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Where Can Registered Nurses Work?

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Written by Marie Hasty, BSN, RN Content Writer, IntelyCare

While you might only picture a registered nurse (RN) working in a hospital, they can work in a variety of industries and settings. So, exactly where can registered nurses work? Just about anywhere healthcare happens. A nurse’s clinical and critical thinking skills are valuable in bedside care, academia, population health, leadership, and many other areas.

If you’re considering a career switch or pondering becoming an RN, you’ll have many industries and roles to choose from. Where can you work as an RN? If you’re curious about nursing specialties, workplaces, and income averages, check out our list below.

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Where Can Registered Nurses Work? Top Workplaces

Hospitals
Ambulatory care
Government
Nursing and residential care
Educational services
Other areas

1. Hospital RN Roles

Where do most RNs work? About 58% of RNs in the U.S. work in state, local, and private hospitals. Patients in these settings are acutely sick and too unstable to be at home or in a long-term care facility. As an acute care nurse, you might care for patients with chest pain, pneumonia, injuries, diabetes, and much more.

Some acute care facilities specialize in a patient population or illness. For example, in a children’s hospital, you’ll care strictly for children, infants, and, in some cases, young adults. In a psychiatric hospital, your patients may be suffering from acute mental instability, substance use issues, and other issues.

See average annual salaries for RNs in hospitals and acute care facilities:

Specialty hospitals (except psychiatric and substance abuse): $103,500
General medical and surgical hospitals: $101,100
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals: $98,680

Where do registered nurses work in hospitals? Acute care RNs can work in any of the following specialties and more:

Find the latest ER RN jobs, ICU RN jobs, oncology RN jobs, labor and delivery RN jobs, med-surg RN jobs, psych RN jobs, and pediatric RN jobs on IntelyCare.

2. Ambulatory Care RN Roles

The second most common workplace for registered nurses is ambulatory care. This includes outpatient clinics, same-day surgery centers, and physicians’ offices. These settings serve patients with preventative care needs, such as vaccines and health screening appointments. Routine procedures, wound care services, and check-ups are also common. Ambulatory care also includes home health services, which involves providing care at a patient’s home.

See average annual RN salaries for ambulatory care settings:

Outpatient care centers: $107,650
Ambulatory health care services: $93,380
Home health care services: $89,940
Medical and diagnostic laboratories: $87,790
Offices of physicians: $85,860
Personal care services: $84,120

Find the latest outpatient RN jobs, aesthetic RN jobs, home health RN jobs, wound care RN jobs, and urgent care RN jobs on IntelyCare.

3. Government RN Roles

RNs who work for the government may be part of public health initiatives, research projects, corrections health teams, and much more. These roles often focus on serving vulnerable or underserved populations, ensuring access to care, addressing large-scale health challenges, and promoting population health.

Here are the average annual salaries for government RNs:

Federal executive branch: $124,460
State government, excluding schools and hospitals: $94,170
Local government, excluding schools and hospitals: $92,460
Social assistance: $82,510

Where can RNs work in government? Learn more about the following career paths:

Find the latest correctional nurse jobs and Veterans Health Administration nursing jobs on IntelyCare.

4. Nursing and Residential Care Facilities

RNs who work in nursing homes, inpatient hospice, and residential care facilities play a vital role in supporting residents’ long-term health and quality of life. They have opportunities to build strong relationships with residents and their families while managing chronic conditions, coordinating care, and ensuring comfort.

View average annual salaries for RNs by facility type below:

Skilled nursing facilities: $87,370
Nursing and residential facilities: $86,060
Residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance Abuse Facilities: $85,160
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities: $81,180

Where can registered nurses work in residential facilities? Learn more about the types of facilities below:

Find the latest RN memory care jobs and hospice RN jobs on IntelyCare.

5. Educational Settings

Registered nurses may also work in educational settings as school care providers or educators. School RNs help support children’s health at school by managing daytime medications, evaluating sick kids, and running school health initiatives.

On the other hand, nurse educators work in community colleges, private universities, and other institutions to teach nursing students. They may create coursework, run simulation labs, supervise students during clinical rotations, and more.

Below are the average RN salaries in the education sector:

Colleges, universities, and professional schools: $98,710
Educational services: $77,870
Elementary and secondary schools: $70,720

Find the latest school RN jobs and RN educator jobs on IntelyCare.

6. Other Areas for RNs

What other jobs can a registered nurse do? RNs are critical members of research teams, senior management, occupational health programs, and much more. You can even find nurse jobs that let you work from home. Once you’ve earned your licensure and a few years of experience, there are many industries you might be able to experiment in, including the following:

Find the latest manager-supervisor RN jobs, remote RN jobs, and telehealth RN jobs on IntelyCare.

Where Registered Nurses Work: FAQ

Where do the happiest nurses work?

Some of the specialties where nurses may have the highest satisfaction include obstetrics, infection control, labor and delivery, and radiology. Ultimately, the happiest specialty for you will be one that meets your needs. Consider what you’re looking for as far as pacing, culture, patient population, and schedule.

What kind of nurse gets paid the most?

The nursing career with the highest income averages is nurse anesthetists, or CRNAs. Salary is based on many factors, not just work setting. Nurses in other areas may earn more due to experience, certifications, location, and schedule.

Where can RNs make the most money?

If you’re up for a move, check out the highest-paying states for nurses:

What cities employ the most RNs?

Find roles in the metropolitan areas with the highest employment of RNs:

What’s the typical RN salary?

While it varies widely, RNs earn an average salary of $98,430 per year, or $47.32 per hour. Learn more about increasing your income as a nurse.

Find RN Roles with IntelyCare

Where can registered nurses work near you? Whether you’re looking for a job in town or across the country, we’re here to help you find it. Learn more about personalized job notifications that alert you when roles open up that match your schedule and specialty needs.