Is Registered Nurse a good career in 2026?
D
42/100 · Below Average
Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power.
$93K
Median pay
+51%
vs US average
6%/yr
Demand growth
85/100
Future-proof
Reasons it's worth it
- ✓Pays 51% above the US average wage ($93K vs $62K).
- ✓Relatively automation-resilient (85/100 future-proof).
- ✓In-demand skills: Patient Care, IV Administration, EHR, Critical Thinking.
Things to weigh
- !Modest demand growth (~6%/yr).
Dig into the numbers
Common questions
Is Registered Nurse a good career in 2026?
On our data, Registered Nurse scores 42/100 (Below Average). Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power. Median pay is $93K (51% above the US average), demand is ~6%/yr, and automation risk is 15/100.
Does Registered Nurse pay well?
The median Registered Nurse earns about $93K, which is 51% above the US average wage of $62K.
Will Registered Nurse be automated by AI?
Automation risk is 15/100 (85/100 future-proof). Most of the role is hard to fully automate near-term.
Career score blends demand growth and automation risk; pay from BLS-anchored medians. A guide, not a guarantee.