In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that registered nurses working in Maryland earned an average annual salary of $70,800. This exceeded the national salary average for this occupation, which was $66,200 that year.
Despite Maryland’s already high salary average for registered nurses, these professionals are discovering that holding a BSN degree equates to even more substantial earnings.
Salary motivated nursing students can locate baccalaureate-level nursing degree programs in eleven different colleges and universities throughout Maryland. To help fast-track students and professionals to earn a BSN degree, the Maryland school system is now offering several different BSN pathways including tradition pre-licensure BSN programs, RN-BSN programs, and accelerated BSN programs. RN to BSN bridge programs for licensed RNs are available almost exclusively online in order to cater to the busy schedules of working nurses.
A Comparative Look at ADN and BSN Salaries in Maryland
Instead of receiving the minimum education needed for employment, many nursing students are opting to earn a BSN instead of an ADN. Likewise, licensed nurses with ADNs that are already employed are returning to school for RN-BSN completion programs. In both cases, BSNs equate to greater salary potential in Maryland.
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics released statistics indicating that ADN nurses in Maryland earned an average annual salary of $59,600 and an average hourly wage of $28.65.
By contrast, BSN-educated nurses earned significantly more at $83,800 yearly, and $40.30 hourly.
As baccalaureate-educated nurses continue to be favored at the national and state level, student enrollment in BSN programs is on the rise. In 2013, the American Association of Colleges of Nurses reported there were 3,707 students enrolled in baccalaureate nursing programs in Maryland. In that same year the state graduated 2,121 students from baccalaureate and graduate-level nursing programs.
BSN Pay Averages by Geographic Location in Maryland
Nurses that proactively seek BSN education to facilitate bigger paychecks typically earn within the 75th and 90th salary percentiles in their occupation (top 10 to 25%). Yet, BSN salary averages have the tendency to differ slightly depending on a worker’s location of employment.
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics prepared the following data to highlight varying pay averages among BSN-educated registered nurses employed in different metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of Maryland: