Registered Nurses in North Carolina
Thinking about a career as a Registered Nurses in North Carolina? Below are the key facts. Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required. Includes Clinical Nurse Specialists. Excludes “Nurse Anesthetists” (29-1151), “Nurse Midwives” (29-1161), and “Nurse Practitioners” (29-1171).
What do Registered Nurses Make in North Carolina?
For registered nurses working in North Carolina, the median annual wage is $81,860 per year (or roughly $39.36/hour).Annual wages span from $64,180 at the 10th percentile to $107,110 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $64,180 | $30.86 |
| 25th percentile | $74,710 | $35.92 |
| Median (50th) | $81,860 | $39.36 |
| 75th percentile | $98,720 | $47.46 |
| 90th percentile | $107,110 | $51.50 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in North Carolina relative to the national average — is 1.04.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, registered nurses earn a median of $105,741 per year ($50.84/hour), below the North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 3,442,343 registered nurses in the U.S.. In North Carolina alone, about 108,510 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 39,900 registered nurses.
Top North Carolina Metros for Registered Nurses
These are the North Carolina metros with the most registered nurses in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 25,440 | $84,780 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 13,600 | n/a |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 12,820 | $84,870 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 8,950 | $84,270 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 6,000 | $84,200 |
| Asheville, NC | 4,760 | $80,720 |
| Wilmington, NC | 4,400 | $75,710 |
| Greenville, NC | 3,830 | $80,870 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 3,350 | $81,260 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 2,950 | $77,680 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 1,780 | $78,140 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1,120 | $81,090 |
| Burlington, NC | 1,070 | $87,110 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 1,020 | $79,910 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 890 | $77,860 |
Top States for Registered Nurses Employment
View the states that employ the most registered nurses work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 326,720 |
| Texas | 261,050 |
| Florida | 218,100 |
| New York | 204,120 |
| Pennsylvania | 146,840 |
| Illinois | 139,900 |
| Ohio | 138,360 |
| North Carolina | 108,510 |
| Michigan | 104,210 |
| Georgia | 97,410 |
| New Jersey | 95,150 |
| Massachusetts | 90,190 |
| Virginia | 77,420 |
| Missouri | 74,270 |
| Indiana | 68,950 |
| Tennessee | 67,990 |
| Wisconsin | 64,960 |
| Minnesota | 64,740 |
| Washington | 64,690 |
| Arizona | 64,430 |
Highest-Paying States for Registered Nurses
The highest-paying states for registered nurses.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,330 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $123,990 |
| Washington | $112,180 |
| Alaska | $110,690 |
| New York | $105,600 |
| District of Columbia | $104,550 |
| New Jersey | $102,730 |
| Nevada | $101,990 |
| Massachusetts | $101,970 |
Skills
The most important registered nurses skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for registered nurses, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, registered nurses typically:
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
- Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
- Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.
- Conduct specified laboratory tests.
- Observe nurses and visit patients to ensure proper nursing care.
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Working with Computers
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Apache Spark, eClinicalWorks EHR software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
Related Careers
Other careers like registered nurses include:
- Physician Assistants
- Acute Care Nurses
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
- Critical Care Nurses
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Nurse Anesthetists
Also Known As
Cardiac Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse), Cardiac Nurse Specialist, Central Supply Nurse, Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR), Charge Nurse, Circulating Nurse, Community Health Nurse, Consultant Nurse, Consulting Nurse, Coronary Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse), County Nurse, Delivery Nurse, Dialysis Nurse, Dialysis Registered Nurse (Dialysis RN), Discharge Planner.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-1141.00