hat can you expect to make as a nurse? That depends on many factors, including your location and cost of living, education, level of experience, certifications and specialization.

The national average for registered nurses is $40,692. Licensed practical nurses average $26,940 and certified nurse aides average $7.99 an hour.

A recent survey conducted by the Springhouse Corporation showed the following average salaries for registered nurses by region:

Pacific	$41,562
Mountain	$39,916
West North Central	$34,204
West South Central	$37,406
East North Central	$38,692
East South Central	$35,852
South Atlantic	$38,676
Middle Atlantic	$41,944
New England	$39,597

SpringNet 2000 Salary Survey

Average RN Salaries by Region

The most recent salary survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics determined the following average salaries for Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nurse Aides:

Median annual earnings of registered nurses were $40,690 in 1998. The middle 50 percent earned between $34,430 and $49,070 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,480 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $69,300 a year. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of registered nurses in 1997 were as follows:

Personnel supply services	$43,000
Hospitals	39,900
Home health care services	39,200
Offices and clinics of medical doctors	36,500
Nursing and personal care facilities	36,300

Many employers offer flexible work schedules, child care, educational benefits, and bonuses.

Median annual earnings of licensed practical nurses were $26,940 in 1998. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,160 and $31,870 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,210 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $37,540 a year. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of licensed practical nurses in 1997 were as follows:

Personnel supply services	$30,200
Hospitals	25,300
Home health care services	27,600
Offices and clinics of medical doctors	24,500
Nursing and personal care facilities	26,200

Median hourly earnings of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants were $7.99 in 1998. The middle 50 percent earned between $6.72 and $9.54 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $5.87 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $11.33 an hour. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants in 1997 were as follows:

Personnel supply services	$8.10
Hospitals	8.10
Residential care	7.20
Local government (except education & hospitals)	9.20
Nursing and personal care facilities	7.50

Median hourly earnings of psychiatric aides were $10.66 in 1998. The middle 50 percent earned between $8.33 and $13.36 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.87 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $15.28 an hour. Median hourly earnings of psychiatric aides in 1997 were $11.20 in State government and $9.80 in hospitals.

Aides in hospitals generally receive at least 1 week’s paid vacation after 1 year of service. Paid holidays and sick leave, hospital and medical benefits, extra pay for late-shift work, and pension plans also are available to many hospital and some nursing home employees.

PLEASE NOTE: The material in this publication is within the public domain and has been reprinted here from the Occupational Outlook Handbook (Division of Occupational Outlook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20212. Phone: (202) 691-5700. Fax: (202) 691-5745. E-mail: oohinfo@bls.gov.). To view other articles from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, please visit the BLS.