It’s graduation season, and if you’ve just completed a nursing program, congratulations! Your new skills are in high demand.
According to the latest projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for nursing professionals is bright. Employment across all job categories in the U.S. is projected to grow by 4% from 2019-2029. However, job growth for nursing professions exceeds this rate for all skill levels, in some cases by double-digits.
Scroll through the profiles below, which show median pay for 2020, the job growth rate, and the number of job openings expected annually. As you’ll see, the more you learn, the more you earn:
Nurse Anesthetists
Median Pay: $183,580
Job Growth Rate: 14%
Annual Job Openings: 2,900
Nurse Midwives
Median Pay: $111,130
Job Growth Rate: 12%
Annual Job Openings: 500 for nurse midwives
Nurse Practitioners
Median Pay: $111,680
Job Growth Rate: 52.4%
Annual Job Openings: 24,200
Registered Nurse
Median Pay: $75,330
Job Growth Rate: 7%
Annual Job Openings: 175,900
Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse
2020 Median Pay: $48,820
Job Growth Rate: 9%
Annual Job Openings: 58,400
Nursing Assistant
2020 Median Pay: $30,850
Job Growth Rate: 8%
Annual Job Openings: 174,000
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
2020 Median Pay: $27,080
Job Growth Rate: 34%
Annual Job Openings: 568,800
A number of factors are contributing to the demand for nursing professionals. These include:
- an aging baby boomer population;
- longer life expectancies;
- more emphasis on preventive care; and
- increasing rates of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.
The figures above do not include the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and response efforts. Recent surveys show that stress, burnout and other COVID-related factors may further increase the demand as some nurses choose to leave or retire.
All of this means that if you’re a recent nursing graduate, you can look forward to plentiful – and rewarding – job opportunities.
If you’ve been in the nursing profession for a while, maybe you’re thinking about going back to school. Given the ongoing, 24/7 demand, nursing professionals often find they can arrange part-time or flexible schedules that allow them to work around their class schedule. So, whether you are new to the field or a veteran, you can take pride knowing you’ve chosen a highly valuable skill that gives you many good options and opportunities.
At Gale Healthcare, we’re proud to have many nursing professionals working with us as they go back to school or pursue other life goals. If you’re a healthcare professional looking for a flexible schedule, with the added benefit of same-day pay, we invite you to apply today.
