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Applying
From combing through job boards to impressing the hiring manager in an interview, here’s how to navigate the job application process.Interviewing
Here’s what hiring managers look for when interviewing potential job candidates, including how they expect applicants to dress and respond to the most common interview questions.Salaries & Benefits
Discover how to negotiate salary, ask for a raise and request benefits. Plus, keep an eye out for the employee benefit trends that are gaining popularity.Work Culture
Navigate office politics with these tips on networking, office etiquette, getting along with co-workers and socializing in the office.
Registered Nurse Salary
Registered Nurse: Salary Details
The BLS reports the median salary for a registered nurse was $66,640 in 2014. The best-paid 10 percent of RNs made more than $98,880, while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $45,880. The highest-paid RN positions are clustered in California, including the metropolitan areas of Santa Cruz, San Francisco and San Jose.
75th Percentile $81,080
Median $66,640
25th Percentile $54,620
Salary Outlook
Average Registered Nurse Pay vs. Other Best Jobs
In 2014, registered nurses made an average salary of $69,790, which is pretty good pay compared with some of the other health care professions on this year’s Best Jobs list. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses usually bring home smaller paychecks ($43,420). But RNs made less money than both occupational therapists ($80,000) and physical therapists ($83,940). However, RNs have many options for advancement and a salary increase. With further education, RNs can become nurse practitioners and bring home an average salary of around $97,990.
Best Paying Cities for Registered Nurses
The highest paid in the registered nurse profession work in the metropolitan areas of Santa Cruz, California, San Francisco, and San Jose, California. The Vallejo, California area also pays well, as does the city of Sacramento, California.
Top 5 Best Paying Cities for Registered Nurses
Santa Cruz, California
The average salary of a registered nurse working in Santa Cruz, California is $123,070.
See Job OpeningsSan Francisco
The average salary of a registered nurse working in San Francisco is $122,750.
See Job OpeningsSan Jose, California
The average salary of a registered nurse working in San Jose, California is $121,820.
See Job OpeningsVallejo, California
The average salary of a registered nurse working in Vallejo, California is $114,290.
See Job OpeningsSacramento, California
The average salary of a registered nurse working in Sacramento, California is $105,390.
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