The Occupational Employment Statistics report based on a May 2007 survey published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that there were 34,580 registered nurses practicing in Arizona at that time. This report also shows that registered nurses who chose Arizona nursing careers made an average annual wage of $60,670, which is $29.17 per hour. This is considerably higher than the average wage for Arizona workers across industries, which was $37,560 per year, or $18.06 per hour.
The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s 2008-2009 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook states that registered nurses across the nation can expect to experience a 23% increase in employment opportunities by 2016. If this growth happens as expected, there will be approximately 587,000 additional jobs for registered nurses throughout the nation. Current and prospective registered nurses can expect Arizona nursing jobs to experience a similar rate of growth.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook also purports that job opportunities will be partially dependent on degree level. For example, registered nurses with a bachelor-level nursing degree will enjoy a higher increase in job prospects then nurses that do not hold a bachelor’s degree. Also, nurses that choose to advance their education beyond the bachelor level will have additional opportunities. Students considering Arizona nursing programs should keep this in mind when selecting a degree program