A huge advantage to becoming a registered nurse is the salary you can expect. Because nurses are in such high demand, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities are willing to pay top dollar for employees in this field. Although getting your nursing education may at first seem expensive, the cost is well worth the payout, with the schooling paying for itself is just a few years.

How much can you expect to make as a registered nurse? The exact amount depends on a number of variables, including location, the facility where you work, and your experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for registered nurses in 2009 was $66,530, with the middle 50% earning between $52,520 and $77, 970 per year. Considering that you only need an associate’s degree to get started as a registered nurse, that’s a pretty healthy wage. Of course, you’ll make more if you go on to get you bachelor of science in nursing, but even with a two-year degree, you can enjoy a relatively high salary.

Location makes a big difference when it comes to the nursing salaries offered. The states with the highest-paid nurse on average, as of 2009, were California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Maryland, and New Jersey. Looking even more closely at lucrative locations to be a nurse, in 2009, the metropolitan areas offering the highest average salaries were as follows:

• Visalia-Porterville, CA: $111,030
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $110,080
• San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division: $98,900
• Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division: $97,280
• Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville, CA: $89,770

Nearly 1.5 million nurses work in hospitals across the country, offering registered nurses an annual salary, on average, of $67,740. You can also find hundreds of thousands of registered nursing jobs in physician offices, home health care facilities, nursing homes, and outpatient care centers. If you want a high-paying nursing job, the best positions, on average can be found in medical equipment and supply manufacturing, the federal government, and civic organizations. In all of these sectors of the industry, registered nurses can make, on average, over $77,000 annually.

The more experience you have as a nurse, the more you can expect to make. According to PayScale.com, new nurses with less than a year of experience can expect to make between $38,113 and $53,556. In contrast, nurses with five to nine years of experience make significantly more – between $46,504 and 65,109. Once you have twenty years or more experience as a nurse, you’ll make even more, with rates averaging up to $72,000.

Remember, you base salary is just a part of your total compensation package. Many hospitals offer nurses a signing bonus to work for them, since nursing is a field with such a high need, and you can also expect to get paid vacation time, health and dental insurance, free on-site education, tuition reimbursement, retirement plans, paid sick days, and access to affordable life insurance. Some health care companies even have day care programs for parents who work there as nurses. So, when comparing offers as a nurse, make sure you look at all the compensation you’ll receive, not just as base salary.

LPN to RN College Programs

Being a licensed practical nurse (LPN) has its limitations. With some additional schooling, an LPN can become a registered nurse (RN), opening doors to more job opportunities and higher salaries. What follows below is a list of schools with the best online LPN to RN degree programs.

LPN to RN (BSN) RN to BSN

Indiana State University — ISU's LPN to BSN degree program is the only online LPN to RN training program in the United States. LPNs and LVNs who complete this program can earn their NLNAC-approved Bachelor of Science degree in nursing entirely online. Upon completion, graduates should meet all of the prerequisites for becoming an RN. For those who are already RNs, ISU also offers an RN to BSN program. Read in-depth review of Indiana State University.

LPN to RN LPN to ADN LPN to BSN

The College Network — Earn your LPN to RN (ADN) degree completely online with no campus attendance and no wait list. Learn from the convenience of home at your own pace, and earn an NLNAC-accredited associate's degree in less time and for less money than traditional campus programs.

Other Nursing Colleges Not Offering LPN to RN Programs

BS in Nursing RN to MSN MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Informatics MSN - Nurse Management	Walden University — Founded in 1970, Walden University is dedicated to providing education for a higher purpose. The Nursing School confers degrees at the bachelor's and master's level, which provides further study in health informatics, nursing education, and nursing leadership/management.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Management	Herzing University — Founded in 1965, Herzing University is dedicated to the enrichment of the next generation. The university's School of Nursing confers online nursing degrees at the bachelor's and master's (nursing management or nursing education) degree levels. The curriculum is designed to represent a wide variety of the nursing spectrum, including surgical, obstetric, pediatric, geriatric, and mental health.
RN to BSN MSN - Acute Care	Liberty University — Liberty University, one of the top-rated online evangelical Christian schools in the nation, integrates the Christian faith and mission into all of its teachings. The Nursing School at Liberty offers an RN to BSN program as well as a master's degree-level nursing program in actute care.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing (MSN) MSN - Adult Health MSN - Nurse Educator Accelerated RN to MSN	South University — South University's College of Nursing offers numerous degree programs for aspiring nurses. Those looking for a BSN degree can enter into the RN to BSN and complete it within 18 months. South also offers the following master's degree-level programs: MS in Nursing (MSN), MSN in adult health nurse practitioning, MSN in nurse education, and an accelerated RN to MSN.
RN to BSN Dual Degree: MBA & MSN MSN - Nursing Education MSN - Nursing Leadership	Grand Canyon University — GCU, often rated the #1 online college in the US, has numerous master's degree programs in nursing that are geared specifically toward current healthcare professionals looking to advance their careers within the industry. They offer a standard RN to BSN degree as well as a dual MSN/MBA degree for business-minded individuals. Additionally, they offer specialty master's degrees in nursing education and nursing leadership.
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