The average starting BSN salary is $55,805. This represents the average amount you can earn during your first year as a registered nurse with a BSN. Things like the state, city, and your employer of choice will have the most impact on your salary immediately after you graduate.
There are two main ways that employers will typically help their employees pay for their online RN to BSN degree. They are through Tuition Reimbursement or through Career Ladder Programs.
7 Things You Can Do with a BSN Degree - Besides Nursing
- Become a nurse educator.
- Pursue a leadership role.
- Explore careers in Information Technology (IT)
- Consider work-from-home nursing jobs.
- Work for an insurance company.
- Consider a career in pharmaceuticals.
- Explore your other patient care options.
Highest Paying States for Nurses with a BSN
- California: Annual salary of $106,950.
- Hawaii: Annual salary of $98,080.
- D.C.: Annual salary of $92,350.
- Massachusetts: Annual salary of $92,140.
- Oregon: Annual salary of $91,080.
A registered nurse (RN) who holds a bachelor's degree of science in nursing has more job opportunities than a RN with only an associates degree in nursing (ADN). Since there are more job prospects for registered nurses with BSN degrees, the level of their pay also increases due to the demand for BSN graduates.
The highest paying nursing jobs are:
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist - $181,040.
- General Nurse Practitioner - $111,840.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist - $106,028.
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner - $105,658.
- Certified Nurse Midwife - $108,810.
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse - $102,487.
- Pain Management Nurse - $101,916.
The starting salary of a Registered Nurse can range from around $28,000-$50,000 per year, depending on location and job industry. The starting hourly wage of an RN can range from $16.50-26.00 per hour. This salary will increase over time as nurses gain experience, certifications, and specialize in a specific area.
One of the easiest ways to explain why a registered nurse makes so much is to think about supply and demand. The higher the demand for highly skilled and trained registered nurses, the more likely they are to receive a higher salary as an incentive to get them to work for the healthcare facility.
As of Jan 14, 2021, the average hourly pay for a RN in the United States is $33.81 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $51.20 and as low as $16.83, the majority of RN wages currently range between $27.16 (25th percentile) to $37.74 (75th percentile) across the United States.
You're headed for a great career, one that's rewarding, challenging, and always exciting. But nursing school is notoriously difficult. Most nursing programs require high GPAs and impressive scores in math, chemistry, biology, psychology, and other demanding subjects. It's also extremely fulfilling.
You can earn an associate degree and become a licensed RN in about 2 years. You can gain essential work experience in the field sooner than others. You can also start building connections in nursing, and with patients, sooner. You can save money by earning an associate, rather than a four-year degree.
On average, the 2-year nursing degree salary is just over $56,000 per year or $26.45 per hour. Geography plays a role in nursing salaries, with nurses in large cities like New York and Los Angeles earning more than 25 percent above the national average.
The certified registered nurse anesthetist consistently ranks as the highest paid nursing career. That is because Nurse Anesthetists are advanced and highly skilled registered nurses who work closely with medical staff during medical procedures that require anesthesia.
The American Association of the Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has collected extensive research that indicates that higher nursing education makes a major difference in clinical outcomes. Nurses with a BSN have better patient outcomes, including lower mortality rates and lower failure to rescue rates as well.
The fact that many healthcare employers prefer the BSN degree drives competition for BSN nurses. This can in turn increase salaries for BSN-prepared nurses. BSN nurses may also find it easier to move up the nursing career ladder for this reason, earning more at each rung.
The Associate's degree in Nursing, or ADN, is a 2-year degree and is the minimum amount of school required to become licensed as a registered nurse, or RN. Once the student graduates, he or she is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination which must be passed to become licensed by the State.
7 Tips for surviving nursing school stress
- Practice an after-class-recap.
- Find a solid study group.
- Mix exercise into your study sessions.
- Begin a study session with simple meditation.
- Journal before bed.
- Figure out what enhances your mood.
- Eat well & nurture your body.
Can I Still Work While Attending an RN to BSN Program? Yes! And not only can you work, but most schools require it! Maintaining full-time employment as a registered nurse during the RN to BSN program is encouraged by most schools.
9 BSN (and beyond) jobs employers are looking to fill
- Registered nurse at a hospital.
- Clinical nurse specialists.
- Nurse manager.
- Nursing director.
- Nurse educator.
- Clinical research nurse.
- Public health nurse.
- Quality assurance or improvement coordinator.
Quick Summary: Nursing school is worth it if nursing as a career is a good fit for you. Knowing what to expect, how your life will change, and what resources are available to you will help you get the most out of your experience.
The Basic Steps to Get Your BSN Degree
- Get your high school diploma or your GED diploma.
- Apply to an Accredited BSN Program and go through the application process.
- Apply for Financial Aid, if needed.
- Attend the program and complete its requirements.
- Apply for RN licensure and take the NCLEX-RN® exam.
Pursuing a bachelor's — Tuition fees for a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) range anywhere from $40,000 to well over $100,000 each year in private institutions and large universities.
