Practical and Vocational Nursing
Health Professions · federal classification: Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $55,674 | $48,468 to $63,396 | 811 | 96% |
| Associate's Degree | $64,660 | $53,364 to $76,313 | 39 | 97% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $30,043 | $30,043 to $30,043 | 6 | 100% |
| Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | $51,791 | $37,514 to $55,070 | 9 | 78% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +2% (2024 to 2034), about 258,500 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | $39,530 | +2.3% | 204,100 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $62,340 | +2.6% | 54,400 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.