According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics for May 2007, there were 16,670 registered nurses working in Utah nursing jobs and making an average annual wage of $56,180, which works out to $27.01 per hour. This is nearly $20,000 higher than the annual average wage for workers in all industries in Utah at that time, which was $37,080, or $17.83 per hour. This data shows that Utah nursing careers pay just under $20,000 more per year, on average, than the annual average wage for Utah, and that Utah nurses enjoy a significantly better than average standard of living in that state.
While good compensation and a rewarding career helping others is enough of a reason to go into nursing in Utah, it becomes even more appealing when projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics are added to the mix. Its Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition puts forth that nursing is currently undergoing one of the fastest growth rates of any industry in the country, with an expected expansion of 23% between 2006 and 2016. This would mean 587,000 additional jobs for registered nurses across the nation over the next few years. This anticipated growth is bolstered by the increasing need for qualified registered nurses as the nation’s population grows and ages, people begin to live longer, registered nurses currently in the field begin to retire, and the trend towards using nurses to provide more extensive services to patients continues to grow. Prospective nurses considering Utah nursing programs can be confident in the knowledge that Utah nursing careers are expected to experience a similar expansion.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics report also notes that the most plentiful job prospects and opportunities for advancement will be made available to registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Therefore, students currently looking at Utah nursing programs may want to plan their education accordingly.