Associate Degree in Nursing
State Guides to ADN Nurse Salaries
How Much Do Nurses With an Associate Degree Make?
The median annual salary for registered nurses (RNs) is $97,550, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This number includes nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). But salaries can vary widely based on education and other factors.
Key Takeaways
- ADN nurses typically earn more than lower-level nursing jobs like certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), but may earn less than RNs with a BSN.
- Factors influencing ADN salary include care type, specialization, workplace setting and geographical location.
- Healthcare settings like outpatient care centers offer the highest RN salaries, followed by hospitals and home healthcare.
- Many opportunities exist for ADN nurses to increase earnings through certification and specialization.
In this Article
Overview | Nursing Salary Comparisons | Salary Compared to Other Healthcare Careers | Factors that Influence Salaries | How to Increase Your Earnings | FAQ
ADN Overview
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, said 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
“An ADN is a great entry-level into healthcare and into nursing,” said 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.
What Factors Affect ADN Salaries?
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,” said 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 said.
Requirements for certification vary by specialty. For instance, 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.
Ambulatory Healthcare Services
Perform outpatient services in setting such as physician offices, home healthcare and outpatient care centers.
Median Annual RN Salary: $91,230
Hospitals
Provide medical, diagnostic, treatment, and special accommodation services to inpatients and may provide outpatient services as a secondary service.
Median Annual RN Salary: $100,220
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
Provide ongoing care to patients living in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, adult family homes and more.
Median Annual RN Salary: $84,300
Government, Excluding State and Local Education and Hospitals
Work for government agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD) or other federal or local agencies.
Median Annual RN Salary: $110,780
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.
Many of the top 10 highest-paying areas in the nation are in California, according to the BLS.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ADN nurses make less than BSN nurses?
In some positions and healthcare organizations, nurses with a BSN may earn more than nurses with an ADN. However, the difference is not universal. ADN- and BSN-prepared nurses can both qualify to become registered nurses and may perform many of the same clinical duties. Pay differences often depend on the employer, job responsibilities, experience and local hiring practices.
Can an ADN nurse make six figures?
Yes, an ADN-prepared nurse may be able to earn a six-figure salary. Location, years of experience, specialty, overtime, shift differentials and employer all affect earning potential. Registered nurses in some high-paying states and metropolitan areas earn median salaries above $100,000, although the BLS does not report those figures separately by nursing degree.
What is the starting salary for an ADN nurse?
Starting salaries for ADN-prepared registered nurses vary widely depending on where they work and live. New graduates typically earn less than experienced RNs, but entry-level pay may also be affected by the healthcare employer, local demand for nurses, shift differentials and whether the position is in a hospital, clinic, long-term care facility or another setting.
Is an ADN worth it financially?
An ADN can be a financially worthwhile option for students who want to become registered nurses without initially completing a four-year bachelor’s degree. ADN programs can provide a faster route to RN eligibility, and many are available through community colleges, which may cost less than four-year programs. Whether an ADN is worth it depends on factors such as the cost of the program, available financial aid, local RN salaries and a student’s long-term career goals.