← Healthcare & Social Services
Registered Nurses
SOC 29-1141 · Healthcare & Social Services
jobs in Hamilton County, 2026
estimated openings each year
median pay in Hamilton County
projected job growth
Source: Lightcast Q1 2026 occupation snapshot, Hamilton County, IN.
What this job pays in the Indianapolis area
Half of workers earn more than the median, half earn less. The range below runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
| Point in the range | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $69,160 | $33.25 |
| 25th percentile | $79,080 | $38.02 |
| Median (middle) | $84,230 | $40.50 |
| 75th percentile | $101,970 | $49.02 |
| 90th percentile | $105,240 | $50.60 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood MSA. These are metro figures; BLS does not publish a Hamilton County wage by occupation. "Not published" means the federal source suppressed or top-coded that value.
What you need to get started
Most common education: A bachelor's degree (a 4-year college program).
How much preparation: A lot of preparation. Usually a four-year degree or several years of experience.
Source: O*NET 30.2 database, U.S. Department of Labor (pinned vintage; survey rows dated 2021 to 2024).
A four-year degree may not be required
This is a skills-based career (sometimes called a STARs job): many people get hired through experience, training, or a shorter credential rather than a bachelor's degree. In the past year our region had 2,663 local openings here that did not require a four-year degree. Most of these openings do not list a formal education requirement.
Source: Lightcast STARs-Relevant Occupations (Skilled Through Alternative Routes), Q3 2026, Hamilton County, IN.
Earn while you learn
You may be able to train for this job through a registered apprenticeship, a paid role where you earn a wage while you learn on the job. Our region counted 28 active registered apprenticeships in this occupation in 2025.
Source: Lightcast Analyst, Apprenticeships Table (Beta), 5 Indiana counties (Hamilton, Marion, Boone, Madison, Tipton), 2020 to 2025. 2025 is partial-year.
Registered Nurse license
Where this role can lead
Occupations that ask for much the same skills and typically pay more, with how pay compares. These are skills matches, not a record of individual people moving.
| Occupation | Match score | Monthly postings | Typical pay change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 78 of 100 | 43.8 | +$2,474 per year |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 57 of 100 | 7.2 | +$5,562 per year (about +7%) |
| Respiratory Therapists | 49 of 100 | 9.5 | -$8,506 per year (about -10%) |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | 42 of 100 | 30.0 | +$5,707 per year (about +7%) |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | 41 of 100 | 10.0 | +$18,925 per year (about +23%) |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 35 of 100 | 4.6 | +$9,723 per year (about +12%) |
Common paths into this role
Occupations whose skills line up with Registered Nurses and that typically pay less, so they are a common place to build from. Matched on skills, not on anyone's recorded move.
| Occupation | Match score | Monthly postings | Typical pay change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 82 of 100 | 27.2 | -$36,688 per year (about -44%) |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 78 of 100 | 43.8 | +$2,474 per year |
| Nursing Assistants | 76 of 100 | 23.8 | -$58,949 per year (about -70%) |
| Orderlies | 72 of 100 | 1.2 | -$62,335 per year (about -74%) |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 69 of 100 | 45.7 | -$52,174 per year (about -62%) |
| Health Education Specialists | 66 of 100 | 5.8 | -$35,561 per year (about -42%) |
| Surgical Assistants | 63 of 100 | 1.3 | -$32,684 per year (about -39%) |
| Psychiatric Technicians | 60 of 100 | 0.8 | -$58,354 per year (about -70%) |
Occupations whose skills point toward this role
Source: Lightcast Career Pathways, Q1 2026, Indianapolis MSA (network built July 2026 from 64 exports).
Local training that can get you there
- Ivy Tech Community College
Post-secondary
Associate degrees, certificates, workforce credentials across IT, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, business, skilled trades. - The Pursuit Institute (TPI)
K-12 CTE
K-12 CTE consortium serving all 6 Hamilton County school corps. 9 career pathways, 15 TPI-managed programs, 450+ courses. Advanced manufacturing, healthcare, business/finance, education, agriculture, info tech, hospitality, engineering.
Source: IHC program registry, curated April 2026. Programs decide their own eligibility and enrollment.
Where does this leave you?
Reading about a job is one thing. Whether you can get it, what it would pay you, and who near you hires for it are another. Pick whichever of these is true and we will work it out.
The first prices your experience and shows everywhere it could take you. The second shows the jobs people hold before moving into this one. Both are free and neither asks for a CV.