What are the fastest-growing nursing careers?
Of the four nursing roles the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects, nurse practitioners grow fastest, at 41% from 2025 to 2035. Registered nurses are projected to grow 5.6%, LPNs 3% and nursing assistants 2.6%.
Growth and openings
| Role | Projected growth | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse practitioner | 41% | 29,400 | $132,300 |
| Registered nurse | 5.6% | 180,800 | $97,550 |
| LPN / LVN | 3% | 51,800 | $64,400 |
| Nursing assistant | 2.6% | 196,200 | $42,260 |
How to read this
Growth is the change in the number of jobs. Openings include new jobs plus replacements for people who retire or leave the field. Registered nurses are projected to have 180,800 openings a year, about 6 times the number for nurse practitioners, because there are many more of them.
A fast-growing role is not automatically a better choice. Nurse practitioners need a graduate degree. See nursing degree requirements and salaries by role.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.