Publications

California Healthcare Almanac: Nurses

Author(s): 

Timothy Bates and Amber R. Rose

Date: 
March 4, 2021

Nursing is the single largest health profession in the state. These quick reference guides look at supply, demographics, education, distribution, and pay for registered nurses (RNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), using the most recent data available.

Key findings include:

  • Non-White RNs accounted for almost half (48%) of employed nurses in 2018.
  • California’s prelicensure programs for RNs produced 11,857 graduates in 2019, slightly up from 11,512 in 2010.
  • 63% of employed RNs worked in a hospital in 2019. Another 15% were in ambulatory care.
  • The median income for RNs was $110,620 in 2019.
  • In 2019, 70% of LVNs graduated from a for-profit school.

California's Registered Nurses, 2021 -- Quick Reference Guide

California's Licensed Vocational Nurses Registered Nurses, 2021 --  Quick Reference Guide