Registered Nurses

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

How to read this profile

BLS projects U.S. employment for Registered Nurses to increase by 5.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 3,465,400 to 3,660,100 jobs. Its estimate of 180,800 annual openings includes replacement needs, so it does not represent current vacancies, contract postings, or freelance demand. The wage ($97,550), education (Bachelor's degree), and related experience (None) figures on this profile describe typical U.S. employees. O*NET skills describe the occupation; they do not assess an individual worker's proficiency.

Base employment (2024)

3,465,400

Projected employment (2034)

3,660,100

Projected change (2024–2034)

6%

Annual openings (projected average)

180,800

Pay & Preparation
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$97,550

Bachelor's degree

None

None

Essential Skills

Active Listening (4.38/5) • Social Perceptiveness (4.25/5) • Reading Comprehension (4.12/5) • Critical Thinking (4.12/5) • Monitoring (4.12/5) • Speaking (4.12/5)

O*NET describes occupational requirements; these ratings do not measure current job-posting frequency or an individual worker’s proficiency.

BLS projections are long-term estimates; annual openings include growth and replacement needs and are not current vacancies.

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