Career outlook and market demand for registered nurse roles.
Career Outlook
Understand hiring demand, long-term opportunities, salary growth, and market stability for this role.
Demand
Registered Nursing is a large occupation with about 3.5 million U.S. jobs in 2025. BLS projects employment to rise 6 percent through 2035 and expects about 180,800 openings each year, mostly from growth and replacement needs. Hospitals employ the largest share, but outpatient and home health care also matter. If you are job hunting, match your license, clinical experience, schedule availability, and certifications to the exact care setting.
Employers continue hiring Registered Nurse talent for role-specific delivery, support, modernization, and production work.
Organizations value Registered Nurse candidates who can connect technical skill with business outcomes.
Demand is strongest for candidates who show practical projects, collaboration, quality, and reliable execution.
Security, reliability, maintainability, and clear communication make experienced Registered Nurse professionals valuable.
Long-term platform, product, and process needs create stable demand across industries.
Ten-Year Career Outlook
The ten year picture points to continued need for Registered Nurses. BLS projects employment to increase from about 3.47 million in 2025 to about 3.66 million in 2035. HRSA also projects national RN shortages through 2038 under its workforce model, though the size differs by location. That means opportunities should remain widespread, but local supply, specialty demand, and employer requirements can still shape how quickly you are hired.
Job Market Trends
RN work is spreading across more care settings while hospitals remain the largest employer. BLS expects growth in hospitals, outpatient centers, and home health as the population ages and more patients need chronic condition care. NCSBN found that 20 percent of RNs changed settings in 2024, up from 16 percent in 2022. For you, flexibility across settings and strong transition of care skills can widen your options.
Salary Growth Rate
RN pay has risen in recent workforce data, but different sources measure pay differently. NCSBN reported median pretax annual RN earnings of $88,000 in 2024, up from $80,000 in 2022, a 10 percent increase over two years. BLS reported a separate May 2025 occupational median of $97,550. Use current local job ranges when comparing offers because specialty, setting, shift, and location can move pay substantially.
Unemployment Rate
Registered Nurses had a 1.2 percent unemployment rate in the 2025 BLS annual averages, based on 43,000 unemployed people in an RN labor force of about 3.57 million. That is a national occupation measure, not a guarantee of immediate hiring. Getting your next job can still take time if you need a specific specialty, shift, location, schedule, or employer.
Hiring Rate
There is no single current national RN hiring rate that measures all employers. BLS instead projects about 180,800 RN openings per year from 2025 to 2035, while AACN's latest available graduate survey found 96 percent of entry level BSN graduates had job offers within four to six months. Treat those as different measures: projected openings and graduate job offers, not actual annual hires.
Market Saturation
The national RN market does not look saturated, but local markets can feel very different. BLS projects faster than average growth, HRSA projects a national RN shortage through 2038, and hospital vacancy data still show unfilled roles. Your search can be harder in popular specialties or locations, so compare local postings and be realistic about shift, unit, experience, and education requirements.
Career Advancement Opportunities
You can advance by building deeper bedside expertise, earning a relevant specialty certification, moving into charge or care coordination responsibilities, or changing settings. With more education and experience, some RNs move into management, education, research, quality, consulting, or advanced practice. Choose the next step around the patients and work you want to do, then check the license, degree, practice hours, and certification requirements before investing.
Market Metrics
Key career signals and practical considerations for this occupation.
Salary GrowthRN pay has risen in recent workforce data, but different sources measure pay differently.
Hiring DemandThere is no single current national RN hiring rate that measures all employers.
Market StabilityRegistered Nurses had a 1.2 percent unemployment rate in the 2025 BLS annual averages, based on 43,000 unemployed people in an RN labor force of about 3.57 million.
Remote OpportunitiesRemote and hybrid roles remain available for developers who can work independently and communicate clearly.
Cloud AdoptionModern tools, automation, cloud platforms, and measurable delivery continue to increase market value.
Enterprise DemandLarge organizations continue investing in modernization, security, quality, and scalable operating models for this role.
Worldwide Job Openings by Country
Countries with the strongest visible hiring demand for this role.
Country
Openings
Share
Notes
Australia
9525
Public search proxy, not a national vacancy measure or worldwide share
SEEK public results listed 9,525 Registered Nurse jobs in Australia in September 2026. The count is a live search result and can change as listings open, close, or are reclassified.
New Zealand
1690
Public search proxy, not a national vacancy measure or worldwide share
SEEK public results listed 1,690 Registered Nurse jobs in New Zealand in September 2026. The count is a live search result and can change as listings open, close, or are reclassified.
Canada
2828
Public search proxy, not a national vacancy measure or worldwide share
Jobs.ca public results listed 2,828 current Registered Nurse jobs from 267 employers in Canada in September 2026. This is a platform search count, not a confirmed national total of RN vacancies or hires.
Recent Graduate Hiring by Country
Markets where recent graduates and entry-level candidates may find early-career opportunities.
Country
Graduate Openings
Entry Level Share
Notes
Australia
4590
Public search proxy, not a measured share of all RN hiring
SEEK public results listed 4,590 new graduate Registered Nurse jobs in Australia in September 2026. The search includes graduate nursing listings and should not be treated as a national count of new graduate RN hires.
Top Skills/Phrases
See the top technical and behavioral skills and phrases desired by employers.
Technical Skills/Phrases
Core technical skills and phrases employers request most often.
Comprehensive patient assessmentNursing care planning and evaluationSafe medication administrationVital sign and clinical status monitoringRecognition and escalation of deteriorationPatient and family educationClinical documentation and chartingCare coordination and discharge planningInfection prevention practicesSpecimen collection and diagnostic supportIntravenous therapy managementWound and skin carePain assessment and reassessmentEmergency response and resuscitation supportSafe patient handling and mobilityInterdisciplinary handoff communication
Behavioral Skills/Phrases
Professional skills and phrases that help candidates collaborate, communicate, and grow into senior roles.
Clinical judgment under pressureClear patient communicationCompassionate bedside mannerAttention to detailPrioritization across multiple patientsTeam collaborationEmotional resilienceProfessional accountabilityAdaptability to changing conditionsConflict resolutionTime managementPatient advocacycommunicationcompassioncollaborationprioritizationaccountabilityadaptabilitycritical thinkingresilienceorganizationadvocacyprofessionalismde escalation
Certifications
Certifications that can validate job-ready skills and strengthen employer confidence.
Is Registered Nursing still a growing career in 2026?
Yes. BLS projects RN employment to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 180,800 openings each year on average. Those openings include both new jobs and replacements, so local conditions can still differ.
What skills matter most for Registered Nurse jobs?
Employers repeatedly look for patient assessment, medication administration, monitoring, care planning, documentation, patient education, teamwork, and timely escalation. Strong communication and prioritization matter because you often coordinate several patients and work with multiple clinicians.
Do I need a BSN to get an RN job?
Not for every RN job. BLS notes that RNs may enter through approved bachelor, associate, or diploma nursing programs and must be licensed. Some employers, especially hospitals, may require or prefer a BSN, so read each posting carefully.
Which certifications should a Registered Nurse get first?
Start with what your employer and unit require. BLS notes that RN positions may require CPR, BLS, or ACLS, while specialty certifications can demonstrate added competency. Critical care, emergency, medical surgical, and ambulatory credentials become more relevant once your practice experience matches their eligibility rules.
Where do most Registered Nurses work?
Hospitals are the largest employer. BLS reports that hospitals accounted for 59 percent of RN jobs in 2025, followed by ambulatory health care services at 19 percent. Nursing facilities, government, education, home health, clinics, and other settings also employ RNs.
How can a new graduate improve the chance of getting hired?
Keep your RN license status and required life support training current, tailor your resume to the unit, and show clinical judgment through specific examples from supervised practice. Apply to nurse residency and new graduate programs, and be clear about the shifts and locations you can work.
Is RN unemployment low?
BLS reported a 1.2 percent unemployment rate for Registered Nurses in its 2025 annual averages. That is a national labor force measure, so it does not show how easy it is to get a particular unit, specialty, schedule, or location.
Can an RN move into nonbedside work?
Yes. BLS describes paths into education, consulting, administration, quality, health planning, and other roles that use nursing knowledge. Some paths require more education or experience, so check the actual qualifications before planning a move.
Registered Nurse Resume Examples
Explore the resume examples below to find the one that best matches your target Registered Nurse role.
