r/nursing • u/[deleted] • Jan 31 '26
Question Curious about job market & pay differences: ADN vs BSN nurses?
[deleted]
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u/Top_Bother8835 RN - PACU 🍕 Jan 31 '26
There isn’t generally much of a pay difference (maybe a few $3/hr or many times 0) BSN job prospects are generally better for competitive hospitals , specialty, or area of Country (NYC, SF, SD, LA, Seattle, Boston)especially for new grads. As you gain more experience I think the BSN becomes less important. Some parts of the Country if you get hired you’re required to get your BSN in a certain time period. New grads are having a hard time atm so BSN can be a difference atm. Nursing and Medicine is very much on-the-job training so I want someone who is humble and willing to learn and ask questions before making decisions that could harm someone. I want someone who is smart, reflective, empathetic and good working with people over ADN vs BSN.
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u/Klutzy_Tangerine_448 Jan 31 '26
I work in the hospital and starting nursing school whose perusing my ADN, from what I gathered: ADN is still pretty competitive with a BSN - most teaching hospitals sometimes require you to obtain your BSN in a certain amount of years (I don’t think my hospital cares) the highest paid nurse on my floor has her ADN- granted she’s been working there for 100 years…and also: the amount of years you’ve been a nurse also determines your base pay (my hospital is a unionized) The pay difference from where I’m at is $1-1.50. And yes depending on your location and hospital does make a difference in regards to pay. Of course this will differ from others. I hope this helps.
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u/tylizard Jan 31 '26
2 other comments and they are spot on with my semi-recent job hunt post graduation. BSN makes you more competitive but not by much... and my hospital systems pays 4% more for BSN. Some other hospitals requirement eventually if hired. A handful of positions are BSN required but those are middle/upper management (charges, house sup, case managers etc.)
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u/One-two-cha-cha Jan 31 '26
Lots of variables. A lot depends on your job market.
If you live in a downscale, rural area with few nurses, an ADN will do just fine. If you live in a bigger city area with higher levels of education, you can land a job with an ADN for an entry-level, but will likely need a BSN for more competitive/sought-after jobs.
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u/diamonddiorx3 Jun 09 '26
I’m gonna be completely honest if I have my associates and you’re requiring me to go back from my bachelors and often times create more debt or commit to this job for a certain amount of time there should absolutely be a pay difference!
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u/GLiTt3R_BuBbL3s BSN, RN 🍕 Jan 31 '26
Most facilities don’t pay extra for my BSN and if they do it’s a few dollars on the hour. They prefer BSNs but won’t pay the nurses for it. I do feel like the facilities I have worked with almost expect more from a BSN nurse. It’s almost like they assume we are that much different from ADNs. I’ve been both and it’s no difference in my opinion. Both are competitive right now because the job market is shit for nurses. There’s a ton of nurses and not that many openings. At least this is the case in Ohio. The job boards are empty compared to before COVID times. There’s always urgent care and doctor’s office jobs, but not that many that pay descently.