Nursing Salary In PA

The high nursing salary in PA is one reason many area students choose to start a career in the nursing field. Of course besides salary, when evaluating a nursing career it's important to think about other factors that will affect a person's life. These factors include the cost of living, working hours, job benefits and advancement opportunities.

In this article we will explain how the nursing salary in Pennsylvania compares to other states as well as ways that PA nurses can maximize their take home pay.

The Nursing Salary in PA Depends On Your Degree

Nursing salaries in PA will depend on what type of nurse you are and what level of education you have received. An LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) earns less than an RN (Registered Nurse) because they have less education. While LPN's can typically complete their education within a year, RN's must receive either an associates (two year) or bachelors (four year) degree before becoming an RN. As with many professions, the higher the degree the better the salary.

This is why many LPN's and even RN's choose to continue their education even while they are working their full time nursing job. This is fairly easy to do with the number of nursing programs and nursing schools in PA located all across the state.

How Does The Nursing Salary in PA Compares to the Rest of the USA?

According to Salary.com, the Nursing Salary in PA for both RN's and LPN's ranks below the national average for most parts of the state. The one exception is Philadelphia, where nursing salary ranks above the national average when compared to other states.

What's The Average PA Nurses Salary?

LPN's working within the state of Pennsylvania can expect to make an annual salary between $34,000 to $36,000 per year. The average hourly pay for Pennsylvania LPN"s is between $16 and $17.

RN's working within the state of Pennsylvania make an average of $30 to $33 an hour and bring home between $60,000 and $63,000 a year in salary.

It's important to point out that the nursing salary in PA can increase depending on the job, education and experience of the nurse. Also, the recent downturn in the national economy has lowered the salary of many workers, but PA nurses haven't been greatly affected. Pennsylvania nursing salaries have not risen or dropped much in the past few years making nursing an even more stable career choice.

How does the Cost of Living Affect a PA Nurse's Salary?

The cost of living in Pennsylvania varies depending on where the nurse is located. Those who choose to work in Urban areas like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh will have a higher cost of living, but also have a higher salary. Those who work in more rural areas may experience a lower overall cost of living, but also have lower starting salaries. The great thing about starting a career in nursing is that educated nurses will be able to find work no matter what part of the state they choose to live in.

What Kind of Hours does a PA Nurse Work?

A typical nurse in Pennsylvania works a 12 hour shift, 3 days per week along with incidental overtime from meetings and reports. Factors such as a high “census” or patient count can provide more opportunities for overtime. With such a great hourly pay, working one or two extra shifts every few weeks can mean a significant boost in take-home pay.

In conclusion, the nursing salary in PA is a bit below average unless you choose to work in an urban area like Philadelphia. With that being said, the starting salaries in PA for both LPN's and RN's are respectable and still attract many Pennsylvanian's to the nursing field.