Mangament positions may be easier for a nurse with a BSN to obtain.
To become a licensed registered nurse, a nurse may receive a diploma from a nursing program administered by a hospital, receive an associate's degree in nursing or attend a traditional college and receive a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, also known as a BSN. Although salaries for registered nurses usually don't hinge upon their degree, BSNs may have wider advancement opportunities than other nurses, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Average RN-BSN Salary
Holders of a BSN who work as a staff nurse earn average salaries of $56,103 as of January 2011, according to PayScale. In advanced positions, they tend to earn higher salaries than those of their counterparts. A nurse case manager with a BSN earns $60,818 each year, while charge nurses with a BSN earn $64,383. Nurses with a bachelor's degree who work as operating nurses earn average annual salaries of $66,994, while those who rise to managerial positions earn salaries that range from $77,648 to $77,888 on average.
Salaries by City
A RN-BSN may receive a greater salary if he works in a major city rather than in a small town, with BSNs reporting the highest salaries in some of the largest metropolises. Those in Boston earn the highest average annual salaries, $85,139 as of January 2011, according to Salary Expert. BSNs in New York earn the next highest average salaries, $74,403. BSNs who practice in Orlando, Florida, earn the smallest average annual salary, $53,017. In half of the cities surveyed by Salary Expert, BSNs earned average annual salaries between $64,797 and $66,381.
Salary Comparison
Although they receive more formal education than other registered nurses, BSN-RNs may not earn salaries that are considerably higher than their lesser-trained colleagues do. Based upon advertised job listings, the average salary for registered nurses with a BSN receive average yearly earnings of $76,000 as of January 2011, according to Indeed.com. RN positions that don't require a BSN advertise nearly the same salaries, averaging $74,000 annually.
RN-to-BSN Programs
Many nurses who are licensed as RNs but do not hold a BSN choose to further their education in RN-to-BSN programs. These training systems, which are often provided online, allow nurses with the clinical practice and skills to focus solely on the classwork and curriculum necessary to receive a BSN, rather than forcing them to take classwork that duplicates their existing credentials.
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