Here are 58 statistics to know on the job market and salaries for nurses.
Medscape released their RN/LPN Compensation Report for 2018. Medscape surveyed 10,282 nurses about their annual earnings, which were calculated based on 2017 compensation.
1. The average full-time earnings for registered nurses and licensed vocational nurse were $81,000 and $46,000, respectively in 2017.
2. The average full-time earnings for RNs in 2016 were $80,000 for 2017. Average salaries for LPNs did not change from 2016.
3. Medscape said their findings suggest RN and LPN wages would flatten in the future, which may be due to older and higher paid nurses retiring.
4. Fewer RNs and LPNs reported working full time in 2017 compared to 2016, with 75 percent of RNs working full time and 80 percent of LPNs in 2017. Eighty-one percent of RNs worked full time in 2016, and 82 percent of LPNs worked full time in 2016.
5. RNs reported making $37 per hour on average, compared to $22 for LPNs.
6. Salaried RNs make $84,000 per year on average, slightly more than RNs paid by the hour, who report $78,000 per year in average compensation. Salaried LPNs are paid $51,000, compared to LPNs paid by the hour, who report $45,000 in average compensation.
7. Male nurses made on average $4,000 more per year than female nurses. Only 8 to 10 percent of nurses are men, according to Medscape. Hourly wages were about the same for men and women, with male and female RNs making on average $37 per hour. Male LPNs made on average $23 an hour, compared to $22 for female LPNs.
8. Male nurses were more likely to take higher-paying positions than women, and were more likely to work overtime, according to the report.
WalletHub released its 2018 Best & Worst States for Nurses report offering a glimpse into the nursing industry. WalletHub weighed state performance data across 21 relevant metrics to compile its statistics and scores.
These are the best states for nurses to work in, with their overall score.
9. Maine: 62.96
10. Montana: 62.07
11. Washington: 61.41
12. Wyoming: 61.31
13. New Mexico: 61.11
14. Minnesota: 60.87
15. Arizona: 59.89
16. New Hampshire: 59.39
17. Oregon: 59.17
18. Colorado: 58.67
Here are the worst states and areas for nurses to work in, with their overall score.
19. Washington, D.C.: 33.08
20. Hawaii: 38.49
21. Vermont: 44.88
22. Alabama: 45.58
23. Louisiana: 46.27
24. Tennessee: 47.62
25. New York: 47.80
26. Oklahoma: 47.95
27. Mississippi: 48.16
28. Ohio: 48.26
These states and areas have the most job openings per capita.
29. Vermont
30. Washington, D.C.
31. Maine
32. North Dakota
33. Alaska
These states have the fewest job openings per capita
34. Mississippi
35. Utah
36. Nevada
37. Alabama
38. Arizona
These states have the highest salaries.
39. Arizona
40. Nevada
41. Wyoming
42. Michigan
43. Texas
These states and areas have the lowest salaries.
44. Hawaii
45. Washington, D.C.
46. Maryland
47. Vermont
48. New York
WalletHub projects these states to have the lowest amount of competition for jobs by 2024.
49. Nevada
50. Alaska
51. California
52. Utah
53. Washington
These states and areas could have the highest amount of competition by 2024.
54. Washington, D.C.
55. North Dakota
56. South Dakota
57. Nebraska
58. Maryland