Why do RNs get paid so similar to NPs?

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I was googling average NP salaries, and they looked to be $80-$90k a year. My hospital's average floor nurse (RN) salary is $84,000. Most of our nurses have ADNs. It seems a little unfair that someone with an associate degree would get paid almost the same as someone with masters degree? I'm a little confused.

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Specializes in ER.

Don't know where you are but that isn't how it is here. RN's make about 40-50k and NP's make 80k and up. I must be in the wrong place!

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Specializes in ER.

depends on region, location (office, hospital, etc), specialty, hours, obligation to weekends... so many things. NP's and RN's (though it sounds as though you are referring to ADN trained nurses) don't make the same in wages.

There are other threads on here that address wage differences between RN's and NP's.

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http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2009/snapshots/19.html

"Most common job (hourly):

Staff Registered Nurse $84,096"

All nurses work three 12s a week and every third weekend. I mentioned this statistic to some of my nurses I work with and they said that seemed pretty accurate.

I would really love to know how much the NPs at my hospital make if RNs are making $84k with an ADN!

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

that's crap. I made 60k last year and that was with OT.

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Guess my hospital is just in the top 5% for wages then? Who knew. Maybe I should rethink returning there when I finish nursing school!

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I'm in FL where they think that RNs should be grateful to be employed!

My brother got his ADN 4 yrs ago.....he has made over $120K so far this year......in Manhattan!

Although I would get half that....his RENT is $3K/mo for a 2 br apt. My MORTGAGE is $1300/mo for a 4 BR/2BA house. Doesn't quite compare! :jester::jester:

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Specializes in CVICU.
I'm in FL where they think that RNs should be grateful to be employed!

My brother got his ADN 4 yrs ago.....he has made over $120K so far this year......in Manhattan!

Although I would get half that....his RENT is $3K/mo for a 2 br apt. My MORTGAGE is $1300/mo for a 4 BR/2BA house. Doesn't quite compare! :jester::jester:

Yeah, you've got to figure in cost of living... his rent is 5x as much as mine for a 2 bedroom apt. Then again, I probably make around $45-50K on average without OT... so who's actually pocketing more? It's all relative.

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Specializes in MDS RNAC, LTC, Psych, LTAC.

I make about 65,000 a year on the West coast and I know a NP I work with and I don't know what she makes but she drives a BMW to work and I drive a Chevy... LOL.... I do have my ASN and I am working on my BSN but thats for job security not wages. ;)

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I think the key is "average" salary. RNs with 20+ years experience averaged in with 5+ year RNs still sounds great. For instance, my friend is an ADN RN of 20 years and makes more than her nurse manager.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

As has been stated, it just depends on location. In this area, NPs and experienced RNs pull down similar annual wages.

Why? Supply and demand. There are just too many NPs for the jobs available. As we see more and more unemployed nurses I expect that we'll see nursing wages stagnate and even fall.

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