The average registered nurse earns $86,070/year. After hidden costs and time, the true hourly rate drops from $43.03/hr to $30.19/hr — 30% less.
The average registered nurse earns $86,070/year. After hidden costs and time, the true hourly rate drops from $43.03/hr to $30.19/hr — 30% less.
Your Income
Hidden Time
Hours you work for free
Hidden Costs
Money you spend because you have a job
Gas, public transit, or rideshare
What you spend that you wouldn't at home
Tools, certifications, dry cleaning, etc.
The average registered nurse earns $86,070/year, which looks like $43.03/hr on paper. After accounting for 35 minutes of daily commuting, 4 hours of weekly unpaid overtime, and work expenses like lunch and clothing, the true hourly rate drops to $30.19/hr — 30% less.
With an average 35-minute round trip commute, registered nurses spend roughly $3,000/year on commute costs alone, plus 146 hours/year of unpaid commute time. That’s the equivalent of 4 full work weeks just getting to and from work.
At $86,070/year, the registered nurse true hourly rate is $30.19/hr after all hidden costs and time. Whether that’s worth it depends on your alternatives — use our calculator to compare with other job offers by adjusting the salary, commute, and overtime fields.
In the healthcare category, registered nurse salaries range from entry-level to experienced positions. The key isn’t just the salary — it’s the true hourly rate after hidden costs. Jobs with lower salaries but shorter commutes and less overtime can sometimes pay better per actual hour worked.