Registered Nurse
Registered Nurses (RNs) are the backbone of the healthcare system, providing comprehensive patient care across diverse settings from hospitals to home health.
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Getting Started
How to Become a Registered Nurse
At 2 years to get started, this is typical for Associate Degree-level careers.
Complete Education
Earn your Associate Degree (typically 2 years) at an estimated cost of $16k–$29k.
Get Licensed or Certified
Complete any state-required licensing or certification exams for registered nurse practice.
Begin Working
Registered Nurse earn a median salary of $94k/yr, with entry-level positions starting somewhat lower.
Education costs from College Scorecard. Training timelines from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Pathway quick answers
- How do you become a Registered Nurse?Complete required education, licensing, and supervised training for Registered Nurse.
- How long does it take?Typical path to first paid role: 2 years.
- How much does it cost?Estimated education and training cost range: $16k-$29k (living expenses excluded).
Estimates use College Scorecard tuition data plus cited pathway and licensing requirements.
Overview
What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
Registered Nurses (RNs) are the backbone of the healthcare system, providing comprehensive patient care across diverse settings from hospitals to home health. You'll assess patient conditions, develop and implement care plans, administer medications and treatments, and serve as a vital link between patients, families, and the broader healthcare team. RNs combine clinical expertise with compassionate care, monitoring vital signs, documenting medical records, and educating patients about their health conditions and treatment plans.
On the Job
Compensation
How Much Does a Registered Nurse Make?
At $94k/yr, registered nurse earn more than most Associate Degree-level careers, where the average is $71k/yr.
$94k/yr
median annual salary
How It Compares
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $94k/yr |
| Physician Assistant | $130k/yr |
| Internal Medicine Physician | $239k/yr |
| Family Medicine Physician | $239k/yr |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129k/yr |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
After investing roughly $23k in education, registered nurse typically begin earning within 2 years. Based on entry-level salaries of $70k/yr growing toward a $94k/yr median. The average education cost for Associate Degree-level careers is $27k.
Registered Nurse ROI
Net earnings over 20 years
$1.6M
Pre-tax 20-year estimate after required education and training costs; taxes and living expenses excluded.
How the 20-year estimate is calculated
Registered Nurse Career ROI (20-year net earnings)
Track how education costs and earnings typically accumulate from enrollment through year 20.
Cumulative net earnings (USD)
The full chart keeps 20-year context. The detail chart below zooms in on early pathway years.
Sources: BLS, College ScorecardSee Sources and methods.
Early-years detail
Years 0-8
Years 0-8. Scaled to early-year values. Black markers show key checkpoints.
Quick answers
- Is becoming a Registered Nurse financially worth it?Typical 20-year net estimate: $1.6M (pre-tax, living expenses excluded).
- How much does training cost for a Registered Nurse?Estimated required education and licensing cost to become a Registered Nurse: $23k (range used: $16k-$29k). Breakdown: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): $22k; NCLEX-RN Licensure Exam: $300.
- How long does it take to become a Registered Nurse?Typical time to first paycheck is about 2 years. Typical time to enter the target Registered Nurse role is about 2 years.
- How do you become a Registered Nurse?See How to Become for pathway steps, timing, and credential requirements.
Detailed math
How 20-year net is built from each training and career phase.
| Phase | Time window | Gross earnings | Education/training cost | Net contribution | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Education | Years 0-1 (m0-m23) | $0 | -$22,327 | -$22,327 | |
NCLEX-RN Licensure Exam Training/Licensing | Year 2 (m24-m24) | $0 | -$300 | -$300 | |
Entry-Level Registered Nurse Career | Years 2-3 (m24-m47) | $187,200 | $0 | $187,200 | |
Model reconciliation Reconciliation | Years 0-20 (m0-m239) | $1,440,000 | $0 | $1,440,000 | None |
| 20-year totals | $1,627,200 | -$22,627 | $1,604,573 | Matches 20-year ROI formula | |
Sources and methods
Sources
Assumptions
- Pathway sequence and timing follow the cited training and licensing pathway for this role.BLS
- Earnings benchmarks come from cited occupation wage references.BLS
- Education and training cost uses College Scorecard tuition and cited pathway fees when needed.College Scorecard
- Cost allocation follows a model rule: short completed steps post in completion year; longer tuition steps are spread across phase years.Model ruleBLSCollege Scorecard
- Taxes and living expenses are excluded from this estimate.Model rule
Future-Proofing
Registered Nurse Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Employment Growth
The BLS projects 6.2% growth over the next decade, roughly in line with the 7.1% average for Associate Degree-level careers.
10-Year Growth
6.2%
Faster than average
Current Employment
3.2 million
jobs nationwide
AI Impact
High AI Impact
Registered Nurse roles face significant AI impact — higher AI exposure than most Associate Degree-level careers. AI independently handles one or more major task components in this field. Core responsibilities like state licensing requirements require human presence and judgment that AI cannot replicate.
Why It's Safe
- +Assisting and caring for others
- +Performing general physical activities
- +Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
- +Handling and moving objects
- +Developing and building teams
What Could Be Automated
- −Documenting/recording information
- −Getting information
- −Making decisions and solving problems
- −Evaluating information to determine compliance with standards
- −Working with computers
Based on evidence-based AI impact methodology and Bureau of Labor Statistics projections
Explore More
Similar Careers to Compare
Physician Assistant
Internal Medicine Physician
Family Medicine Physician
Nurse Practitioner
Emergency Medicine Physician
Learn More
Related Guides
How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN) in Massachusetts
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Sources
These references are used to build salary, training-path, and job-outlook estimates shown on this page.
- •Bureau of Labor Statistics (occupation wage data)
- •O*NET OnLine
- •College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
Advanced Methodology
Education cost source id: college_scorecard_2025
Source update dates: BLS OEWS: 2024-05 · BLS Projections: 2024-09 · O*NET: 2024-12