Registered nurse demographics research summary. Zippia estimates registered nurse demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our registered nurse estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about registered nurses after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 2,904,195 registered nurses currently employed in the United States.
- 87.7% of all registered nurses are women, while 12.3% are men.
- The average registered nurse age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of registered nurses is White (66.1%), followed by Black or African American (11.3%), Hispanic or Latino (9.0%) and Asian (9.0%).
- Registered nurses are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- The health care industry is the highest-paying for registered nurses.
- 9% of all registered nurses are LGBT.
On This Page
Registered Nurse demographics by:
Registered Nurse gender statistics
87.7% of registered nurses are women and 12.3% of registered nurses are men.
- Female, 87.7%
- Male, 12.3%
Registered Nurse gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 87.7% |
| Male | 12.3% |
Registered Nurse gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
![Registered Nurse Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Registered Nurses In The US (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw== "Registered Nurse Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Registered Nurses In The US (1)")
Male Income
$78,969
Female Income
$74,483
Registered Nurse gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in registered nurse positions over time. Currently, 87.7% of registered nurses are female.
Male
Female
100
%
80
%
60
%
40
%
20
%
%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Registered Nurse gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.27% | 90.73% |
| 2011 | 9.65% | 90.35% |
| 2012 | 9.77% | 90.23% |
| 2013 | 10.18% | 89.82% |
| 2014 | 11.10% | 88.90% |
| 2015 | 10.73% | 89.27% |
| 2016 | 11.13% | 88.87% |
| 2017 | 11.71% | 88.29% |
| 2018 | 12.05% | 87.95% |
| 2019 | 12.11% | 87.89% |
| 2020 | 12.35% | 87.65% |
| 2021 | 12.33% | 87.67% |
Registered Nurse related jobs gender ratio
We compared registered nurses with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, flight surgeon and optometrist, owner have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse Midwife | 2% | 98% |
| Perinatal Nurse | 3% | 97% |
| Therapeutic Dietitian | 3% | 97% |
| Registered Nurse | 12% | 88% |
| Radiology Resident | 75% | 25% |
| Optometrist, Owner | 76% | 24% |
| Flight Surgeon | 82% | 18% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Flight Surgeon
Optometrist, Owner
Radiology Resident
Registered Nurse
Therapeutic Dietitian
Staff Nurse Midwife
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Registered Nurse demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among registered nurses is White, which makes up 66.1% of all registered nurses. Comparatively, 11.3% of registered nurses are Black or African American and 9.0% of registered nurses are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 66.1%
- Black or African American, 11.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.0%
- Asian, 9.0%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Registered Nurse Race
| Registered Nurse Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 66.1% |
| Black or African American | 11.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.0% |
| Asian | 9.0% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Registered Nurse race and ethnicity over time
See how registered nurse racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Registered Nurse race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.06% | 11.49% | 7.14% | 6.44% |
| 2011 | 72.65% | 11.86% | 7.06% | 6.50% |
| 2012 | 72.25% | 11.99% | 7.15% | 6.73% |
| 2013 | 72.09% | 11.93% | 7.26% | 6.68% |
| 2014 | 70.90% | 12.07% | 7.78% | 7.21% |
| 2015 | 71.09% | 12.18% | 7.31% | 7.34% |
| 2016 | 70.89% | 11.71% | 7.74% | 7.60% |
| 2017 | 70.53% | 11.21% | 7.92% | 7.94% |
| 2018 | 70.33% | 11.88% | 7.66% | 7.84% |
| 2019 | 70.36% | 11.22% | 7.96% | 8.20% |
| 2020 | 68.21% | 10.83% | 7.98% | 8.67% |
| 2021 | 66.07% | 11.30% | 8.96% | 8.97% |
Registered Nurse wage gap by race
According to our data, asian registered nurses have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White registered nurses have the lowest average salary at $75,817.
$91,000
$88,000
$85,000
$82,000
$79,000
$76,000
$73,000
Unknown
White
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $76,834 |
| White | $75,817 |
| Black or African American | $76,097 |
| Asian | $89,230 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $77,640 |
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Average registered nurse age
See how the average age of registered nurses varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Registered Nurse age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | 45 |
| Unknown | 39 | 40.5 |
| Asian | 39 | 44 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 38 |
| White | 42 | 44 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Registered Nurse age breakdown
The average age of registered nurses is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the registered nurse population.
40+ years
30-40 years
20-30 years
Registered Nurse age breakdown
| Registered Nurse Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Registered Nurse educational attainment
The most common degree for registered nurses is associate degree, with 46% of registered nurses earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 44% and bachelor's degree degree at 5%.
- Associate, 46%
- Bachelor's, 44%
- Master's, 5%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 0%
Registered Nurses by degree level
| Registered Nurse Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Associate | 46% |
| Bachelor's | 44% |
| Master's | 5% |
| Diploma | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 0% |
Registered Nurse Jobs You Might Like
Registered Nurse wage gap by degree level
According to the data, registered nurses with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $92,887 annually. With a Doctorate degree, registered nurses earn a median annual income of $85,346 compared to $82,132 for registered nurses with an Bachelor's degree.
$96,000
$91,000
$86,000
$81,000
$76,000
$71,000
$66,000
Master's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Doctorate Degree
Some College/ Associate Degree
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $92,887 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $82,132 |
| Doctorate Degree | $85,346 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $70,032 |
Learn More About Registered Nurse Required Education
Registered Nurse employment statistics
Most registered nurses work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where registered nurses work
Below, you can see the size of companies where registered nurses work.
< 50 employees
50 - 100 employees
100 - 500 employees
500 - 1,000 employees
1,000 - 10,000 employees
> 10,000
Registered Nurse jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 9% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 12% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 44% |
| > 10,000 employees | 24% |
Registered Nurse jobs by company type
Employees with the registered nurse job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most registered nurses prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Education
Public
Private
Government
Registered Nurse jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 4% |
| Public | 8% |
| Private | 88% |
| Government | 1% |
Registered Nurse jobs by industry
The most common industries for registered nurses are health care, professional and education.
Health Care
Professional
Fortune 500
Non Profits
Education
Show More
Registered Nurse industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 84% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Registered Nurse turnover and employment statistics
Registered Nurse unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for registered nurses between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Registered Nurse unemployment rate by year
| Year | Registered Nurse Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.90% |
| 2011 | 1.97% |
| 2012 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | 1.69% |
| 2014 | 1.75% |
| 2015 | 1.37% |
| 2016 | 1.10% |
| 2017 | 1.04% |
| 2018 | 1.07% |
| 2019 | 1.04% |
| 2020 | 1.45% |
| 2021 | 1.37% |
Average registered nurse tenure
The average registered nurse stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 410,140 registered nurses resumes in Zippia's database.
Less than one year
1-2 years
3-4 years
5-7 years
8-10 years
11+ years
Registered Nurse tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 22% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Registered Nurse LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of registered nurses that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 8.72% | - |
| Child Psychiatrist | 9.88% | 38,047 |
| Midlevel Provider | 11.62% | 25,646 |
| Bariatric Weight Loss Clinic Manager And Counselor | 13.00% | 43,780 |
| Urologist, Physician | 13.05% | 38,612 |
| Optometrist, Owner | 17.57% | 51,669 |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 189,889 |
Similar registered nurse jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Child Psychiatrist | 9.88% | 38,047 |
| Midlevel Provider | 11.62% | 25,646 |
| Bariatric Weight Loss Clinic Manager And Counselor | 13.00% | 43,780 |
| Urologist, Physician | 13.05% | 38,612 |
| Optometrist, Owner | 17.57% | 51,669 |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 189,889 |
Foreign languages spoken by registered nurses
The most common foreign language among registered nurses is Spanish at 58.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 8.0% and Russian is the third-most popular at 4.8%.
- Spanish, 58.5%
- French, 8.0%
- Russian, 4.8%
- Portuguese, 3.1%
- Chinese, 2.9%
- Other, 22.7%
Registered Nurse languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 58.5% |
| French | 8.0% |
| Russian | 4.8% |
| Portuguese | 3.1% |
| Chinese | 2.9% |
| Other | 22.7% |
Registered Nurse Jobs
Registered Nurse location demographics
The amount you can make as a registered nurse can depend on where you live. For example, the highest salary of registered nurses is $100,334. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located.
Where do registered nurses earn the most?
Registered nurses earn the most in California, where the average registered nurse salary is $104,725. The map here shows where registered nurses earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Average Salary
![Registered Nurse Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Registered Nurses In The US (5)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/salary-maps/2.4.8/registered-nurse.svgz "Registered Nurse Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Registered Nurses In The US (5)")
Which city has the most Registered Nurses?
By looking through more than 410,140 resumes, we found that the most popular places for registered nurses are New York, NY and Houston, TX.
Number of Registered Nurses
![Registered Nurse Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Registered Nurses In The US (6)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/resume-registered-nurse.svgz "Registered Nurse Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Registered Nurses In The US (6)")
Registered Nurse jobs by state
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 19,869 | $67,649 |
| 2 | Texas | 18,949 | $75,612 |
| 3 | California | 15,377 | $104,725 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 11,385 | $78,851 |
| 5 | New York | 10,386 | $91,110 |
| 6 | Ohio | 9,600 | $69,670 |
| 7 | Georgia | 8,279 | $72,144 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 8,247 | $68,899 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 8,192 | $89,434 |
| 10 | Illinois | 7,563 | $72,168 |
| 11 | Virginia | 6,662 | $77,217 |
| 12 | Indiana | 6,278 | $68,459 |
| 13 | Tennessee | 6,072 | $68,356 |
| 14 | Washington | 6,000 | $86,379 |
| 15 | Michigan | 5,929 | $76,403 |
| 16 | New Jersey | 5,749 | $89,733 |
| 17 | Maryland | 4,757 | $85,067 |
| 18 | Colorado | 4,354 | $71,881 |
| 19 | Missouri | 4,268 | $66,392 |
| 20 | Arizona | 4,265 | $77,800 |
| 21 | South Carolina | 4,090 | $66,313 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 3,913 | $73,785 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 3,763 | $72,241 |
| 24 | Louisiana | 3,427 | $70,665 |
| 25 | Iowa | 2,900 | $58,751 |
| 26 | Kentucky | 2,898 | $66,415 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | 2,784 | $69,137 |
| 28 | Alabama | 2,744 | $67,186 |
| 29 | Oregon | 2,735 | $92,453 |
| 30 | Connecticut | 2,685 | $89,275 |
| 31 | Kansas | 2,409 | $66,092 |
| 32 | Arkansas | 2,333 | $64,143 |
| 33 | New Mexico | 2,092 | $79,593 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 1,850 | $67,541 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | 1,792 | $81,019 |
| 36 | Nebraska | 1,620 | $63,703 |
| 37 | Maine | 1,608 | $73,820 |
| 38 | West Virginia | 1,550 | $74,799 |
| 39 | Nevada | 1,534 | $84,132 |
| 40 | Montana | 1,090 | $67,062 |
| 41 | South Dakota | 1,069 | $59,818 |
| 42 | Idaho | 1,053 | $70,898 |
| 43 | Delaware | 1,046 | $83,554 |
| 44 | North Dakota | 985 | $63,132 |
| 45 | Utah | 912 | $69,540 |
| 46 | Alaska | 815 | $97,253 |
| 47 | Vermont | 795 | $74,249 |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 692 | $93,942 |
| 49 | District of Columbia | 637 | $87,910 |
| 50 | Wyoming | 441 | $66,097 |
| 51 | Hawaii | 405 | $100,541 |
Where are registered nurses in high demand?
Registered nurses are in high demand in New York, NY. There are currently 2,677 job openings for registered nurses here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country registered nurses are in the most demand.
Jobs Openings
![Registered Nurse Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Registered Nurses In The US (7)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/listing-registered-nurse.svgz "Registered Nurse Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Registered Nurses In The US (7)")
Registered Nurse Demographics FAQs
What percentage of Registered Nurses are female?
How many Registered Nurse are there in the US?
What percentage of Registered Nurses are black?
What race are most Registered Nurses?
Are Registered Nurse jobs male - dominated?
How old is the average Registered Nurse?
Have more questions?
See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.Search for registered nurse jobs
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Updated July 21, 2023
![Registered Nurse Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Registered Nurses In The US (2024)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)