RN & BSN Salaries
In the nursing industry, registered nurses (RNs) are mid-tier nurses. They have more authority than certified nurse assistants (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), but they don't have as much education as advanced practice nurses (APNs). Registered nurses can have either an Associate of Science in nursing (ASN) degree or associate degree in nursing (ADN), or they can have a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree. This makes a difference in what an RN earns.
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Average RN Wages
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not differentiate RNs with associate degrees and bachelor's degrees. Their data show average pay rates for the industry as a whole. BLS figures show that RNs make a typical yearly salary of $66,530, or about $31.99 per hour, based on 2009 information. This wage is a 0.2 percent increase over rates from 2008.
Salary by Degree
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Employers typically prefer graduates with a BSN degree even though both ASN/ADN and BSN RNs have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing points out. Consequently, RNs with associate degrees don't always earn as much even though their title is identical. For instance, according to the Indeed website, those with an ADN make $64,000 annually as of 2011, while those with a BSN make $76,000. Some of this pay differential comes from the fact that BSNs qualify for higher-level jobs.
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Experience
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Experience generally increases salaries for nurses with BSNs. The Nursing Programs website asserts that, as of 2011, a nurse with a BSN with less than one year of experience makes $50,081. By the time the nurse has been in the field 20 or more years, her salary can exceed $67,000.
Specialty
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Regardless of whether an RN has an ADN/ASN or a BSN, specialization influences pay. For instance, compared with the average ADN RN salary of $64,000, an RN with an ADN specializing in hemodialysis makes $69,000 annually as of 2011, while an RN with an ADN specializing in cardiovascular medicine makes $68,000. Similarly, the Nursing Programs website indicates that a BSN acting as a nurse manager earns $67,922 as of 2011, while a director of nursing earns $71,619.
Considerations
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Although employers prefer registered nurses with BSNs, most states are experiencing shortages in nurses. Based on 2010 data from the Trust for America's Health website, the hardest-hit regions are California, Florida, Texas and New York. In these regions, employers are more willing to hire RNs who have ASN/ADN degrees, as there is a greater need to get nurses into the field. In these regions, the pay differential between ASN/ADN and BSN RNs is not as wide.
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