Career guide · BLS-backed salary data
How to become a registered nurse
What the job actually involves, what it pays (real U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures), the licensure you'll need, ADN vs BSN entry paths — and the free courses that can help you start.
The role
What registered nurses do
The BLS occupation is titled Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141). RNs assess patient health problems and needs, develop and carry out care plans, administer medications and treatments, monitor and record symptoms, and educate patients and families on managing illness and injury.
The work spans hospitals, outpatient clinics, physician offices, home health agencies, nursing care facilities, and schools. Specialties develop with experience — emergency, intensive care, pediatrics, oncology, perioperative, community health — and some RNs advance into nurse practitioner, educator, or leadership roles with further education.
It is physically and emotionally demanding work — long shifts, difficult moments, and real responsibility for patient safety. It is also consistently among the most trusted professions, with direct, tangible impact on people's lives every shift.
Pay · labeled estimates
What registered nurses earn
The figures below are estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 edition (United States, national, all industries; USD per year). They describe what U.S. workers in this occupation actually earn — they are not a quote for any individual job offer.
25th percentile
$80,330
Early-career earners in the occupation
Median
$97,550
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$112,350
Experienced earners in the occupation
For the full breakdown with the experience-band model, see our registered nurse salary estimates or try the interactive salary estimator.
Getting in
Licensure and entry paths
Step 1 — Complete an accredited program
An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN, typically 2 years) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN, typically 4 years) from an accredited program. Both qualify you for licensure; some hospitals prefer the BSN.
Step 2 — Pass the NCLEX-RN
The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses is required in every U.S. state. Apply through your state board of nursing; most graduates sit for it within months of finishing school.
Step 3 — State license
Passing the NCLEX-RN earns you a state RN license. The Nurse Licensure Compact lets nurses in member states practice across state lines with one multistate license — worth knowing if you may relocate.
Step 4 — Keep growing
Many employers fund continuing education and RN-to-BSN programs. Specialties, certifications (CCRN, CEN, and others), and advanced degrees open higher-responsibility roles later.
Previewing the material helps. Our free nursing courses list includes open textbooks and ANCC-accredited CE courses that cost nothing — verified on each provider's own site.
FAQ
Registered nurse career questions
- What does a registered nurse actually do day to day?
- Registered nurses assess patients' health problems and needs, develop and implement care plans, administer medications and treatments, maintain medical records, and educate patients and families about managing illness. The day mixes direct patient care, clinical documentation, and coordination with physicians and other care team members — in hospitals, clinics, home health, and long-term care settings.
- What salary can a registered nurse expect?
- As an estimate based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 edition: the 25th percentile is $80,330 per year, the median is $97,550, and the 75th percentile is $112,350. These are national U.S. figures describing what workers actually earn — an estimate, not a quote for any individual job offer.
- Do I need a BSN to become a registered nurse?
- Not always. Both an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) qualify you to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. Some hospitals — especially those pursuing Magnet status — prefer or require BSNs, and many employers offer tuition support for ADN nurses to complete RN-to-BSN programs while working.
- What is the NCLEX-RN?
- The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is the exam every nurse must pass to practice as an RN in the U.S. It tests the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for safe entry-level practice — safe care, pharmacology, health promotion, and clinical judgment. You apply through your state board of nursing after completing an accredited program.
- Is nursing school hard to get into?
- Competitive programs can be — many have GPA prerequisites, entrance exams like the TEAS, and limited clinical placements. Applications are strongest with solid science grades, completed prerequisites (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry), and any healthcare exposure such as CNA work or volunteering. The free resources below include open textbooks that can help you preview the material.
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