Nursing salaries: $33.67/hr median.
Explore salary data for Nursing roles in healthcare.
Showing 1 titles (1 with pay data) across 1 tracks and 13 states. Latest data as of April 30, 2026.
Compare the tracks that make up Nursing.
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| Role | Category · Track | Median /hr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurse (LPN / LVN) | Nursing · Direct Care | $33.67 | $28.67–$35.50 | 134 |
Nursing pay across every state with live data.
Showing all 5 states with live data. Bars scale to the highest-paying state.
How to become a Nursing.
Nursing covers the broader nursing workforce when a role doesn't fit neatly into the RN, APRN, LPN/LVN, or nursing support buckets. The licensure path is shared across nursing: pass an NCLEX exam (RN or PN) administered by your state board of nursing. From there, scope, autonomy, and pay diverge sharply by license tier (LPN/LVN vs RN vs APRN).
Pick the license tier first: LPN/LVN for the shortest path (12-18 months), RN for hospital-based bedside nursing (2-4 years), APRN for independent practice with prescriptive authority (BSN + RN experience + 2-4 more years). Every step requires graduation from a state-board-approved nursing program plus passing the appropriate NCLEX exam.
| Degree | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Practical / Vocational Nursing diplomaLPN / LVN | 12-18 months | Shortest nursing route. Eligible for NCLEX-PN. Predominantly long-term care, clinic, and home health employment. |
| Associate Degree in NursingADN | 2-3 years | Eligible for NCLEX-RN. Standard community-college nursing entry. Many ADN graduates pursue RN-to-BSN bridge programs while working. |
| Bachelor of Science in NursingBSN | 4 years | Preferred or required by most hospitals, especially Magnet-designated centers. Standard prerequisite for graduate nursing programs. |
| Master of Science in NursingMSN | 2-3 years post-BSN | Required for APRN roles (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA) and most nursing leadership tracks. |
| Doctor of Nursing PracticeDNP | 3-4 years post-BSN | Terminal practice degree for APRNs. Required for CRNA programs starting 2025 and increasingly preferred for executive nursing roles. |
Required to practice as an RN. Eligibility requires graduation from an approved ADN, diploma, or BSN program plus passing NCLEX-RN.
Required to practice as an LPN/LVN. Eligibility requires graduation from an approved practical nursing program plus passing NCLEX-PN.
Required at hire for essentially every patient-facing nursing role.
| Credential | Issued by | Pay impact |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty board certifications CCRN, CEN, CNOR, OCN, RNC-OB, etc. Specialty certifications exist for virtually every nursing area and reliably move pay and scope. Standard upgrade after 1-2 years on a specialty unit. | Specialty boards (AACN, BCEN, CCI, ONCC, NCC) | +5-15% |
- 0-1 yearsNew-grad LPN / RN
Newly licensed nurse, often in a residency or supervised orientation period.
- 1-5 yearsStaff nurse
Independent practice in a specialty setting. Many pick up the relevant specialty certification.
- 5-10 yearsSenior or charge nurse
Shift-level or specialty leadership. Common point at which nurses choose between bedside leadership, education, or APRN school.
- 8+ yearsAdvanced practice or leadership
APRN (NP, CNS, CRNA, CNM) practice, nurse education, or nurse manager / director. Requires MSN or DNP.
Schedule. Wide variation. Hospitals run 24/7 with 12-hour shifts. Clinics run business hours. Home health is largely daytime with travel.
Physical demands. Physically and emotionally demanding in acute care; less physical in clinic, telehealth, and ambulatory roles.
Nursing remains one of the largest and fastest-growing US occupations. RN demand is driven by an aging population and a wave of nurse retirements; APRN demand is driven by primary care and specialty access gaps.