The Minnesota Department of Employment currently ranks registered nurses as the second most in-demand occupation in the state. As more nursing professionals gravitate to the tremendous job opportunities available here, they are also quickly discovering the secret to receiving peak salaries lies in earning a BSN degree.
Rising enrollment in baccalaureate programs reflects the popular trend of using BSNs to command higher-end salaries among new and existing nurses. In 2013, the American Association of Colleges of Nurses reported there were 6,505 students enrolled in baccalaureate nursing programs in Minnesota. In that same year, 4,711 students graduated from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs here.
According to the Minnesota Board of Nursing, there are currently eighteen colleges and universities throughout the state that offer baccalaureate nursing degree tracks. Students can locate these programs in cities like St. Paul, Minneapolis, Rochester, Duluth, Winona, Fairmont, Bloomington, St, Cloud, and Richfield.
Potential nursing students may view the financial investment of a BSN as daunting. However, esteemed nursing organizations such as the Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation offers an array of scholarship options to alleviate monetary roadblocks. Examples of these generous scholarships include:
- Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation Baccalaureate
- Cynthia Hunt-Lines
- Phillips–Laird
- Sarah Colvin Social Justice
BSN Nurses Receive Higher Pay than ADN Nurses in Minnesota
Federal government pay statistics reveal that BSN-educated nurses are enjoying much higher wage and salaries than ADN-educated nurses employed in Minnesota.
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that ADN-educated nurses working statewide earned an average annual salary of $57,900 and an average hourly wage of $27.86.
In that same year, registered nurses equipped with BSN degrees earned a notably higher average annual salary of $84,400 and an average hourly wage of $40.77.
The latest statistics released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show the top paying industries for registered nurses include:
- Professional and Business Services: $35.02/hr.
- Public Administration: $34.87/hr.
- Education and Health Services: $34.32/hr.
Regional Pay Averages for BSN Nurses in Minnesota
BSN nurses can expect to earn within the 75th and 90th wage percentiles in their field. However, BSN nurses should anticipate pay averages to differ between geographic locations of employment.
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics published the following data table to illustrate the regional pay averages between registered nurses working in different metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of Minnesota: