Registered nurses offer professional and qualified nursing service for families, individuals, communities, and groups. They provide health-education programs to promote, maintain, and restore patient health. Registered nurse salaries vary according to the type of nursing, years of experience, and geographic location. It is generally dependent on the schedule, requirements, work load, experience, and training of the individual. Educational qualifications and responsibilities are other factors that affect registered nurse salaries.

Over the past few years, registered nurse salaries have increased a great deal. The largest increases are for experienced nurses. To retain and attract qualified registered nurses, hospitals provide competitive salary and benefit packages. It includes annual salary, hourly wages, commissions, tips, and bonuses. Facility size is also an important factor in salaries. Registered nurse salaries increase with the increase in number and types of hospital beds. Nurses with advanced degrees and clinical nurse specialists earn comparatively higher salaries.

Registered nurse salaries are also different on the basis of the employers, which include regional health authorities, clinics, home care agencies, insurance companies, nursing homes, government firms, and large corporations. In addition to salaries, they get other benefit packages such as group life insurance, flexible work schedules, pension plans, childcare, housing assistance, and college tuition reimbursement. Accidental death and health insurance facilities, semi-private hospitalization, and short and long term disability benefits are also available. Vacation and holiday payments are based on the continuous length of service.

Registered nurses are classified into three: full-time, part-time, and casual. Registered nurse salaries are varied in each category. Full-time registered nurses receive full benefit programs; part-time and casual nurses get equal vacation pay as a percentage of their salary. Most registered nurses receive shift premiums also. Nurses who work in complex areas such as neo-natal intensive care or surgery draw more salary than the others. In addition to the general registered nurse salaries, many employers offer profit-sharing plans and bonuses.