More than three million registered nurses work in the United States. General medical and surgical hospitals employ fifty eight percent of them. Nearly two hundred thousand openings are projected each year on average.
Key Takeaways
- The median annual wage for RNs was $86,070 in May 2023
- In 2022, there were approximately 3.175 million registered nurses actively practicing in the United States
- 45.7% of RNs have an associate degree as entry preparation in 2022
- Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations
- 55% of RNs work 12-hour shifts in hospitals
Registered nurses remain vital, with strong employment and growing demand that supports better patient care.
Related reading
01 · Category
Compensation27 stats
01
The median annual wage for RNs was $86,070in May 2023
02
RNs in California earn the highest mean hourly wage of $59.46in 2023
03
In outpatient care centers, RNs earn a mean annual wage of $98,870in 2023
04
General medical and surgical hospitals pay RNs a mean of $91,640annually in 2023
05
Home health services RN mean wage is $85,050per year in 2023
06
RNs in government jobs earn $95,170mean annually in 2023
07
The lowest 10% of RNs earn less than $59,450 annually in 2023
08
Top 10% of RNs earn more than $132,680 per year in 2023
09
Nursing instructors earn a mean of $84,180annually in 2023
10
RNs with BSN earn 10% more than those with associate degrees on average in 2022
11
Average RN salary increased 4.2% from 2022 to 2023 due to shortages
12
Travel RNs earn $100,000-$120,000 annually on average in 2023
13
Benefits package for RNs averages 30% of total compensation in 2022
14
Overtime pay boosts RN earnings by 15% in hospitals in 2023
15
RNs in New York earn mean $101,030annually in 2023
16
Massachusetts RN mean wage is $99,240per year in 2023
17
Shift differentials add $5-$10 per hour for night shifts in 2023
18
Sign-on bonuses for RNs averaged $20,000in 2023 hospitals
19
65% of RNs receive health insurance as a benefit in 2022
20
Retirement benefits cover 55% of RNs with employer contributions in 2023
21
RNs working second jobs earn additional $15,000annually on average in 2022
22
Specialty RNs like OR nurses earn 20% above general RN average in 2023
23
Loan forgiveness programs benefit 25% of new RNs annually in 2023
24
Average hourly wage for RNs is $41.40in 2023
25
ICU RNs earn $95,000-$110,000 annually in 2023
26
78% of RNs report satisfaction with compensation levels in 2022 surveys
27
Cost-of-living adjusted RN salaries highest in San Francisco at $140,000in 2023
Interpretation
Compensation Interpretation
Contrary to the Florence Nightingale archetype of saintly poverty, today's registered nurses can command a serious paycheck, with California sun and San Francisco cost-of-living adjustments potentially baking their income to a golden $140,000, yet the profession still relies on the sacrificial spices of overtime, night shift differentials, and second jobs to make the financial broth palatable for everyone from the lowest tenth percentile to the top earners in outpatient care.
02 · Category
Demographics29 stats
01
In 2022, there were approximately 3.175 million registered nurses actively practicing in the United States
02
About 84% of registered nurses in the US workforce are female as of 2023
03
The median age of employed registered nurses in the US was 46 years old in 2020
04
Racial and ethnic minorities make up 19.5% of the registered nurse workforce in the US in 2022
05
In 2023, 9.1% of registered nurses identified as Hispanic or Latino
06
Asian registered nurses comprised 9.7% of the US RN workforce in 2022
07
Black or African American nurses represent 6.2% of registered nurses in the US as of 2023
08
The largest proportion of RNs, 56%, hold a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) as their highest educational attainment in 2022
09
Urban areas employ 80% of all registered nurses in the US in 2023
10
In 2022, 13% of registered nurses were men, marking a 1% increase from 2020
11
RNs aged 30-39 make up 28% of the workforce in 2023
12
White non-Hispanic nurses constitute 76.5% of the RN population in the US in 2022
13
Multiracial RNs increased to 2.3% of the workforce by 2023
14
RNs with advanced practice credentials represent 12.5% of all nurses in 2022
15
In rural areas, 87% of RNs are female compared to 83% in urban areas in 2023
16
The percentage of RNs under 30 years old is 10.2% as of 2022
17
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander RNs are 0.5% of the workforce in 2023
18
American Indian or Alaska Native nurses comprise 1.1% of RNs in 2022
19
In 2023, 62% of RNs have over 10 years of experience
20
Foreign-educated RNs account for 16% of the US nursing workforce in 2022
21
RNs working full-time represent 78% of the employed nursing workforce in 2023
22
In 2022, 22% of RNs reported working in more than one job
23
The average years of nursing experience among RNs is 14.6 years in 2023
24
RNs aged 50 and older comprise 34% of the workforce in 2022
25
In 2023, 7.4% of RNs are veterans
26
LGBTQ+ identification among RNs is approximately 5.8% in 2022 surveys
27
RNs with disabilities represent 4.2% of the workforce in 2023
28
Married RNs make up 68% of the demographic in 2022
29
RNs holding a master's degree or higher are 18% in 2023
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
While overwhelmingly female, experienced, and highly educated, America's 3.1 million registered nurses are a seasoned, majority-BSN workforce that's slowly—but perceptibly—growing more diverse in nearly every demographic dimension.
03 · Category
Education29 stats
01
45.7% of RNs have an associate degree as entry preparation in 2022
02
56.4% of RNs hold a baccalaureate degree in 2022
03
13.1% of RNs have a master's degree as highest credential in 2022
04
2.7% of RNs hold a doctoral degree in nursing in 2022
05
88% of RNs are licensed in the state where they practice in 2023
06
NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for US-educated candidates was 86.1% in 2023
07
Over 190,000 new RNs passed NCLEX annually average 2018-2022
08
80% of nursing schools require BSN for entry in 2023
09
Continuing education is required by 39 states for RN license renewal in 2023
10
Average RN spends 20 hours on CE annually in 2022
11
DNP programs graduated 7,500 nurses in 2022
12
PhD nursing programs produce 1,000 new doctorates yearly in 2023
13
ADN programs enroll 45% of pre-licensure nursing students in 2022
14
BSN programs account for 50% of nursing student enrollment in 2023
15
Entry-level MSN programs growing 20% since 2018
16
75% of employers prefer BSN-prepared RNs in 2023 surveys
17
National average NCLEX pass rate for ADN is 84.5% in 2023
18
BSN programs have 87.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate in 2023
19
Simulation used in 95% of nursing education programs in 2022
20
Faculty vacancy in nursing schools at 9.8% in 2023
21
Online nursing education enrollment up 25% post-COVID in 2023
22
62% of RNs pursue further education within 5 years of licensure in 2022
23
Certification held by 46% of RNs in specialty areas in 2023
24
BLS projects need for 18,600 new nursing faculty by 2025
25
Interprofessional education integrated in 70% of programs in 2023
26
RNs report average 40 hours of orientation training in new roles in 2022
27
76% of hospitals provide tuition reimbursement for RNs in 2023
28
Magnet hospitals require BSN for 80% of staff by 2023
29
RNs in critical care units have 94% certification rate in 2022
Interpretation
Education Interpretation
The nursing profession is diligently pursuing higher education en masse, as evidenced by over half of RNs now holding bachelor's degrees, yet it still grapples with a persistent faculty shortage and a curious reliance on associate degrees for nearly half its entry-level recruits.
More related reading
04 · Category
Employment28 stats
01
Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations
02
About 193,100 openings for registered nurses are projected each year on average over the decade from 2022 to 2032
03
In May 2023, there were 3,175,390 registered nurses employed in the US
04
58% of registered nurses work in general medical and surgical hospitals in 2023
05
Ambulatory healthcare services employ 18% of RNs as of 2023
06
Nursing and residential care facilities account for 11% of RN employment in 2023
07
Government agencies employ 8% of registered nurses in 2022
08
Educational services employ 5% of RNs in 2023
09
The largest employers of RNs are states like California with 325,620 employed in 2023
10
California has the highest employment level of RNs at 10.2% of national total in 2023
11
Texas employs 219,200 RNs, second highest in 2023
12
Florida has 204,620 RNs employed in 2023
13
New York employs 190,770 RNs as of 2023
14
75% of RNs work in metropolitan areas in 2022
15
Rural areas have a shortage of 20,000 RNs projected by 2030
16
Hospital settings employ 60.2% of all RNs in 2023
17
Community health centers employ 4.5% of RNs in 2022
18
Home health care RN employment grew 15% from 2018-2023
19
RN turnover rate averaged 27.1% in hospitals in 2022
20
Vacancy rates for RNs in hospitals reached 17% in 2023
21
41% of hospitals reported critical RN staffing shortages in 2023
22
Projected RN shortage of 200,000-450,000 by 2025
23
RN employment in outpatient care centers increased 12% from 2020-2023
24
32% of RNs work per diem or as needed in 2022
25
Travel nursing positions filled 10% of RN vacancies in 2023
26
RNs in skilled nursing facilities number 350,000 in 2023
27
Employment growth in RNs is driven by aging population, adding 275,000 jobs by 2032
28
87% of RNs work in state-designated health professional shortage areas minimally
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
The numbers paint a picture of a vital profession in high demand, yet one caught in a paradoxical squeeze where rapid growth and tens of thousands of new openings each year are perpetually outpaced by alarming shortages, high turnover, and a desperate need for care that stretches from bustling metropolitan hospitals to underserved rural communities.
05 · Category
Work Conditions27 stats
01
55% of RNs work 12-hour shifts in hospitals
02
Average RN works 38.7 hours per week in 2023
03
52% of RNs experience burnout in 2023 surveys
04
Violence against RNs reported in 44% of workplace incidents in 2022
05
Nurse-to-patient ratio averages 1:5 in medical-surgical units in 2023
06
68% of RNs report inadequate staffing as major issue in 2023
07
RNs handle average 6.2 patients per shift in hospitals 2022
08
Injury rate for RNs is 6.8 per 100 full-time workers in 2022
09
92% of RNs vaccinated against COVID-19 by end of 2022
10
Mandatory overtime affects 20% of RNs monthly in 2023
11
RN satisfaction with work-life balance is 57% in 2023
12
65% of RNs use EHR systems daily, reporting high administrative burden
13
Night shift RNs report 25% higher error rates in 2022 studies
14
41% of RNs consider leaving profession due to stress in 2023
15
RNs average 1.2 medication errors per 100 shifts in 2022
16
PPE shortages impacted 70% of RNs during peak COVID in 2021-2022
17
Telehealth utilization by RNs increased 38-fold from 2019-2023
18
78% of RNs report moral distress from patient care decisions in 2023
19
Average RN career length is 20 years before leaving bedside in 2022
20
RNs experience 2.5 workplace injuries per year on average in hospitals
21
89% of RNs feel safe from violence post-implementation of protocols in 2023
22
RNs spend 35% of shift on documentation in 2023
23
Weekend staffing ratios lead to 15% higher mortality in studies 2022
24
62% of RNs have flexible scheduling options in 2023
25
RNs in unions report 12% higher job satisfaction in 2022
26
Patient falls reduced 20% with optimal RN staffing in 2023 studies
27
73% of RNs intend to stay in current job for next year in 2023
Interpretation
Work Conditions Interpretation
Despite their heroic 92% vaccination rate and 38-fold telehealth leap, the modern nurse’s reality is a precarious high-wire act where over half are burning out while juggling six patients, dodging violence, and drowning in documentation, all on a 12-hour shift that leaves them just 57% satisfied with their work-life balance.
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
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Registered Nurses Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/registered-nurses-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Registered Nurses Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/registered-nurses-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Registered Nurses Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/registered-nurses-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level