fall 15% with dedicated recovery RNs.
17
Mental health screenings by nurses detect 30% more cases.
18
CLABSI rates drop 53% with evidence-based nurse protocols.
19
Nurse-driven protocols reduce CAUTI by 25%.
20
Delirium detection accuracy 80% by trained nurses.
21
Wound care specialists lower amputation rates 40%.
22
Palliative care nurses improve quality scores by 22%.
23
Emergency nurses triage accuracy 95% for high acuity.
24
Pediatric nurses reduce medication errors 18%.
Interpretation
Patient Safety And Care Interpretation
For patient safety and care, the data show that stronger nursing capacity directly lowers harm, with outcomes improving as BSN coverage and RN staffing rise, including a 6.5 per 1000 decrease in mortality and a 10% drop in hospital-acquired infections.
03 · Category
Demographics And Diversity22 stats
01
15.2% of RNs are male as of 2023.
02
Average age of US RNs is 46 years old in 2022.
03
19.3% of RNs identify as Hispanic or Latino.
04
Black or African American nurses comprise 9.7% of workforce.
05
Asian nurses make up 10.5% of US RNs.
06
83.1% of nurses are White non-Hispanic.
07
Part-time RNs constitute 24% of the workforce.
08
Rural nurses have 20% higher vacancy rates than urban.
09
56% of nurses are married with children under 18.
10
Female nurses 84.8% of total US nursing workforce.
11
48% of new nurses are under 30 years old.
12
LGBTQ+ nurses represent 6-10% of profession per surveys.
13
Immigrant nurses fill 16% of US RN positions.
14
Veteran nurses 2.5% of total workforce.
15
Disability rate among nurses 12% higher than average workers.
16
35% of nurses work second jobs due to financial pressures.
17
62% of nurses plan to retire by 2030.
18
Native American nurses 0.4% of workforce.
19
27% of nurses have mental health diagnoses.
20
Military nurses 5,000 active duty in US.
21
Language diversity: 22% bilingual in US nursing.
22
Generational: Millennials 52% of nurse workforce.
Interpretation
Demographics And Diversity Interpretation
In the Demographics And Diversity snapshot, the nursing workforce remains majority White non-Hispanic at 83.1% while gender and racial representation are still uneven, with only 15.2% of RNs identifying as male and just 9.7% Black or African American, even as Hispanics at 19.3% and Asian nurses at 10.5% contribute to growing diversity.
More related reading
04 · Category
Educational Attainment22 stats
01
82% of US nurses hold a BSN or higher degree as of 2023 survey data.
02
In 2022, 18.7% of RNs had an associate degree as their highest nursing education.
03
Master's degree held by 14.3% of registered nurses in the US in 2022.
04
Doctoral degrees (DNP/PhD) comprised 2.7% of RN educational attainment in 2023.
05
Entry-level ADN programs graduated 82,015 new nurses in 2022.
06
BSN programs produced 145,427 graduates in the US in 2022.
07
Average age of RNs entering doctoral programs is 44 years old.
08
NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for BSN graduates was 83.08% in 2022.
09
Internationally, 45% of nurses have bachelor's level education per WHO 2022.
10
89.5% of US registered nurses hold an active license only in one state.
11
12.5% of RNs have multi-state licenses via Nurse Licensure Compact.
12
ADN to BSN completion programs enrolled 16,000 students in 2022.
13
DNP programs graduated 630 new nurses in 2022.
14
PhD nursing programs produced 672 graduates in 2022.
15
Online nursing education accounts for 50% of RN to BSN programs.
16
Faculty vacancy in nursing schools is 7.3% for BSN programs.
17
Nurse Licensure Compact includes 41 states as of 2024.
18
70% of nursing programs report clinical placement shortages.
19
Accelerated BSN programs graduate 12,000 annually.
20
RN to MSN bridge programs enroll 5,500 students yearly.
21
Nurse educator shortage projected 12,000 by 2025.
22
Simulation replaces 25% of clinical hours in curricula.
Interpretation
Educational Attainment Interpretation
As of the 2023 survey, 82% of US nurses have a BSN or higher, showing that educational attainment is shifting strongly toward advanced degrees rather than stopping at associate level.
05 · Category
Workforce Statistics13 stats
01
As of May 2023, there were 3,332,460 registered nurses employed in the United States, representing a 6% growth from 2022.
02
The projected job growth for registered nurses in the US from 2022 to 2032 is 6%, much faster than the average for all occupations.
03
In 2022, 59.4% of registered nurses worked in hospitals, the largest sector for nursing employment.
04
Approximately 18.5% of registered nurses were employed in ambulatory health care services in 2023.
05
Nursing assistants numbered 1,388,760 in the US workforce as of May 2023.
06
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses totaled 657,340 employed in 2023.
07
The nursing workforce vacancy rate in US hospitals reached 17% in 2023.
08
Globally, there were 28 million nurses in 2022 according to WHO estimates.
09
In the EU, nurse density was 8.5 per 1,000 people in 2021.
10
US nurse turnover rate averaged 27.1% across hospitals in 2022.
11
Average RN works 40.2 hours per week in hospitals.
12
Australia nurses number 416,000 in 2022 workforce.
13
India has 2.1 nurses per 1,000 population.
Interpretation
Workforce Statistics Interpretation
Workforce statistics show strong and above average demand for nursing, with 3,332,460 registered nurses employed in May 2023 and projected growth of 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, while hospitals still employ the largest share at 59.4 percent in 2022.
06 · Category
Overview9 stats
01
92% of nurses report high job satisfaction with patient impact.
02
Nurse retention improves 12% with mentorship programs.
03
75% of new nurses leave within first year without support.
04
Leadership roles held by 25% of experienced nurses.
05
Simulation training adoption in nursing schools reached 94% in 2023.
06
Global nurse certification rates stand at 15% for specialties.
07
Wellness programs reduce nurse stress by 28% per studies.
08
68% of nurses pursue certifications for career advancement.
09
CE hours required average 20 per year for license renewal in US., category: Professional Development and Retention
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
Across the nursing industry overview, job satisfaction is high at 92% and simulation training is widespread at 94% in 2023, but turnover remains a concern because 75% of new nurses leave within the first year without support.
report visual · Comparison
Nurse pay: RN vs. specialized roles (US, 2023)
Specialized nursing roles command much higher average pay than standard RN and LPN roles.
Nurse anesthetists average salary reached $212,650 in 2023.$212,650
Mean annual wage for RNs in US was $89,010 as of May 2023.
$89,010
LPNs median wage was $59,730 per year in May 2023.
$59,730
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Nurse Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nurse-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Nurse Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nurse-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Nurse Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nurse-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report