How nurses’ pay changed over the past 20 years—and what it means for the health care worker shortage
Nurses may feel they're receiving worthwhile salary boosts, but these increases are less substantial than they seem due to historic inflation. Amid ongoing labor shortages and the global pandemic, nursing wages rose by 7% from 2021 to 2022, marking the most significant annual rise in two decades. Yet, inflation negated this gain, reducing real earnings by 1%. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to track changes in nurses' salaries for 2022, comparing median weekly earnings of registered nurses with those of all full-time workers aged 16 and over, both pre- and post-inflation. Most U.S. workers saw pay raises post-pandemic, but inflation-adjusted wages dropped by 0.6% on average, which is less than the drop for nurses. Generally, nurses earn more than the average worker. The BLS reports a nurse's median annual pay at $81,220, versus $1,118 weekly for all full-time U.S. workers, translating to $58,136 yearly. Despite good salaries and job security, nursing faces higher attrition than other fields. During COVID-19, 100,000 registered nurses left due to stress, burnout, and retirement, per a 2023 study by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. A 2022 analysis predicts a shortage of 200,000 to 450,000 registered nurses by 2025. "Many nurses, especially in hospitals, are leaving direct patient care," the report noted, citing "perceived lack of support, safety, and flexibility" as reasons. Home care, hospices, ambulatory clinics, and hospital departments are in particular need of nurses. America's health depends on having enough nurses. Labor shortages could worsen healthcare inequities. COVID-19 reshaped healthcare roles; during the pandemic, nurses and frontline workers cared for the dying, with colleagues among the casualties. In its first year, 3,607 U.S. health workers died, mostly nurses and support staff, according to a Guardian and Kaiser Health News analysis. Those remaining call for better employer attention to mental health, with Nurse Journal recommending an extra mental health day monthly. Worsening the issue, nursing schools struggle with faculty shortages, as many educators leave for better-paying roles in the field, notes the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Shortages harm workers, patients, and employers alike. Many predict that wage hikes to combat shortages will heavily influence healthcare cost increases, potentially raising expenses by $70 billion in 2027 compared to 2023. Labor shortages could weaken local healthcare access and extend wait times, exacerbating healthcare inequity, as disadvantaged communities often suffer more when care access diminishes.
