OccupationHQ6 countries · 20 careers

Career profile · Healthcare

Registered Nurse

Pay, outlook, entry requirements and what the work is like.

O*NET-SOC 29-1141.00Registered NurseLocal occupation match
Compare this career →Explore related careers →Find career moves →

United States facts

Pay, opportunity and entry

United States figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 and 2024–34 employment projections.

Median annual earnings$97,550May 2025 / 2024–2034
Median annual earnings$97,550May 2025 / 2024–2034
Current employment3.4MMay 2025 / 2024–2034
Projected growth4.9%May 2025 / 2024–2034
Annual openings189.1KMay 2025 / 2024–2034
Typical educationBachelor’s degreeMay 2025 / 2024–2034
Training / credentialLicensure requiredMay 2025 / 2024–2034

Missing, suppressed and stale facts are never replaced with another country’s values. Annualised figures and benchmarks are identified in their labels and source notes.

Work characteristics

What the work is like

Occupation percentiles, not ratings. Work signals are native O*NET occupation percentiles.

Social interaction88
contact, teamwork and public-facing work
Physical demand58
movement, posture and hands-on activity
Pressure exposure80
time pressure, conflict and consequences
Analytical content79
analysis, reasoning and problem-solving
People-oriented91
helping, service and relationship work
Technical content48
technology, systems and troubleshooting

Useful foundations

  • Active listening
  • Critical thinking
  • Social perceptiveness

Thinking about a change?

Start from Registered Nurse.

Set what matters most and see six realistic alternatives with their trade-offs.

Find my next career →

Compare this option

Choices worth considering

Closely related patient-care paths with different entry and work settings.Registered Nurse vs Dental HygienistCompare these careers →Common healthcare decision with useful pay, training and work-context trade-offs.Registered Nurse vs Medical SonographerCompare these careers →Two nursing pathways with different education, scope and earning profiles.Registered Nurse vs Enrolled NurseCompare these careers →Patient-care careers with different diagnostic, technical and clinical responsibilities.Registered Nurse vs Radiologic TechnologistCompare these careers →Healthcare professions balancing direct care, rehabilitation and entry requirements.Registered Nurse vs Occupational TherapistCompare these careers →High-interest healthcare choice with distinct physical, clinical and training demands.Registered Nurse vs PhysiotherapistCompare these careers →

Career changes

Where this option could lead

See transferable strengths, qualification gaps and the realities of making each switch.

A high-intent clinical move from broad nursing care toward diagnostic imaging.Registered Nurse → Medical SonographerView career change →A healthcare transition retaining direct-care experience with a different practice focus.Registered Nurse → Occupational TherapistView career change →A move from broad clinical care toward diagnostic technical work.Registered Nurse → Radiologic TechnologistView career change →A regulated healthcare move from nursing care toward movement and rehabilitation practice.Registered Nurse → PhysiotherapistView career change →A clinical transition toward a narrower preventive-care scope and more consistent schedule signal.Registered Nurse → Dental HygienistView career change →A difficult but realistic route toward health-information and organisational systems work.Registered Nurse → Systems AnalystView career change →

Explore another career

Dental Hygienist→Medical Sonographer→Enrolled Nurse→Radiologic Technologist→

Other countries

Sources and dates

What this profile uses

See the complete data-source register and OccupationHQ methodology.