Career Information
In June of 2009, hospitals and care facilities added 21,000 new jobs while the country as a whole eliminated 467,000. Over the next few years, 581,500 more registered nurse jobs will be created—and in addition to those 581,500 jobs, hundreds of thousands of jobs will open up as experienced nurses retire and leave the field. What do all of these large numbers mean? In an otherwise unstable jobs climate, nurses aren't going anywhere. And it's a good thing. From forensic nursing to school nursing, nurses are essential to our everyday health.
To find out more about the growing field of nursing, browse our selection of content and learn about:
- What characteristics you need in order to succeed as a nurse
- Nursing salaries at both the national and metropolitan levels
- Different nursing disciplines and the required training for each
Already the largest profession in the healthcare industry, these growth predictions from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show just how rapidly the field of nursing is expected to grow:
This kind of growth is exciting—which is why it's important to research the field in order to decide on a path that works for you. Experiment with the dropdown menu and use the links provided to learn more detailed information.
Looking to start a career in health care? Learn more about nursing schools in your area.
| Occupation | Employees | Median Annual Salary |
Median Hourly Wage |
Top 25% Annual Salary |
Top 25% Hourly Wage |
2018 Change |
2018 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Health Technicians | 72,650 | $28,700 | $13.80 | $37,500 | $18.00 | 2,400 | 4.2% |
| Cardiovascular Technologists | 48,720 | $49,400 | $23.80 | $64,200 | $30.90 | 11,900 | 24.1% |
| Clinical Nurses | 2,655,020 | $64,700 | $31.10 | $79,000 | $38.00 | 581,500 | 22.2% |
| Diagnostic Sonographers | 53,010 | $64,400 | $31.00 | $75,300 | $36.20 | 9,200 | 18.3% |
| Dietary Technicians | 23,890 | $27,100 | $13.00 | $35,300 | $17.00 | 3,500 | 13.9% |
| Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) | 221,760 | $30,400 | $14.60 | $39,600 | $19.00 | 19,000 | 9.0% |
| Health Specialties Professors | 144,780 | $85,300 | NA | $135,700 | NA | NA | NA |
| Health Technologists | 87,900 | $38,500 | $18.50 | $51,000 | $24.50 | 15,300 | 18.7% |
| Healthcare Support Technicians | 193,980 | $30,300 | $14.60 | $37,400 | $18.00 | 34,300 | 17.1% |
| Healthcare Technical Workers | 55,720 | $44,000 | $21.10 | $68,700 | $33.00 | 9,400 | 15.9% |
| Licensed Practical Nurses | 730,290 | $40,400 | $19.40 | $47,400 | $22.80 | 155,600 | 20.7% |
| Masseurs and Masseuses | 60,040 | $34,900 | $16.80 | $51,400 | $24.70 | 23,200 | 18.9% |
| Medical Administrative Assistants | 494,650 | $30,500 | $14.70 | $37,200 | $17.90 | 125,500 | 26.6% |
| Medical Aides | 523,260 | $28,900 | $13.90 | $34,500 | $16.60 | 163,900 | 33.9% |
| Medical Equipment Maintenance Technicians | 32,980 | $44,500 | $21.40 | $57,600 | $27.70 | 11,300 | 27.2% |
| Medical Laboratory Technicians | 156,480 | $36,300 | $17.40 | $45,700 | $22.00 | 25,000 | 16.1% |
| Medical Laboratory Technologists | 164,430 | $56,100 | $27.00 | $66,400 | $31.90 | 20,500 | 11.9% |
| Medical Records Technicians | 176,090 | $32,400 | $15.60 | $42,200 | $20.30 | 35,100 | 20.3% |
| Medical Social Workers | 143,080 | $47,200 | $22.70 | $59,300 | $28.50 | 31,100 | 22.4% |
| Medical Supply Technicians | 47,310 | $29,500 | $14.20 | $35,600 | $17.10 | 6,000 | 12.8% |
| Medical Transcribers | 78,780 | $32,900 | $15.80 | $39,300 | $18.90 | 11,700 | 11.2% |
| Mental Health Aides | 64,730 | $25,000 | $12.00 | $31,800 | $15.30 | 3,600 | 5.8% |
| Nuclear Medicine Technicians | 21,600 | $68,600 | $33.00 | $80,500 | $38.70 | 3,600 | 16.3% |
| Nursing Instructors and Professors | 54,050 | $62,400 | NA | $79,100 | NA | NA | NA |
| Nursing Orderlies and Attendants | 1,451,090 | $24,000 | $11.50 | $29,100 | $14.00 | 276,000 | 18.8% |
| Occupational Rehabilitation Aides | 7,180 | $27,400 | $13.20 | $36,200 | $17.40 | 2,400 | 30.7% |
| Occupational Safety Technicians | 10,040 | $45,300 | $21.80 | $57,900 | $27.80 | 1,600 | 14.4% |
| Occupational Therapy Technicians | 27,720 | $51,000 | $24.50 | $60,700 | $29.20 | 7,900 | 29.8% |
| Optical Lab Technicians | 27,880 | $28,000 | $13.50 | $35,300 | $17.00 | 5,200 | 14.7% |
| Oral Hygienists | 177,520 | $68,300 | $32.80 | $81,300 | $39.10 | 62,900 | 36.1% |
| Orthodontic Assistants | 294,030 | $33,500 | $16.10 | $39,900 | $19.20 | 105,600 | 35.8% |
| Orthodontic Technicians | 38,360 | $35,100 | $16.90 | $45,700 | $22.00 | 6,400 | 13.9% |
| Personal Health Aides | 982,840 | $20,600 | $9.90 | $24,000 | $11.60 | 460,900 | 50.0% |
| Pharmacy Assistants | 49,580 | $21,400 | $10.30 | $25,800 | $12.40 | -3,500 | -6.3% |
| Pharmacy Technologists | 333,500 | $28,400 | $13.70 | $34,600 | $16.60 | 99,800 | 30.6% |
| Physical Therapy Aides | 45,900 | $23,700 | $11.40 | $28,800 | $13.90 | 16,700 | 36.3% |
| Physical Therapy Assistants | 65,960 | $49,700 | $23.90 | $59,100 | $28.40 | 21,200 | 33.3% |
| Physician Aides | 81,420 | $86,400 | $41.50 | $101,700 | $48.90 | 29,200 | 39.0% |
| Respiratory Technicians | 13,570 | $45,200 | $21.70 | $55,500 | $26.70 | -200 | -1.1% |
| Sports Trainers | 16,290 | $41,600 | NA | $51,300 | NA | 6,000 | 37.0% |
| Surgery Technologists | 92,260 | $39,900 | $19.20 | $47,600 | $22.90 | 23,200 | 25.3% |