Nursing one of largest, best paid occupations, U.S. Department of Labor reports
With a total of 2.4 million RNs in the workforce last year, nursing ranks as one of the largest occupations in the United States, according to an analysis by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Bureau used data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey in 2006 which provides employment and wage estimates for 22 major occupational groups and 801 specific jobs. The survey results show that nearly 1.4 million nurses worked in the general medical and surgical hospital industry, with the remainder in a variety of other settings.
The bureau also found that nursing was one of the highest-paying large occupations, with RNs commanding a mean hourly wage of $28.71—or $59,730 per year. Nearly 60% of RNs worked in general medical and surgical hospitals, where they earned an average hourly wage of $29.31. While RNs also worked at a range of other employers, including physician offices, home health care services, and nursing care facilities, those working for employment agencies earned the top mean wage, averaging $31.36 per hour and $65,230 per year. Unsurprisingly, the report also notes that RN wages varied significantly depending on geography, with nurses in certain areas of California earning an average hourly rate of $44.42, compared with $19.70 in certain parts of central Virginia.
To view the full report, visit http://www.bls.gov/oes/