Associate’s Degree in Nursing

Salaries for Nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing

The median annual salary for registered nurses is $86,070, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This number includes nurses with an Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). But salaries can vary widely based on education and other factors.

In this Article

Nursing Salary Comparisons | Salary Compared to Other Healthcare Careers | Factors that Influence Salaries | How to Increase Your Earnings

Pursuing an ADN is one of the fastest ways to launch your career as a registered nurse (RN) and reap the financial rewards that go with it.

As a new graduate, you’ll qualify for many of the same positions as nurses with a BSN, though you may notice a difference in pay rates. For example, for staff nurses, who work in hospitals, RNs with a BSN can sometimes earn about 8% more, says Joseph A. Dunmire, a board member of the National Association for Health Care Recruitment (NAHCR).

How Does ADN Pay Compare to Other Entry-level Nursing Jobs?

An RN’s salary is a big step up from pay for lower-level nursing jobs such as certified nursing assistant (CNA) and licensed practical nurse (LPN). That’s because registered nurses are more skilled, have greater responsibilities, and sometimes supervise nursing assistants and LPNs. As such they are in a position to demand higher pay, when compared to the salary of a CNA for example.

Entry-Level Nursing Salary Comparison

Registered Nurses

National data

Median Salary: $86,070

Projected job growth: 5.6%

10th Percentile: $63,720

25th Percentile: $75,990

75th Percentile: $104,670

90th Percentile: $132,680

Projected job growth: 5.6%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$65,900	$50,310	$92,870
Alaska	$106,410	$82,980	$132,090
Arizona	$88,310	$70,060	$109,750
Arkansas	$72,920	$45,200	$96,040
California	$133,990	$83,510	$194,240
Colorado	$86,900	$70,790	$112,800
Connecticut	$100,620	$78,370	$127,150
Delaware	$93,200	$73,800	$122,670
District of Columbia	$105,220	$75,340	$136,120
Florida	$80,960	$63,520	$105,580
Georgia	$83,620	$63,450	$124,330
Hawaii	$129,210	$81,070	$145,940
Idaho	$80,130	$62,210	$105,300
Illinois	$82,470	$63,900	$105,140
Indiana	$78,530	$61,710	$103,710
Iowa	$71,570	$61,250	$90,800
Kansas	$75,780	$58,760	$94,900
Kentucky	$77,830	$61,520	$101,770
Louisiana	$76,650	$60,720	$101,650
Maine	$81,610	$64,600	$107,240
Maryland	$89,340	$66,880	$114,440
Massachusetts	$99,730	$74,010	$166,100
Michigan	$81,710	$67,450	$101,610
Minnesota	$97,300	$73,050	$120,420
Mississippi	$69,370	$54,580	$100,160
Missouri	$77,190	$56,690	$99,330
Montana	$79,170	$64,530	$104,970
Nebraska	$78,100	$61,770	$99,410
Nevada	$96,210	$77,160	$132,010
New Hampshire	$86,620	$66,620	$109,930
New Jersey	$100,160	$77,700	$127,750
New Mexico	$83,970	$68,120	$124,800
New York	$104,570	$69,450	$136,780
North Carolina	$79,580	$62,980	$104,190
North Dakota	$74,930	$63,920	$95,680
Ohio	$79,940	$64,480	$105,380
Oklahoma	$78,760	$61,360	$101,390
Oregon	$110,940	$86,730	$136,950
Pennsylvania	$82,780	$64,820	$109,740
Rhode Island	$94,840	$69,350	$116,510
South Carolina	$78,380	$60,780	$98,980
South Dakota	$67,030	$54,780	$85,400
Tennessee	$76,200	$55,510	$98,090
Texas	$85,110	$64,580	$115,740
Utah	$79,790	$64,950	$102,000
Vermont	$81,900	$65,390	$110,680
Virginia	$84,100	$63,710	$115,120
Washington	$107,720	$82,630	$139,390
West Virginia	$78,730	$50,650	$99,440
Wisconsin	$83,300	$69,240	$105,110
Wyoming	$79,970	$62,400	$105,800

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

National data

Median Salary: $59,730

Projected job growth: 5.3%

10th Percentile: $45,670

25th Percentile: $50,640

75th Percentile: $67,140

90th Percentile: $77,870

Projected job growth: 5.3%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$48,330	$33,710	$61,530
Alaska	$75,610	$57,740	$93,540
Arizona	$65,500	$54,060	$77,190
Arkansas	$48,790	$38,100	$60,390
California	$75,610	$61,500	$96,790
Colorado	$64,720	$50,680	$77,240
Connecticut	$65,670	$57,230	$78,930
Delaware	$63,190	$53,080	$72,460
District of Columbia	$67,700	$55,320	$81,020
Florida	$56,730	$45,780	$68,750
Georgia	$54,770	$41,350	$69,220
Hawaii	$61,110	$51,420	$74,100
Idaho	$55,610	$26,580	$74,210
Illinois	$62,600	$49,160	$79,440
Indiana	$60,500	$48,170	$72,470
Iowa	$54,460	$46,440	$65,390
Kansas	$55,540	$42,200	$66,860
Kentucky	$56,040	$43,710	$64,790
Louisiana	$50,000	$39,200	$61,840
Maine	$63,950	$51,240	$124,330
Maryland	$64,510	$52,110	$80,150
Massachusetts	$73,380	$62,230	$82,850
Michigan	$61,850	$47,840	$74,400
Minnesota	$58,870	$48,820	$69,090
Mississippi	$48,260	$37,540	$60,170
Missouri	$56,030	$43,990	$64,410
Montana	$55,840	$42,640	$68,460
Nebraska	$57,580	$43,410	$65,660
Nevada	$64,920	$52,490	$78,770
New Hampshire	$70,620	$54,350	$90,260
New Jersey	$64,620	$57,940	$76,510
New Mexico	$60,370	$36,570	$73,680
New York	$62,360	$49,250	$76,890
North Carolina	$58,590	$47,130	$70,160
North Dakota	$57,910	$49,100	$67,350
Ohio	$58,130	$46,310	$70,420
Oklahoma	$50,510	$39,960	$61,680
Oregon	$71,040	$59,210	$84,300
Pennsylvania	$59,650	$47,020	$72,270
Rhode Island	$76,840	$61,190	$102,540
South Carolina	$56,710	$45,740	$67,380
South Dakota	$49,610	$38,660	$59,010
Tennessee	$49,780	$37,230	$62,370
Texas	$57,010	$45,100	$70,530
Utah	$57,200	$40,730	$74,500
Vermont	$62,550	$49,210	$80,130
Virginia	$58,200	$45,000	$72,800
Washington	$76,190	$59,190	$92,540
West Virginia	$47,610	$38,320	$63,240
Wisconsin	$57,150	$48,520	$68,910
Wyoming	$57,470	$48,080	$71,410

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Nursing Assistants

National data

Median Salary: $38,200

Projected job growth: 4.1%

10th Percentile: $30,020

25th Percentile: $34,990

75th Percentile: $44,540

90th Percentile: $48,780

Projected job growth: 4.1%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$30,540	$23,910	$37,470
Alaska	$45,480	$40,060	$58,270
Arizona	$39,920	$34,760	$47,870
Arkansas	$31,230	$25,990	$37,610
California	$45,170	$37,800	$59,490
Colorado	$42,520	$36,760	$51,900
Connecticut	$40,890	$37,100	$50,530
Delaware	$38,240	$31,200	$46,130
District of Columbia	$46,220	$38,490	$58,590
Florida	$36,340	$30,400	$43,970
Georgia	$34,710	$26,580	$44,800
Hawaii	$44,080	$36,560	$54,270
Idaho	$37,120	$29,120	$45,320
Illinois	$39,510	$34,940	$47,720
Indiana	$36,790	$30,410	$45,190
Iowa	$37,340	$31,930	$45,640
Kansas	$35,450	$30,080	$42,970
Kentucky	$36,510	$28,180	$44,190
Louisiana	$29,070	$23,470	$37,080
Maine	$43,120	$36,750	$49,130
Maryland	$38,620	$32,920	$49,130
Massachusetts	$44,200	$36,830	$53,290
Michigan	$37,940	$33,960	$44,630
Minnesota	$41,940	$36,450	$50,600
Mississippi	$29,310	$22,590	$36,400
Missouri	$36,260	$29,550	$42,720
Montana	$37,970	$31,620	$51,760
Nebraska	$37,530	$32,090	$45,700
Nevada	$42,200	$35,210	$60,880
New Hampshire	$43,940	$35,400	$56,690
New Jersey	$41,450	$36,410	$49,980
New Mexico	$35,400	$29,260	$46,060
New York	$45,890	$35,440	$55,810
North Carolina	$36,010	$27,630	$43,180
North Dakota	$40,650	$33,780	$47,870
Ohio	$38,030	$30,990	$46,560
Oklahoma	$33,320	$27,910	$38,570
Oregon	$46,260	$38,010	$58,050
Pennsylvania	$38,540	$33,780	$46,170
Rhode Island	$41,600	$36,620	$50,610
South Carolina	$35,090	$26,880	$41,140
South Dakota	$35,720	$29,430	$43,410
Tennessee	$35,040	$28,590	$42,050
Texas	$35,110	$28,500	$44,320
Utah	$37,270	$30,370	$44,770
Vermont	$40,460	$35,980	$47,880
Virginia	$36,820	$28,500	$46,200
Washington	$46,000	$38,530	$54,620
West Virginia	$35,490	$29,280	$40,520
Wisconsin	$40,010	$35,220	$45,910
Wyoming	$36,710	$33,260	$46,260

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

“An ADN is a great entry-level into healthcare and into nursing,” says Keith Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC, and a board-certified nurse coach, nursing career expert, and host of the nursing career podcast “The Nurse Keith Show.” “It’s a great option for someone who wants to go beyond practical nursing or a diploma-based study program.

“For someone who’s not sure, for someone who doesn’t want to go into greater debt, and they’d like to get out of school as quickly as possible and earn a living, then the ADN is the faster path.”

How Does ADN Pay Compared to Other Healthcare Jobs that Require an Associate Degree?

Many other healthcare occupations also have entry-level opportunities at the associate degree level. Here’s how some of them stack up against RNs in terms of salary, according to the BLS.

Career	Median Annual Salary
Registered Nurses	$86,070
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	$73,410
Respiratory Therapists	$77,960
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	$84,470
Dental Hygienists	$87,530

Your Salary Can Depend on Many Factors

There’s much more in play than just education: The salary you earn with an ADN may also depend on factors such as where you live, your position, your employer, and your experience.

Registered nurses have the highest employment of all healthcare occupations, the BLS says, so you’ll find a wide range of opportunities to explore. This demand is largely due to a nursing shortage that’s expected to grow in the coming years.

The salary you earn with an ADN may depend on factors such as where you live, your position, your employer, and your experience.

Here are four factors that could influence your salary.

The Care You Provide

Many hospitals look for nurses with a BSN, but many other healthcare settings offer opportunities for nurses with an ADN.

“Long-term care, medical-surgical nursing, rehabilitation, mental health nursing, and home care nursing are areas that readily hire ADN-prepared nurses,” says Damion Jenkins, RN, MSN, an NCLEX prep expert, nurse educator, and CEO of The Nurse Speak. “Some of the more specialized areas, such as pediatrics, maternal newborn, ICU and OR, typically require that their nurses have more experience and therefore would most likely hire BSN-prepared new grads, if a new grad position were available.”

Specialization

Earning a certification in a nursing specialty could increase your job opportunities and earning potential. “The whole issue in the marketplace when you’re looking for work is, ‘How do I differentiate myself from my competition? What makes me different?'” Carlson says.

Requirements for certification vary by specialty. Many require one to five years of practice or a minimum number of hours in the specialty.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers credentials in nine nursing specialties, including pediatrics and pain management. Many specialty nursing organizations offer certifications as well.

Requirements for certification vary by specialty. Many require one to five years of practice or a minimum number of hours in the specialty.

Where You Work

Your healthcare setting can make a substantial difference in your pay, as this chart shows.

Outpatient Care Centers

Provide outpatient care services directly or indirectly to ambulatory patients

Annual RN Salary: $97,200

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals

Provide medical, diagnostic, treatment, and special accommodation services to inpatients and may provide outpatient services as a secondary service

Annual RN Salary: $90,600

Home Healthcare Services

Provide skilled nursing services, including high-tech care such as IV therapy, in the home

Annual RN Salary: $89,920

Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)

Provide a mix of health and social services in a residential care setting

Annual RN Salary: $77,190

Where You Live

Your physical location can also influence your pay. This can be due to the demand for nurses or the cost of living in an area.

The top 10 highest-paying areas in the nation are in California, according to the BLS.

Metro Area	Median Annual Salary
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	$187,080
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$181,240
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$179,210
Napa, CA	$170,200
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	$157,810
Santa Rosa, CA	$147,010
Chico, CA	$136,250
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$136,090
Salinas, CA	$135,130
Urban Honolulu, HI	$133,820

How to Increase Your Earnings

As a nurse with an ADN, you have many options to increase your earnings. It all depends on your goals.

Overtime: From a practical standpoint, you may have the opportunity to work overtime or earn a premium on overnight shifts, weekends, or holidays.
Union membership: If you end up joining a union, you could have support in the form of collective bargaining for higher wages.
Certifications and fellowships: These can raise your earnings by adding to your expertise and experience.
Pursue a higher degree: If you decide to return to school, an ADN to BSN program, a degree that can help you move into positions with more responsibility and higher pay, is an excellent foundation.

Employers that encourage nurses to pursue a BSN often have tuition reimbursement programs, which can ease financial concerns. And many schools have online programs, which can give students the flexibility to work while they’re in school.