Even though more than half (61 percent) of full-time registered nurses work at hospitals, hospitals are not where RNs earn the highest median wage. RNs working as contract workers or travel nurses earn the most, according to the "Medscape Nurse Salary Report 2015."
The survey includes responses from more than 8,250 nurses, including practical and vocational nurses, registered nurses and advanced practice nurses. Nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists all fall into Medscape's category of advanced practice nurses.
Here is a breakdown of the top settings in which full-time RNs earn the highest median wage.
1. Agency/contract/travel nurse — $95,000
2. Military/government — $93,000
3. Hospital-inpatient care — $83,000
4. Hospital-based outpatient setting/clinic — $79,000
5. (Tied) Home health/visiting nurse and academic setting faculty — $72,000
Advanced practice nurses, on the other hand, earn the highest median wage in the following settings:
1. (Tied) Military/government and skilled nursing facility/long-term care setting — $106,000
2. Hospital-inpatient care — $105,000
3. Hospital-based outpatient setting/clinic — $102,000
4. Nonhospital-based medical office/urgent care clinic — $99,000
5. Home health/visiting nurse — $97,000
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