Nursing Degrees and Pathways
Six rungs, one profession. Every rung above the middle is built on the RN license, which is why the NCLEX is the gate that matters most. Wages are national medians from the federal wage survey (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Rung | Median pay | Hourly | vs RN | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 | −$55,290 | 1,448,910 |
| LPN / LVN | $64,400 | $30.96 | −$33,150 | 648,410 |
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 | — | 3,379,720 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 | +$34,750 | 323,040 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife | $134,040 | $64.44 | +$36,490 | 7,920 |
| Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $236,590 | $113.75 | +$139,040 | 51,840 |
The Steps Between Them
- ADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- LPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.
- RN to nurse practitionerWhat nurse practitioners earn compared with RNs — nationally and in every state — and what the step requires.
- RN to CRNANurse anesthesia is the highest-paid rung on the nursing ladder. What it pays against RN and NP wages, how few jobs there are, and what you need before you can apply.
- RN to nurse midwifeWhat certified nurse midwives earn against RN and NP wages, how small the field is, and what the step requires.
Pay moves as much by state as by rung — see nursing, state by state. Looking at careers beyond the bedside instead? Those live under career planning.
Sources
- National wages for nursing assistants, LPNs, RNs, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetistsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
Keep going
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- CollectionBecome a nurseWhether nursing pays off, which degree and program to choose, how to get accepted, and the TEAS — in order.
- GuideHow Much Does Nursing School Cost? ADN vs BSN vs Accelerated (2026)Real 2025-26 tuition averages for every path to RN — community college ADN, public and private BSN, accelerated programs — plus the nursing-specific fees and the hidden opportunity cost nobody budgets.
- CollectionNurse practitioner salary by stateWhat nurse practitioners earn in every state, and how far that is above RN pay.
- FinderNurse Salary Ladder: CNA to CRNACompare national median pay, pay range, headcount, and the typical education path for six nursing roles, from CNA to CRNA, using federal BLS data.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.