Bachelor of Science in Nursing - BSN Salary

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is a four-year degree that, according to the American Nurses Association, provides an overview of nursing practice, theory and behavioral science to prepare graduates for the full range of nursing duties and nursing leadership positions. The ANA reported in 2004 (the most recent ANA statistics available) that more than one-third of registered nurses held the BSN. Salary potential for those with a BSN tends to be higher than that of registered nurses with an associate's degree or diploma.

BSN Salary Benefits

The BLS reports a mean annual salary of $66,530 (or $30.65 per hour) among registered nurses. However, a 2010 Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) salary survey reported that those who possessed only diploma or associate's degrees earned an average of about $1,000 less per year.

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that it is possible to earn a position as a registered nurse with only a diploma from a nursing program or a two-year associate's degree, an increasing majority of employers prefer to hire those with the BSN. Salary increases tend to follow those with this degree as well, due not only to greater employment opportunities and the ability to perform certain complex procedures, but also due to higher rates of promotion among those with the BSN. Salary statistics reported in the AORN study show that advanced titles--those earning higher salaries--such as nurse manager, director or administrator were more likely to be held by BSN holders. For instance, while the average salary reported for staff nurses as small facilities was $65,400, a nurse manager at a similarly sized facility earned $78,200, on average.