What Is the Starting Salary for Registered Nurses?

The starting salary for registered nurses (RN) depends on a variety of factors, including education levels and demand. A registered nurse is distinguished from a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in that RNs require more education and typically engage in more advanced tasks.

Current Figure

According to Payscale, as of October 2010, the median starting hourly wage for registered nurses was $20 to $25. For nurses with 10 or more years of experience, this figure could climb to more than $35.

Education

Obtaining higher education levels makes it easier to obtain higher salaries. For example, an RN with a Bachelor of Science degree will be qualified to engage in a broader scope of nursing duties than someone with an associate's degree or a nursing diploma. Such a person is thus better positioned to obtain a high starting salary.

Demand

Obtaining higher education levels places an RN in higher demand. Because demand for nurses with higher education levels is greater, employers often reward RNs who complete additional training with higher starting salaries. Significantly, despite the saturation of nurses that took place during the first decade of the 21st century, demand has not declined and has instead provided RNs with the motivation to diversify their skills to differentiate themselves from their colleagues.

References

• Drexel University Online: Average & Starting Nurse Salary for Registered Nurses
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Registered Nurses
• Healthmad: LPN Versus RN-Different Paths to Nursing