What Is The Salary For A Nurse? (2011 Update)

There are a number of factors that play a part in determining the registered nurse salary. Among them are the number of years of experience, education, and specialized training. The part of the country and the company that you work for will also have an impact income levels.



Experience is the number one factor influencing income level. The more experience a person has, the higher their earning ability. Once graduating from school it is important to gain as much experience as quickly as possible. Consider working in different areas of the nursing industry to accumulate experience in a variety of care situations. The number of years of experience also dictates income. For instance, a nurse with less than one year of experience may only earn twenty one dollars per hour while someone with ten years experience will earn twenty eight dollars an hour.



Job performance is another reason a persons earnings will be higher or lower. When a person functions well at their job they will enjoy the benefits of being paid according to their performance. A positive reputation will also follow the individual from one position to the next.



The nurses educational background will also impact their earning potential. There are some schools that hold to a higher standard than others and carry a reputation that any graduate of the school will benefit from. Additionally, the number of years dedicated to earning a degree is considered. For instance an RN with an associate degree will be paid less than an RN with a bachelor degree, and the nurse with a Master's will be paid the most.



The area of nursing in which the individual works and the number of jobs available will also determine the rate of pay they receive. For instance, as the need for nurses increases the salaries also increase. In areas such as elder or geriatric care there is an ever-increasing need for the individual with specialized training. This segment of the population is increasing so the demand for geriatric nurses is also on the rise.



In the United States the full-time salary for an average registered nurse position is over sixty thousand dollars per year. As the older segment of our population continues to grow, the demand for registered nurses in all areas of the nursing industry will increases.



In addition, the number of nursing school graduates is not keeping in step with the number of nurses who are beginning to retire from the profession. This phenomenon is causing the industry to raise the salary level of nurses in an effort to attract more individuals to join the profession.



There are also a number of hospitals that offer sign on bonuses for nurses as incentives. Some of these bonuses can be as high as twenty thousand dollars or more. Taking into consideration the number of things that influence the registered nurse salary, joining the nursing profession can be very rewarding not only for the personal satisfaction of helping others, but for financial reasons.