In 2024, around 4.3 million people worked as nurses. That’s around 2.8% of all employed people, or about one in 36 employees nationally.
4.3M
2.8%
Nurses made up 44.6% of healthcare practitioners and technical occupations in 2024.
How has nursing employment changed over time?
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), people employed in nursing increased 20.7% from 2014 to 2024. That is faster than the overall workforce, which grew 14.1% in that same time.
Nursing employment increased by 20.7% from 2014 to 2024.
Total employment of nursing occupations
BLS data includes five nursing occupations:
- Registered nurses
- Nurse anesthetists
- Nurse midwives
- Nurse practitioners
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Registered nurses is the largest of these categories, comprising 76.7% of all jobs and employing 3.28 million people.
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Registered nurses assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. They provide direct care to patients who are ill, injured, recovering, or living with disabilities. Many RNs also advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or serve as case managers. A license or registration is required to practice.
Nursing employment increased by 20.7% from 2014 to 2024.
Total employment of nursing occupations
Meanwhile, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses were 14.8% of all nurses, or around 632,500 people. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide care for patients who are ill, injured, or recovering, as well as people living with disabilities.
They work across a range of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, and group homes. LPNs and LVNs may work under the supervision of a registered nurse. A license is required to practice.
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Nurse practitioners were 7.2% of nurses, around 307,400 people. Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, either independently or as part of a healthcare team.
They may focus on health promotion and disease prevention, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and prescribe medication. Nurse practitioners must be registered nurses with specialized graduate education.
Nurse anesthetists comprised 1.2%, around 50,000 people. Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia, monitor patients' vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. They may assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Nurse anesthetists must be registered nurses with specialized graduate education.
Nurse midwives were 0.2% of jobs, around 8,300 people. Nurse midwives diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. They may also provide gynecological care. Nurse midwives must have specialized graduate nursing education.
How diverse are the nation’s nurses?
A higher percentage of nurses are women compared to all workers in the US, according to the 2025 Current Population Survey from the BLS.
About 91% of nurse practitioners are women, as were about 90% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Around 87% of registered nurses are women. For comparison, 47% of the overall workforce are women.
90.5% of nurse practitioners are women.
Percentage of workers by occupation and sex, 2025
Nurse practitioners have the highest percentage of white employees, at 75.7%. The national average of all white employees in all occupations is 75.7%.
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses have the highest percentage of Black or African American employees, at 28.6%, compared to the national average of 12.7%.
Registered nurses have the highest percentage of Asian employees (10.6%) and licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses have the highest percentage of Hispanic or Latino employees (15.9%).
The licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse workforce has the largest share of non-white employees among nursing occupations.
Percent of nurses by occupation and race/ethnicity, 2025
How much money do nurses make?
According to BLS data, all five nursing occupations earned a higher median annual wage than the national average of $49,500 in 2024. Four of the five also earned wages higher than the average for healthcare practitioner and technical occupations, which was $83,090.
Nurse anesthetists have an annual average wage of $223,210, the highest of any nursing category.
Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses make the least of any nursing category, with an annual average wage of $56,368.
Nurse anesthetists earn the most among nursing occupations: $223,210.
Annual median earnings by nursing occupation, 2024
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
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USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
