Registered Nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
Also called: Cardiac Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse), Cardiac Nurse Specialist, Central Supply Nurse, Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR), Charge Nurse, Circulating Nurse
Median pay
$97,550
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$68,940 – $137,470
People employed
3,379,720
Holland code
SCI
Social · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 3.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 4.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
The hard parts
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Tight deadlines are common
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Registered Nurses pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What registered nurses do
- 01Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- 02Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- 03Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- 04Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- 05Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- 06Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Administrative
Work styles that stand out
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from registered nurses
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses77% · −34%
- Genetic Counselors70% · +3%
- Clinical Research Coordinators70% · group pay
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary69% · +10%
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary68% · −18%
Change into registered nurses
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses90% · $64,400
- Midwives88% · $65,790
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary85% · $80,250
- Medical Assistants84% · $45,690
- Nursing Assistants84% · $42,260
Majors that lead here
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Nursing Administration
- Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
- Family Practice Nurse/Nursing
- Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing
- Nursing Science
- Pediatric Nurse/Nursing
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing
- Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing
- Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Critical Care Nursing
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.