While over 3.5 million registered nurses form the backbone of American healthcare, their story is told not just in their staggering numbers but in the profound impact and complex realities hidden within the statistics of this vital profession.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, approximately 3.5 million registered nurses were employed in the United States
- Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations
- There were 193,100 job openings for registered nurses annually projected through 2032
- As of 2022, 87.4% of registered nurses in the US were female
- The average age of employed registered nurses in the US was 46 years in 2022
- 18.5% of registered nurses were aged 65 or older in 2020
- The median annual wage for registered nurses in May 2023 was $86,070
- In California, the highest paying state, registered nurses earned a mean annual wage of $133,340 in 2023
- Registered nurses in outpatient care centers earned a median wage of $94,480 in 2023
- In 2023, about 59% of registered nurses held a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) or higher
- The NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for US-educated candidates was 87.9% in 2023
- 45% of new RNs graduated from BSN programs in 2023, up from 40% in 2010
- Registered nurses provided care to an estimated 4.2 billion patient encounters annually in US hospitals in 2022
- Over 80% of registered nurses report experiencing workplace violence in 2022 surveys
- Nurse-to-patient ratios averaged 1:5 in medical-surgical units in US hospitals in 2022
The nursing workforce faces a shortage despite high demand, requiring more professionals to meet growing patient needs.
Demographics
- As of 2022, 87.4% of registered nurses in the US were female
- The average age of employed registered nurses in the US was 46 years in 2022
- 18.5% of registered nurses were aged 65 or older in 2020
- Hispanic or Latino registered nurses made up 9.1% of the workforce in 2022
- Black or African American RNs comprised 7.8% of the US nursing workforce in 2022
- Asian RNs represented 9.7% of the workforce in 2022
- White non-Hispanic RNs were 75.4% of the workforce in 2022
- Male RNs increased to 12.6% of the workforce in 2022 from 9.6% in 2013
- RNs aged 30-39 made up 28% of the workforce in 2022
- Multi-racial RNs were 2.3% of workforce in 2022
- RNs with 20+ years experience were 31% of workforce in 2022
- Native American/Alaska Native RNs were 0.5% of workforce in 2022
- RNs under 30 years old were 9% of workforce in 2022
- Pacific Islander RNs comprised 0.4% in 2022
- Rural RNs were 15% of workforce despite serving 20% population 2022
- RNs with military background 2.1% of total in 2022
- LGBTQ+ RNs estimated at 5-10% self-identified in 2022 surveys
- Baby boomer RN retirements projected 300,000 by 2025
- Foreign-educated RNs 16% of workforce in 2022
- RNs aged 50-64 42% of workforce 2022
- RNs with disabilities 4.2% self-reported in 2022
- RN workforce diversity index improved 5% 2016-2022
- RNs in academia 10% of total employed 2022
- RNs aged 40-49 25% workforce 2022
Demographics Interpretation
The US nursing workforce remains a predominantly white, middle-aged, and female profession with a growing but still small number of men and a glaring shortage of young recruits, which threatens to turn a current demographic bulge into a future crisis of experience as hundreds of thousands of baby boomers prepare to retire.
Education
- In 2023, about 59% of registered nurses held a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) or higher
- The NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for US-educated candidates was 87.9% in 2023
- 45% of new RNs graduated from BSN programs in 2023, up from 40% in 2010
- Associate degree nursing programs produced 38% of new RNs in 2023
- 76% of RNs pursued further education within 10 years of licensure in 2023 data
- Diploma programs accounted for less than 1% of RN education in 2023
- 88% of employers prefer BSN-prepared RNs for entry-level positions in 2023
- RN-to-BSN completion programs graduated 50,000 nurses in 2023
- MSN-prepared RNs held 12% of positions in 2023
- Accelerated BSN programs enrolled 15% of students in 2023
- PhD-prepared RNs were 1.7% of faculty in 2023
- Generic BSN programs awarded 140,000 degrees in 2023
- RN bridge programs from LPN to RN enrolled 20,000 in 2023
- DNP programs graduated 7,000 nurses in 2023
- Post-licensure certification held by 35% RNs in 2023
- Simulation training in RN programs reached 90% adoption 2023
- Online RN programs 25% of enrollments in 2023
- Clinical nurse leader MSN programs 150 schools in 2023
- APRN pathways pursued by 20% RNs within 5 years licensure 2023
- Nursing simulation centers in 95% BSN programs 2023
- Informatics certification 10,000 RNs held 2023
- Nurse residency programs in 40% hospitals 2023
- Leadership MSN tracks 30% of graduate enrollments 2023
Education Interpretation
The nursing profession is clearly treating education like a critical patient, aggressively transfusing it with BSNs and higher degrees to ensure the field's vital signs remain strong, resilient, and increasingly sophisticated.
Employment
- In 2023, approximately 3.5 million registered nurses were employed in the United States
- Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations
- There were 193,100 job openings for registered nurses annually projected through 2032
- 62% of hospitals reported registered nurse shortages in 2023
- Full-time RN employment averaged 1,874 hours per year in 2022
- 3.18 million RNs were actively licensed in the US in 2023
- 55% of RNs worked in hospitals in 2022
- Projected RN shortage of 193,100 per year through 2031
- 1.2 million RN jobs added since 2019 due to healthcare expansion
- Part-time RNs comprised 27% of employed nurses in 2022
- Ambulatory RN employment grew 9% from 2019-2023
- Home health RNs numbered 430,000 in 2023
- Critical care RN employment reached 400,000 in 2023
- Nursing home RNs totaled 250,000 employed in 2023
- School nurse RN positions grew 4% yearly 2020-2023
- Psychiatric RN employment hit 180,000 in 2023
- Government-employed RNs 12% of total in 2023
- Operating room RNs numbered 250,000 in 2023
- Emergency department RNs 200,000 strong in 2023
- Public health RNs increased 12% post-COVID 2023
- Pediatric RN specialty 50,000 employed 2023
- Occupational health RNs 30,000 in 2023
- Aesthetic RNs grew 20% 2020-2023
- Forensic RNs 5,000 certified 2023
Employment Interpretation
Even as the national count of employed nurses remains robust at roughly 3.5 million, their ranks are being stretched thin like a worn-out bandage, with a persistent 62% of hospitals reporting shortages and an annual chasm of nearly 200,000 open positions that the current 6% growth rate seems woefully inadequate to fill.
Practice
- Registered nurses provided care to an estimated 4.2 billion patient encounters annually in US hospitals in 2022
- Over 80% of registered nurses report experiencing workplace violence in 2022 surveys
- Nurse-to-patient ratios averaged 1:5 in medical-surgical units in US hospitals in 2022
- Registered nurses administered over 90% of medications in hospitals in 2022 studies
- RNs reduced hospital readmission rates by 15% through care coordination in 2022 trials
- RN burnout rates reached 62% during the COVID-19 peak in 2021-2022
- RNs conducted 75% of patient assessments in ambulatory settings in 2022
- Evidence-based practice adoption by RNs improved outcomes by 23% in 2022 studies
- RN-led clinics reduced ER visits by 30% in community settings 2022
- RN documentation errors dropped 40% with EHR implementation by 2022
- RN telehealth visits increased 38-fold from 2019 to 2023
- RN infection control measures prevented 1.7 million HAIs in 2022
- RN pain management improved patient satisfaction scores by 25% in 2022
- RN discharge planning reduced readmissions 20% in 2022 CMS data
- RN-led quality improvement cut CAUTI rates 50% in ICUs 2022
- RN wellness programs lowered turnover 18% in 2022 studies
- RN palliative care consultations grew 25% yearly 2020-2023
- RN hand hygiene compliance 95% target met in 70% hospitals 2022
- RN fall prevention protocols reduced incidents 30% 2022
- RN sepsis bundle compliance 82% nationally 2022
- RN medication reconciliation errors reduced 45% 2022
- RN CLABSI prevention success 90% reduction since 2008 to 2022
- RN ventilator-associated pneumonia down 68% 2015-2022
Practice Interpretation
Despite being stretched thinner than a dollar-store bandage and facing more violence than a gladiator, America's nurses are still the miraculous glue holding together a healthcare system whose cracks they are simultaneously trying to seal, reduce, improve, and disinfect.
Salary
- The median annual wage for registered nurses in May 2023 was $86,070
- In California, the highest paying state, registered nurses earned a mean annual wage of $133,340 in 2023
- Registered nurses in outpatient care centers earned a median wage of $94,480 in 2023
- The top 10% of registered nurses earned more than $132,680 annually in 2023
- Entry-level RN salaries averaged $68,000 in 2023 for BSN graduates
- RNs in general medical and surgical hospitals earned $93,550 median in 2023
- RNs with DNP degrees earned 20% more than BSN-prepared in 2023 surveys
- Overnight shift RNs earned 15% premium pay averaging $105,000 in 2023
- RN salaries in New York averaged $104,570 in 2023
- Unionized RNs earned 10-15% higher wages in 2023 data
- RN overtime pay averaged $50/hour in hospitals 2023
- RNs in physician offices earned $82,750 median 2023
- Travel RN contracts paid average $120,000 annually in 2023
- RN bonuses averaged $10,000 sign-on in 2023 shortages
- RN night differential pay 10-20% above base in 2023
- RN education reimbursement used by 40% employers 2023
- RN average benefits package worth $30,000 yearly 2023
- RN per diem rates $60-80/hour in urban areas 2023
- RN 401k matching average 4% employer contribution 2023
- RN holiday pay 1.5-2x base rate standard 2023
- RN tuition assistance average $5,000/year 2023
- RN life insurance benefits average 2x salary 2023
- RN shift differentials $4-8/hour 2023
Salary Interpretation
Clearly, while the median RN earns a comfortable $86,070, the real story is that strategic career moves—like working nights in California, earning a DNP, joining a union, or embracing travel contracts—can transform a solid nursing salary into an exceptionally robust compensation package worthy of the immense demands of the profession.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 2AACNNURSINGaacnnursing.orgVisit source
- Reference 3AHAaha.orgVisit source
- Reference 4NURSINGWORLDnursingworld.orgVisit source
- Reference 5HEALTHAFFAIRShealthaffairs.orgVisit source
- Reference 6NCSBNncsbn.orgVisit source
- Reference 7DATAUSAdatausa.ioVisit source
- Reference 8NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 9ASAHQasahq.orgVisit source
- Reference 10BHWbhw.hrsa.govVisit source
- Reference 11NURSINGLICENSEMAPnursinglicensemap.comVisit source
- Reference 12CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 13NURSEnurse.orgVisit source
- Reference 14DATAdata.census.govVisit source
- Reference 15AHRQahrq.govVisit source
- Reference 16HIMSShimss.orgVisit source
- Reference 17MINORITYNURSEminoritynurse.comVisit source
- Reference 18INDEEDindeed.comVisit source
- Reference 19MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source
- Reference 20AACNaacn.orgVisit source
- Reference 21NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 22CMScms.govVisit source
- Reference 23VIVIANvivian.comVisit source
- Reference 24NLNnln.orgVisit source
- Reference 25PRESSGANEYpressganey.comVisit source
- Reference 26RURALHEALTHruralhealth.und.eduVisit source
- Reference 27NASNnasn.nasn.orgVisit source
- Reference 28VAva.govVisit source
- Reference 29NURSEnurse.comVisit source
- Reference 30NBCNnbcn.orgVisit source
- Reference 31AORNaorn.orgVisit source
- Reference 32USNEWSusnews.comVisit source
- Reference 33CAPCcapc.orgVisit source
- Reference 34ENAena.orgVisit source
- Reference 35INTELYCAREintelycare.comVisit source
- Reference 36NURSINGOUTLOOKnursingoutlook.orgVisit source
- Reference 37NPHICnphic.orgVisit source
- Reference 38PNAPICpnapic.orgVisit source
- Reference 39SCCMsccm.orgVisit source
- Reference 40AAOHNaaohn.orgVisit source
- Reference 41PSANESpsanes.orgVisit source
- Reference 42IAFNiafn.orgVisit source