Nursing 2 Year Salary
More than 2.7 million registered nurses worked in the United States, as of 2011.
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Registered nurses assist physicians and other medical personnel in a variety of settings. There are several educational pathways available to those who desire a nursing career, the most common being a post-secondary certificate, a two-year associate degree, or a four-year bachelor's of science in nursing. Projected pay for a registered nurse depends on a number of factors.
Education
A 2009 salary survey conducted by RN Magazine found that the level of education had little impact on average RN salaries. For example, salaried registered nurses with a two-year degree reported an average income of $65, 698 a year, compared with $65, 891 a year for those with a post-secondary certificate and $63, 580 a year for those with a bachelor's. Among hourly nurses, the results were similar; those with an associate degree averaged $32 per hour, while those with a bachelor's averaged $33. However, an RN with a two-year degree makes significantly more than a licensed practical nurse.
Experience and Specialty Type
Experience is a much better predictor of salary than level of education, according to 2009's RN Magazine salary survey results. Those just entering the profession reported an average salary of $44, 343 per year and hourly wage of $23, while those with between 21 and 30 years of experience averaged significantly more - $70, 268 per year and $37 per hour. The specialty an RN practices may also have a significant effect on earnings. Geriatric nurses reported a very low average wage of $22 per hour, while outpatient nurses reported the highest average pay of $39 per hour.