Congratulations to making the best decision on becoming a nurse, keeping in mind that a nursing salary can be quite rewarding, while the job itself is extremely high in demand. But before diving into the employment market or the nursing school, there are a few things you should look at and consider about the different types of jobs out there.
What Determines The Nursing Salary?
To begin with, let’s take a look at a few factors that may determine the nursing salary. On top of the list is, of course, the type of degree and the years of study, along with the years and type of experience you already have. Secondly, your salary as a nurse will vary greatly depending on location. If you are looking to live in a big city, like New York or Los Angeles, you will most likely make a lot more money. But you should keep in mind that the cost of living will also be higher, so take that into account when deciding where you want to move to. Of course, other factors that influence the nursing salary are the type of work you choose to do and the specialty. And believe it or not, there is a very wide array of nursing careers to choose from.
Given that there is a constant a nursing shortage and it is predicted that there will be a massive deficiency by the year 2020, caused by the ever-growing population, companies are offering all types of bonuses and recruitment incentives on top of the nursing salary. And here we’re talking relocation costs, housing assistance, day care and even tuition reimbursement. Add these up and you will end up with a very attractive nursing salary.
Nursing Salary Paths
Now let’s take a look at some nursing salaries based on various career paths.
If you choose to be a LPN, or a licensed practical nurse, expect to make around $42,000 a year as a starting salary. In order to become a LPN, you will train for one year at a hospital, community college or a vocational school. Afterwards, you will have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination or the NCLEX-PN.
If you want a higher nursing salary, then you should aim to get a 2 year associate or a 4 year bachelor degree in nursing, thus graduate as a Registered Nurse or RN. After this, you will, of course, have to pass the NCLEX-RN exam in order to become a licensed nurse. If you choose to be a RN, expect to start anywhere from $60,000 to $70,000 per year.
The top starting nursing salary you could aim for is, of course, for an Advanced Practice nurse. To become an AP, you must obtain a Master’s degree with a specific focus. Afterwards, you should be able to offer one-to-one care and other services comparable to those offered by a physician. Your salary will range from $80,000, in the case of a family nurse practitioner, to over $150,000 in the case of CRNA or Certified Nurse Anesthetist.
We talked about the clear cut road to a nursing career. But you must know that not all nurses work 12 hour shifts in hospitals, day or night, rain or shine, all holidays and on call, as most people believe. Yes, that may be where you will start, but think of it as great experience you couldn’t get anywhere else and a means to move up in your career. Here are a few ideas of what you could choose to do afterwards and get a great nursing salary too.
If you have an inclination towards computers, you could work as a nurse informatics analyst for about $85,000 a year. There are a lot of opportunities in this field, where you could combine all your nursing knowledge with your love of computers, a well sought-after skill in this day and age. On the same line of thought, you could choose to be a nurse educator, for about $70,000 a year. This type of job is extremely important nowadays, as all nurses have to go through continuous training in their careers.
Given the current situation of the population growth along with longer lifespan, nurses are always in demand. But also keep in mind that, if you’re considering a career in nursing, salary is also an important factor. Take the time to do your due diligence online to make certain that you find a nursing career that you will love based on more than just the nursing salary.