Nurse staffing remains strained even as policy attention grows, with projected shortages driven by an aging workforce and rising demand. By May 2023, the US had 3,332,460 employed RNs, yet the forecast still points to a gap that could require 1.2 million new RNs by the end of the decade. Retention signals the stress behind the numbers, with hospital turnover reaching 27.1% in 2022 and burnout reported by 36% of nurses in 2023 surveys.
Key Takeaways
- The median annual wage for RNs in 2023 was $86,070, varying by state from $62,550 in South Dakota to $124,000 in California
- In 2021, 87.4% of the RN workforce was female, with males comprising 12.6%
- 58% of RNs held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2022, up from 50% in 2017
- As of May 2023: June 2026, there were 3,332,460 registered nurses employed in the US, representing a 6.1% increase from 2022
- By 2030, the US will need 1.2 million new RNs to replace retirees and meet demand
- Nurse turnover rate in hospitals reached 27.1% in 2022, highest on record
Nurse workforce statistics show staffing needs are rising, making retention and recruitment more urgent than ever.
Related reading
01 · Category
Compensation20 stats
01
The median annual wage for RNs in 2023 was $86,070,varying by state from $62,550 in South Dakota to $124,000 in California
02
Entry-level RN salary averaged $68,000annually in 2023 for BSN graduates
03
RNs in outpatient care centers earned median $95,350in 2023
04
Home health RNs median wage $82,750in 2023
05
RNs in government sector earned $93,600median in 2023
06
California RNs median wage $133,340in 2023, highest state
07
Nursing instructors median wage $82,040in 2023
08
RN overtime pay averaged 1.5 times base rate in 2023
09
RNs with 20+ years experience earned median $95,000in 2023
10
Median hourly wage for RNs $41.38in May 2023
11
Top paying metro for RNs: San Jose, CA at $147,420median 2023
12
RN sign-on bonuses averaged $15,000in 2023
13
RN night shift differential averaged $4/hour 2023
14
RN travel nurses earned $120,000avg annually 2023
15
RN union membership 15% in 2023, higher wages 10%
16
RN performance bonuses averaged $5,000yearly 2023
17
RN tuition reimbursement offered by 65% employers 2023
18
RN 401(k) match average 4% employer contribution 2023
19
RN health insurance coverage 92% employer-provided 2023
20
RN loan forgiveness utilized by 100,000+ since 2004
Interpretation
Compensation Interpretation
You could be handsomely rewarded for wiping away tears and charting bodily fluids, but if you really want to clean up, avoid teaching others how to do it and head straight for the silicon of California.
02 · Category
Demographics21 stats
01
In 2021, 87.4% of the RN workforce was female, with males comprising 12.6%
02
Average age of employed RNs was 46 years in 2020, with 52% aged 40 or older
03
80.1% of RNs were White in 2020, 6.2% Black, 8.7% Hispanic
04
15.2% of RNs were aged 30-39 in 2020
05
Racial diversity: Asian RNs 9.8%, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 1.1% in 2020
06
Urban RNs 76% of workforce, rural 24% in 2020
07
55+ age group RNs 50.9% in 2020, nearing retirement
08
Hispanic RNs increased 45% from 2010-2020
09
Male RNs 13.3% in 2022, up from 9.1% in 2000
10
Black/African American RNs 6.5% of workforce in 2022
11
RNs aged 23-26: 4.1% of workforce in 2020
12
RNs with disabilities 2.8% of workforce in 2020
13
LGBTQ+ RNs estimated 5-10% of workforce 2023
14
Veterans among RNs 3.2% in 2020
15
RNs with foreign education 16.7% in 2020
16
RNs aged 60+ 19.4% in 2022
17
Multilingual RNs 22% in urban areas 2020
18
RNs with dependents under 18: 28% in 2020
19
Rural RNs 18% less likely to have BSN 2022
20
Indigenous RNs 0.4% US workforce 2020
21
RNs with advanced certifications 25% in 2022
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
The nursing profession is walking a demographic tightrope, relying on a seasoned, predominantly female, and white workforce while making promising, yet painfully slow, gains in gender, racial, and generational diversity just as a massive wave of retirements looms.
03 · Category
Education21 stats
01
58% of RNs held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2022, up from 50% in 2017
02
ADN programs produced 38.9% of new RNs in 2022, BSN 56.7%
03
Master's degree held by 13.2% of RNs in 2022, DNP by 2.1%
04
91,000 new RNs graduated from entry-level programs in 2022
05
BSN programs enrolled 259,000 students in 2022, up 4.7%
06
Accelerated BSN programs graduated 13,478 in 2022
07
DNP programs had 7,562 enrollments in 2022
08
Generic BSN programs 1,145 nationwide in 2022
09
Schools of nursing turned away 91,648 qualified applicants in 2022
10
RN-to-BSN programs enrolled 150,000+ students in 2022
11
Entry-to-practice RN licensure exams passed by 86.5% first-time in 2022
12
MSN programs graduated 20,000 nurses in 2022
13
Simulation-based training used by 90% of nursing schools 2022
14
Online RN-to-BSN completion programs 500+ in 2022
15
Clinical nurse leader programs 300+ active 2022
16
Bridge programs from LPN to RN enrolled 40,000 2022
17
Interprofessional education in 85% nursing curricula 2022
18
Micro-credential programs for nurses launched 200+ in 2022
19
VR training adopted by 40% schools 2023
20
Competency-based education in 25% BSN programs 2022
21
Gamification in nursing sims 55% adoption 2023
Interpretation
Education Interpretation
The nursing profession is gamifying its way to higher education, graduating armies of new, tech-savvy BSNs while turning away enough qualified applicants to staff a small country, proving the system is evolving impressively while still being frustratingly inefficient.
More related reading
04 · Category
Employment20 stats
01
As of May 2023: June 2026, there were 3,332,460 registered nurses employed in the US, representing a 6.1% increase from 2022
02
RN employment in hospitals accounted for 59.4% of all RN jobs in 2023
03
19.5% of RNs worked part-time in 2020
04
1.1 million RNs worked in ambulatory settings in 2023
05
Nursing homes employed 240,000 RNs in 2023, 7.2% of total
06
2.8 million RNs in full-time positions in 2023
07
Physicians' offices employed 15% of RNs in 2023
08
Telehealth RN roles grew 20% post-2020
09
60% of RNs employed in general medical/surgical hospitals 2023
10
Psychiatric RNs employed 20,000 in mental health facilities 2023
11
RNs in educational services: 80,000 employed 2023
12
RNs in California: 325,000 employed 2023
13
RNs self-employed 2.1% of workforce 2023
14
RNs in substance abuse facilities 15,000 2023
15
RNs working second jobs 12% in 2023
16
RNs in research settings 50,000 2023
17
RN locum tenens roles up 25% 2023
18
RNs per 1,000 population 11.5 US average 2023
19
RN consultants 30,000 independent 2023
20
RN staffing agencies revenue $9B in 2023
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
While the nursing workforce is growing and diversifying into new fields like telehealth and research, the stubborn fact that nearly 60% are still anchored in hospitals reveals a system that, for all its evolution, continues to run on their enduring presence at the bedside.
05 · Category
Projections21 stats
01
By 2030, the US will need 1.2 million new RNs to replace retirees and meet demand
02
Projected RN shortage of 193,100 by 2030 due to aging workforce
03
By 2031, RN employment projected to grow 6% to 3,371,500 jobs
04
LPN employment projected to decline 1% by 2031 due to RN substitution
05
Demand for APRNs projected to grow 38% by 2031
06
RN supply projected 4.5 million by 2030, demand 4.7 million
07
Global nurse shortage 5.8 million by 2030 per WHO
08
APRN jobs to grow from 355,200 to 416,600 by 2031
09
Nurse demand in US expected to rise 7% by 2032
10
US RN workforce projected 4 million by 2025
11
Global migration: 150,000 nurses left low-income countries 2010-2020
12
Nurse practitioner jobs 266,000 in 2022, growing fast
13
RN shortage could cost $10B annually by 2025
14
EU nurse shortage 470,000 by 2025
15
RN employment growth 9% 2020-2030 forecast updated
16
Asia-Pacific nurse shortage 2.8 million by 2030
17
RN supply-demand gap widens to 200,000 by 2035
18
AI-assisted nursing projected to fill 15% roles by 2030
19
Climate change to increase nurse demand 10% by 2050
20
Pandemic accelerated RN retirements 20,000 early 2020-2022
21
Wearables for nurse monitoring piloted in 15% hospitals 2023
Interpretation
Projections Interpretation
While we're busy training our replacement nurses and even inviting robots to the party, the math is telling a darkly comedic story: we're trying to fill a future bathtub of demand with a present-day teacup of supply, and the water is running out faster than we can turn it on.
06 · Category
Retention20 stats
01
Nurse turnover rate in hospitals reached 27.1% in 2022, highest on record
02
36% of nurses reported burnout in 2023 surveys, linked to staffing shortages
03
Voluntary turnover for RNs was 18.3% in 2022
04
62% of nurses considered leaving profession in 2022 AMN survey
05
Agency nurse usage up 44% in 2022 due to shortages
06
27% of hospitals reported RN vacancy rates over 15% in 2023
07
Moral distress cited by 62% of nurses as retention barrier in 2023
08
RN vacancy rate averaged 12.6% in hospitals 2023
09
41% of nurses plan to leave current job within year per 2023 survey
10
Hospitals spent $10.9B on contract nurses in 2022, up 150%
11
Violence against nurses: 48% experienced in past year 2022
12
Average RN tenure in hospitals 4.2 years 2023
13
70% of nurses reported inadequate staffing 2023
14
Burnout recovery: 25% of nurses post-COVID 2023
15
Wellness programs reduced turnover 20% in participating hospitals 2023
16
Flexible scheduling improved retention 30% per studies 2023
17
Mentorship programs boosted retention 22% 2023
18
Peer support reduced suicide rates 18% among nurses 2023
19
Resilience training lowered burnout 35% 2023 trials
20
DEI initiatives improved nurse satisfaction 28% 2023
Interpretation
Retention Interpretation
Hospitals are hemorrhaging nurses to burnout and moral distress, spending billions on expensive band-aid fixes while ignoring the affordable solutions—like staffing, safety, and support—that would actually heal the wound.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
James Okoro. (2026, February 13). Nurse Workforce Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nurse-workforce-statistics
MLA
James Okoro. "Nurse Workforce Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nurse-workforce-statistics.
Chicago
James Okoro. 2026. "Nurse Workforce Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nurse-workforce-statistics.
Sources & references
42 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level