Registered Nurses in Alabama
Want to work as a Registered Nurses in Alabama? Below are the key facts. Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required. Includes Clinical Nurse Specialists. Excludes “Nurse Anesthetists” (29-1151), “Nurse Midwives” (29-1161), and “Nurse Practitioners” (29-1171).
What do Registered Nurses Make in Alabama?
For registered nurses working in Alabama, the typical annual salary is $71,040 per year (or about $34.16/hour).Earnings range from $53,360 at the 10th percentile to $98,840 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| 25th percentile | $62,160 | $29.89 |
| Median (50th) | $71,040 | $34.16 |
| 75th percentile | $82,170 | $39.51 |
| 90th percentile | $98,840 | $47.52 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Alabama nationwide is 1.20, suggesting that registered nurses are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, registered nurses earn a median of $105,741 per year ($50.84/hour), below the Alabama median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 3,442,343 registered nurses nationwide. In Alabama alone, around 53,340 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 39,900 registered nurses.
Top Alabama Metros for Registered Nurses
The metro areas below employ the most registered nurses in Alabama.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 18,330 | $76,020 |
| Huntsville, AL | 6,590 | $66,030 |
| Mobile, AL | 5,200 | $69,700 |
| Montgomery, AL | 3,720 | $80,250 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 2,460 | $68,790 |
| Dothan, AL | 1,970 | $65,070 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 1,790 | $77,160 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 1,350 | $77,720 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 1,340 | $64,370 |
| Gadsden, AL | 1,210 | $74,020 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | 1,050 | $68,720 |
| Decatur, AL | 760 | $67,010 |
Top States for Registered Nurses Employment
The table below shows the states where the most registered nurses work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 326,720 |
| Texas | 261,050 |
| Florida | 218,100 |
| New York | 204,120 |
| Pennsylvania | 146,840 |
| Illinois | 139,900 |
| Ohio | 138,360 |
| North Carolina | 108,510 |
| Michigan | 104,210 |
| Georgia | 97,410 |
| New Jersey | 95,150 |
| Massachusetts | 90,190 |
| Virginia | 77,420 |
| Missouri | 74,270 |
| Indiana | 68,950 |
| Tennessee | 67,990 |
| Wisconsin | 64,960 |
| Minnesota | 64,740 |
| Washington | 64,690 |
| Arizona | 64,430 |
Highest-Paying States for Registered Nurses
These states pay the most for registered nurses.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,330 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $123,990 |
| Washington | $112,180 |
| Alaska | $110,690 |
| New York | $105,600 |
| District of Columbia | $104,550 |
| New Jersey | $102,730 |
| Nevada | $101,990 |
| Massachusetts | $101,970 |
Skills
Key registered nurses skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for registered nurses, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, registered nurses typically:
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
- Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
- Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.
- Conduct specified laboratory tests.
- Observe nurses and visit patients to ensure proper nursing care.
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Working with Computers
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Apache Spark, eClinicalWorks EHR software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
Related Careers
Related occupations to registered nurses include:
- Physician Assistants
- Acute Care Nurses
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
- Critical Care Nurses
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Nurse Anesthetists
Also Known As
Cardiac Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse), Cardiac Nurse Specialist, Central Supply Nurse, Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR), Charge Nurse, Circulating Nurse, Community Health Nurse, Consultant Nurse, Consulting Nurse, Coronary Care Unit Nurse (CCU Nurse), County Nurse, Delivery Nurse, Dialysis Nurse, Dialysis Registered Nurse (Dialysis RN), Discharge Planner.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-1141.00