120 Healthcare and Nursing Statistics for 2024

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN Completion Program Page

Staying informed about the latest statistics and trends is crucial for professionals, students, and stakeholders alike. 120 Healthcare and Nursing Statistics for 2024 offers a comprehensive overview, shedding light on the significant shifts and patterns within the nursing and healthcare sectors.

This article delves into the dynamics of nursing and healthcare degrees, employment rates, demographic changes, and the economic aspects influencing these fields. By providing an in-depth analysis, we aim to equip our readers with actionable insights and a thorough understanding of the current state and future prospects of these industries.

According to the NLM, 35% of nurses and 54% of physicians have reported feeling symptoms of burnout

Burnout Among U.S. Nurses and Physicians

In the United States, a significant number of nurses and physicians are experiencing symptoms of burnout. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), 35% of nurses and 54% of physicians have reported feeling symptoms of burnout.

Fast Facts about Nursing and Healthcare Degrees

The landscape of nursing and healthcare education is a foundational element shaping the future of healthcare services. This section explores critical statistics surrounding nursing and healthcare degrees, highlighting the educational pathways that are shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Nursing at a Glance

Nursing is the nation’s largest healthcare profession, with nearly 5.2 million registered nurses (RNs) nationwide.¹
The demand for nurses with master’s and doctorate degrees is higher than the current supply.²
There are four times as many RNs as physicians in the U.S.²
Increased demand from the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation led nursing incomes to rise significantly across the country.¹
Of all licensed RNs, 89% are employed in nursing.¹
The nursing and allied professional workforce is facing critical shortages.³
The U.S. needs more than 200,000 new registered nurses (RNs) each year to meet increasing healthcare needs and to replace nurses entering retirement.³
More than one-quarter of all nurses report that they plan to leave nursing or retire over the next 5 years.¹
More than 60% of all nurses reported an increase in their workload following the COVID-19 pandemic.¹
35% and 54% of U.S. nurses and physicians have symptoms of burnout.⁴
The demand for travel nurses is rapidly increasing, with 91% of nurse staffing agencies reporting revenue growth year over year.⁵

About 8 in 10 workers in healthcare occupations are women

Healthcare at a Glance

The healthcare industry is the largest employer in the United States, with over 22 million workers.⁶
About 8 in 10 workers in healthcare occupations are women.⁷
There are over 484,313 healthcare providers currently employed in the United States.⁸
Healthcare employment grew by 40,000 in April 2023.⁹
Ambulatory healthcare services added 24,200 jobs in April 2023.⁹
24% of healthcare providers have earned a bachelor’s degree.⁸
The most common ethnicity of healthcare providers is White (35.6%), followed by Black or African American (24.0%), Hispanic or Latino (23.4%), and Asian (10.5%).⁸
Nursing, healthcare administration, and health sciences careers all require a bachelor’s degree to succeed in the field.¹⁰
20% of healthcare workers are employed part-time.¹¹
79.9% of all healthcare providers are women, while 20.1% are men.⁸
The percentage of men and women in healthcare provider positions has remained relatively stable over time.⁸
Almost a quarter (23%) of healthcare workers are older than 55 years of age.⁶
5.9% of all employees are 65 or over, which means that much of the workforce is set to retire in the coming years.⁶

Number and Rate of Nursing Degrees

The pursuit of nursing degrees is a reflection of the evolving demands and educational standards within the healthcare industry. Here, we examine the trends and statistics related to the attainment of nursing degrees, providing a snapshot of how educational achievements are progressing in the nursing field.

As of 2022, 71.7% of the RN workforce earned a baccalaureate or higher degree as their highest level of nursing education.²
In 2022, 17.4% of the nation’s registered nurses held a master’s degree and 2.7% held a doctoral degree as their highest educational preparation.²
Nearly 28% of employers require new nursing hires to have a bachelor’s degree.²
72% of employers strongly prefer baccalaureate-prepared nurses.²
The average job offer rate at the time of graduation was 77% for new BSN graduates and 67% for entry-level MSN graduates.¹²
The average rate of job offers 4-6 months after graduation was 93% for entry-level BSN and 94% for MSN graduates.¹²
The average time between completing an associate degree and master’s degree in nursing or a nursing-related field is 11.5 years. From earning an associates all the way to a doctorate, it’s 12.5 years.¹³
On average, there are 8.2 years between completion of bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing or a nursing-related field. From bachelor’s to doctorate, it is 12.4 years.¹³

Nursing Majors and Degrees

The nursing workforce is becoming increasingly more educated, with more than 70% of RNs holding a baccalaureate degree or higher.¹
The proportion of LPNs/LVNs holding an associate degree or higher remained steady at around 16%.¹
RNs and LPNs/LVNs are less experienced now than in previous years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.¹
The proportion of RNs with 10 or fewer years licensed jumped from 31% in 2020 to 38% in 2022.¹
For the highest level of nursing education, diplomas in nursing decreased from 9.2% to 4.1%¹.
1. Associate degrees in nursing decreased from 30.1% to 24.3% from 2015 to 2022.
2. Bachelor’s degrees in nursing increased from 43.4% to 51.1%.
3. Master’s degrees in nursing increased from 15.8% to 17.9%.
4. PhD degrees in nursing remained unchanged from 2015 to 2022 at 0.9%.
5. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees increased from 0.6% to 1.6%.

Nursing Demographics By Sex or Gender

Women continue to account for a large majority of nurses.¹
Currently, men account for 11% of the RN workforce, an increase from 8% in 2015.¹
From 2020 to 2022, the percentage of men in nursing increased from 9.4% to 11.2%.²
Non-binary or “other” respondents increased from 0.1% to 0.3% from 2020 to 2022.²
During the COVID-19 pandemic, registered nurse was the most common healthcare occupation for women.⁶
Women working as nursing assistants, the most common healthcare support occupation, earned $28,686.⁶
Nonbinary RNs are highly represented in the youngest age group, making up 31% of respondents aged 18-29 in 2022 (11% for both female and male RNs).²

Nursing Demographics By Race or Ethnicity

RNs are more likely to report identifying as an underrepresented racial minority.¹
1. The RN workforce is 80% White/Caucasian, a slight decrease from 81% in 2020.¹
2. RNs who reported being of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity comprised 7% of the workforce in 2022, whereas in 2015 they represented 4% of the workforce.^{1, 2}
3. 6.3% of RNs identify as Black/African American
4. 2.5% of RNs belong to more than one race
5. 0.4% are Native American or Alaska Native
6. 0.4% Native Hawaiian or other are Pacific Islander
The nursing workforce has become more diverse with increases reflected for Hispanic/Latino nurses.¹
LPNs/LVNs are also more likely to report identifying as an underrepresented racial minority.¹
1. The LPN/LVN workforce is 66% White/Caucasian, a decrease from 70% in 2020.¹
2. LPNs/LVNs who reported being of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity comprised 12% of the workforce in 2022, an increase from 6% in 2015.¹

4. Nurses who identified at multiracial have increased from 1.7% to 2.5% from 2017 to 2022.¹

Nursing Demographics By Age

The median age of RNs is 46 years.²
Most nurses under 40 got their initial U.S. licensing with a bachelor’s degree. Older nurses were more likely to start with a diploma, associate degree, or vocational/practical certificate.²
42% of nurses aged 65 or older started with a diploma when they first got licensed.²
In 2015, the largest percentage of RNs were aged 55 to 59 years (13.6%).¹
In 2017 and 2020, the largest percentage of RNs were aged 65 years or older (14.6% and 19.0%, respectively).¹
In 2022, the largest percentage of RNs were tied between the age group of 30 to 34 years and 65 years or older (13.2%).¹
Female RNs were evenly distributed across age groups, with the highest number of female nurses being in the oldest age group (65 years and older). In contrast, male and nonbinary nurses were more common in younger age groups.²

76% of people are employed in healthcare-related occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree.

Number and Rate of Healthcare Degrees

As healthcare continues to be a dominant sector in the job market, understanding the trends in healthcare degrees is crucial. This segment offers a detailed look at the statistics surrounding healthcare degrees, reflecting on how educational trends are shaping the healthcare industry.

13% of bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2019-20 were in health professions and related programs, making it the second most popular field of study.¹⁴
76% of people are employed in healthcare-related occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree.¹¹
36% of people employed in healthcare-related occupations have an advanced degree.¹¹
The number of bachelor’s degrees conferred in health professions and related programs increased by 98% between 2009-2010 and 2019-2020, from 129,600 to 257,300 degrees.¹⁴
The most common healthcare degree programs include nursing, healthcare administration, health sciences, and public health.¹⁵

Nursing Earnings and Employment

Economic factors play a significant role in the nursing profession, influencing job satisfaction and retention rates. This section examines the earnings and employment trends within nursing, providing a comprehensive overview of the financial aspects of the nursing career.

Employment of RNs is projected to grow 5% from 2021-31.²
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing employment has jumped significantly.¹
An estimated 89% of RNs who maintain licensure are employed in nursing; among these nurses, 70% work full-time, 11% work part-time, and about 8% work per diem shifts.¹
28% of all nurse respondents plan to retire in the next 5 years, an increase from the 21% who responded positively in 2020.¹
The median RN annual earnings increased from $70,000 in 2020 to $80,000 in 2022.¹
The median LPN/LVN annual earnings rose from $44,000 in 2020 to $50,000 in 2022.¹
The total number of active RN and LPN/LVN licenses in the United States were 5,239,499 and 973,788, respectively.¹
64.9% of currently employed RNs and 65.7% of LPNs/LVNs work in nursing full-time.¹
Hospitals continue to be the primary practice setting for RNs, followed by the ambulatory care setting, home health, and nursing homes.¹
60% of RNs work in hospitals, with 18% in ambulatory care, 7% in nursing and residential care facilities, 5% in government, and 3% in educational services.¹⁶
Advanced practice nurses (including NPs, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives) earned a median annual salary of $117,670 in 2020.¹⁷

Healthcare Fields and Occupations

The healthcare industry encompasses a wide range of fields and occupations, each contributing uniquely to patient care and medical innovation. Here, we explore the various healthcare fields and occupations, highlighting the growth, diversity, and challenges within each area.

According to the BLS, the health care and social assistance sector is projected to grow 14% from 2018 to 2028 due to an aging population with increased needs.¹⁸
As of 2019, 9.8 million workers, including physicians, surgeons, and registered nurses, were employed as healthcare technicians and practitioners.¹⁸
1. 5.3 million worked as nursing assistants, home health and personal care aides, and in other healthcare support occupations.¹⁸
Healthcare support occupations and healthcare practitioners and technical occupations are projected to be the two fastest-growing occupational groups, adding 2.3 million jobs.¹⁹
Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 18% from 2020 to 2030.²⁰
42% of employment in healthcare occupations was related to nursing, including nursing assistants.²¹
Medical and health services managers (or healthcare administrators) are projected to grow 28% between 2021 and 2031.²²
Physician assistants are projected to grow 28% from 2021 and 2031.²³
Nurse practitioners are projected to grow 40% from 2021 to 2031.²³
Physical therapist assistants are projected to grow 24% from 2021 to 2031.²³
Occupational therapy assistants are projected to grow 25% from 2021 to 2031.²³
Physical therapist aides are projected to grow 24% from 2021 to 2031.²³
Occupational therapy aides are projected to grow 33% from 2020 to 2030.²³
Home health aides are projected to grow 34% from 2020 to 2030.²³
Personal care aides are projected to grow 39% from 2020 to 2030.²³
During the COVID-19 pandemic, registered nurse was the most common healthcare occupation for women.⁶
1. Median annual earnings were $68,509.⁶
Women working as nursing assistants, the most common healthcare support occupation, earned $28,686.⁶
Among full-time, year-round healthcare workers, more than half of paramedics, surgeons, and other physicians were men.⁶
Median earnings for men in selected healthcare occupations ranged from under $30,000 for home health aides to $250,000+ for emergency medicine physicians.⁶

Healthcare Earnings and Employment

The financial aspects of healthcare employment significantly impact workforce dynamics and access to care. This part of the article reviews the earnings and employment statistics in the healthcare sector, offering insights into the economic health of this vital industry.

The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations was $77,760 in 2022.²⁴
General medical, surgical hospitals, and specialty hospitals collectively employ the most people, accounting for just over 7 million workers.⁶
Overall employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.²³
1. This increase is expected to result in about 2 million new jobs over the decade.
Additionally, about 1.9 million openings each year, on average, are projected to come from growth and replacement needs.²³
By December 2022, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, home health services, and hospitals employed more people than they had in February 2020.²⁵
The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (such as registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, and dental hygienists) was $75,040 in May 2021 (the median annual wage for all occupations of $45,760).²³
Healthcare support occupations (such as home care aides, occupational therapy assistants, and medical transcriptionists) had a median annual wage of $29,880 in May 2021.²³
Healthcare providers are 84% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government organizations.⁸
82.6% of hospital workers are employed in private hospitals in the U.S.²⁶
17.4% of hospital workers are employed in local, state, and federal government-run hospitals.²⁶
42% of employment in healthcare occupations was related to nursing, including nursing assistants.²¹
29% of healthcare provider jobs are in companies with 100 – 500 employees.⁸
The healthcare provider unemployment rate was 7.92% in 2021.⁸
Earnings for healthcare workers by highest education attained²⁷:
1. First-line management: $75,144 (bachelors); $85,473 (Master’s/doctorate)
2. Senior/middle management: $79,878 (bachelors); $101,730 (Master’s/doctorate)
3. Patient coordinator: $64,068 (bachelors); $71,516 (Master’s/doctorate)
4. Staff nurse: $63,382 (bachelors); $69,616 (Master’s/doctorate)
5. All nurses: $66,316 (bachelors); $87,363 (Master’s/doctorate)

Conclusion

The 120 Healthcare & Nursing Statistics for 2024 provides an essential resource for understanding the complexities and dynamics of the healthcare industry. From educational trends to demographic shifts and economic factors, these statistics offer a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities within nursing and healthcare.

As we move forward, these insights not only inform but also empower professionals, educators, and policymakers to make informed decisions, ultimately leading to improved healthcare outcomes and a more robust healthcare system.

Healthcare and Nursing Statistics Download