How to Become a Registered Nurse
Assess patient health, create treatment plans, and provide direct patient care. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $97,550 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$97,550/yr
Middle half
$80,330 to $112,350
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
189,100
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Patient Care
- Clinical Assessment
- Medical Terminology
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- NCLEX-RN
- BLS Certification
- ACLS Certification
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
12/100
Work-life balance
38/100
Stress level
75/100
Satisfaction
68/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Registered Nurse make?
The median pay for a Registered Nurse is $97,550 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $80,330 and $112,350 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Registered Nurse?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Nursing, Pre-Nursing, and Health Sciences.
Is Registered Nurse a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 189,100 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Registered Nurse use most?
Common skills for this role are Patient Care, Clinical Assessment, Medical Terminology, Critical Thinking, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).