Where do most nurses work in the United States? What are the most popular industries in terms of employment numbers? Those are all great questions. In this article (and video), I’m going to show you the top five industries for registered nurses. These are the industries in which most RNs work in the United States.
Where Most Registered Nurses Work
The table below shows the employment numbers and average salary for the top industries for RNs, based on salary statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2014.
Perhaps unsurprising, the industry with the highest level of employment for nurses was the General Medical and Surgical Hospital industry, coming in at a whopping 1,560,200 RNs out of the estimated 2,687,310 in the United States. Offices of Physicians came in at number two, followed by Home Health Care Services.
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 1,560,200 | 29.73 | $34.44 | $71,640 |
| Offices of Physicians | 183,400 | 7.47 | $30.67 | $63,800 |
| Home Health Care Services | 168,970 | 13.46 | $32.64 | $67,880 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 148,970 | 8.99 | $30.02 | $62,440 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 107,300 | 15.33 | $34.80 | $72,390 |
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Conclusion: Most Nurses Work in Hospitals
Although nursing is a dynamic profession with exciting new specialties and opportunities emerging, it’s interesting to see that general medical and surgical hospitals still offer the highest level of employment for this profession.
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at bls.gov.