Insights into RN wages and factors affecting them

Show me the money

Answers to your questions about RN income across the US

One of the most common concerns RNs have, whether new or experienced, is salary expectations for a given geographical area. Forums abound with questions regarding salary in large metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and in obscure rural areas like Alvin, TX. To answer some of these questions, salary information from five hospitals and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) are presented below in order to compare real wages to BLS statistics.

The hospitals I gathered data for are below. Regional Health in Rapid City, SD and University of Washington Medical Center both provided salary information directly over the phone. Several other hospitals declined to provide information.

Regional Health — Rapid City, SD

Starting point: 22.50

Mid-point 27.5

University of Washington Medical Center — Seattle, Washington

27.60 to 52.64 per hour, depending on experience.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital — Philadelphia, PA

Not allowed to discuss over the phone

Philadelphia VA Hospital — Philadelphia, PA

Directed inquiry to several websites. Would not discuss salary or transfer call to someone who could.

Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration — Memphis, TN

Registered Nurse

$60,324.00 to $109,817.00 per year

Memphis registered nurse job posting

Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration — New Orleans, LA

Registered Nurse (Home Telehealth Care Coordinator)

$61,952.00 to $117,241.00 per year

New Orleans home telehealth registered nurse job posting

Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration — East Orange, NJ

Registered Nurse

$49,472.00 to $166,500.00 per year

East Orange registered nurse job posting

What can I expect to make in another city?

The table below will allow you to see an average for various locations as well as obtain a locality adjustment in 2020. The new adjustment numbers are based on an individual who is working in Rapid City at the Regional Health Center’s mid-point range of $27.50. So, if an RN is earning $27.50 then they can expect to earn the following rates at the localities listed below.

Locality

What accounts for the difference in pay?

Several factors affect your wage when you are finally offered employment. First, your experience matters. A recent graduate will not make as much as someone with several years of experience.

The department or specialty you work in also makes a difference. An oncology nurse, emergency room nurse, and a nurse at a senior care facility will have different wages. The difference persists even if years of experience are held constant.

Third, your level of education will make a difference in your pay as well. Registered nurses may earn an associate degree or a PhD in nursing, although the latter is rare. Many RNs enter the field with an associate or bachelor’s degree. This difference affects both pay and employment opportunities because some facilities hire only nurses who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree. Specializations and certifications also make a difference. They demonstrate that you are an expert in a given area, such as critical care or progressive care nursing.