Salary survey

Nursing, Apr 2002 by Robinson, Eileen S

How does your salary stack up against that of your colleagues nationwide? Check out our third annual salary survey for answers.

Respondent profile

The average nurse who responded to the survey is a 42-year-old woman who's been in nursing for 13 years. She works full-time as a staff nurse in a community hospital with 100 to 300 beds and has held her current position for 6 1/2 years.

MORE NURSES are speaking up! Approximately 3,800 of you responded to our annual salary survey (Nursing2001, September)--a 52% increase over last year. Nearly 60% of respondents work in hospitals, about the same proportion as in the general nurse population.

This year's results reveal some positive trends. For example, starting base rates and salaries increased across all practice settings. Here are a few highlights:

Among all participants, the average annual income is $45,500, up from $42,000 in 2000 and $38,000 in 1999.

The average RN's hourly starting base rate is $17.33, up from $16.24 in 2000 and $15.45 in 1999.

The average LPN/LVN's hourly base starting rate is $12.53, up from $11.88 in 2000 and $11.54 1999.

The average hourly base starting rate for unlicensed assistive personnel is now $8.79, up significantly from 2000, when it was $7.79.

Thirty-eight percent of all respondents report that their facilities offer a bonus for new hires; only 32% reported bonuses last year.

What about your income? Is it what it should be, given your location, work setting, level of education, and experience? Take a look at our key findings* to see how your earnings stack up. Significant gains for all nurses The average annual income for all nurses increased by more than $3,500 over the average income reported in our 2000 survey and by $7,500 since 1999. More nurses than last year indicated an annual review increase between 4% and 7%.

More nurses reported salaried positions too. Last year, only 22% of respondents were salaried; this year, the figure was 27%--a statistically significant increase. More nurses were also receiving annual raises based on merit and cost of living, but this increase isn't statistically significant.

The types of differential facilities pay is changing significantly. Compared with last year, a greater percentage of respondents reported receiving a differential for certification and charge nurse/assistant nurse-manager positions. In fact, more nurses reported a differential for certification than for a bachelor's degree.

Does experience make a difference?

Experience matters, but only to a point. When you compare years of experience and the average reported annual salary, you'll find that the "value" of experience averages $4,000 for every 5 years of experience. However, for the first time since 1999, salaries were slightly lower for respondents who've held their current positions more than 15 years, compared with those who've had their current position for 11 to 15 years. This suggests that being willing to explore your career options in other positions pays off.

A look at work setting

Hospitals continue to pay nurses best compared with other practice settings. And hospital salaries are rising: Respondents working in hospitals earned $46,500 in 2001, compared with $43,200 in 2000. (See How Work Settings Compare.) However, the salary gap between the hospital and other settings is narrowing: Nurses across other work settings showed gains ranging from 7% to 16%.

What about hospital type?

Nurses working in university or Veterans Affairs/military hospitals earn $51,300 annually, more than nurses in other types of hospitals. However, in community hospitals, where most hospital-employed nurses work, the average annual income rose by more than $3,000, a statistically significant increase. This continues to be above the average income for all nurses: $46,700 for nurses working in community hospitals versus $45,500 for all nurses.

Hospital size matters too: The more beds in a facility, the higher the salaries for nurses. Respondents working in facilities with fewer than 100 beds earned an average salary of $42,400; those in facilities with more than 500 beds earned $48,300. Not surprisingly, urban and suburban hospitals pay better than small town and rural hospitals.

Men still earn more

Overall, male respondents earn significantly more than women: $48,300 on average for men, compared with $45,100 for women. Forty-four percent of male nurses reported salaries above $50,000, compared with 34% of female nurses. (See 2001 Average Salary by Position and Sex.) About 7% of survey respondents were male.

Some of these salary differences may reflect factors other than sex, however. For example, compared with female nurses, a higher percentage of male respondents work in hospitals, are certified, and hold management positions. Men are also more likely to work in large facilities (more than 300 beds), where salaries are higher. Based on this survey's findings, all those factors increase earning potential.

Education matters

At all educational levels, nurses reported significant increases in annual salaries over figures reported for 2000, as shown below. The relatively high salaries reported by diploma RNs reflect the length of time many of them have been in nursing.