Nursing
Health Professions · federal classification: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $79,860 | $70,939 to $98,546 | 62 | 98% |
| Associate's Degree | $79,628 | $74,180 to $86,796 | 1004 | 100% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $85,357 | $78,836 to $92,601 | 1037 | 100% |
| Post-baccalaureate Certificate | $116,853 | $92,145 to $129,858 | 8 | 100% |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | $126,283 | $115,372 to $138,734 | 51 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $119,826 | $110,557 to $128,875 | 482 | 100% |
| Doctoral Degree | $135,276 | $124,259 to $158,368 | 158 | 100% |
| First Professional Degree | $136,765 | $119,485 to $148,739 | 33 | 100% |
| Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | $109,913 | $105,793 to $114,872 | 5 | 100% |
"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 +14% (2024 to 2034), about 292,500 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $93,600 | +4.9% | 189,100 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $117,960 | +23.2% | 62,100 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $129,210 | +40.1% | 29,500 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,940 | +16.8% | 8,600 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $223,210 | +8.6% | 2,700 |
| Nurse Midwives | $128,790 | +11.1% | 500 |
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.