The number of nursing jobs is expected to rise over the next ten years due to future changes in demographics and an increased emphasis on preventative care. In fact, registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations.

Depending on level of education and work environment, nurse salaries vary tremendously. The median salary for registered nurses (RNs) is $52,330 a year. The median wage for nurse aids is $10.09 per hour. Mental health nurse practitioners, a specialized type of psychiatric nurse, make an average of about $75,000 a year and even more if they work on the west coast.