The number of nursing jobs across the country will increase by more than 4220,000 by 2029. Nowhere is that growth expected to be bigger than in Texas. The Lone Star State already employees more nurses than any other state, except for California. There were 219,330 nurses working in Texas as of May 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nurses in Texas made a mean annual salary of $76,800 in May 2020, according to the BLS. The BLS also reported that the top 10 percent of nurses in Texas earned $103,040 per year.
The expected population growth in Texas will create a 16.8 percent increase in the number of nurses in the Lone Star State by 2028, according to the federally funded and supported Projections Managing Partnership.
Earning an RN-to-BSN
The best jobs for nurses in Texas have evolved over the past years. Today, the best nursing jobs are usually open to those who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. That is why Houston Christian University offers an online RN-to-BSN degree program.
The program offers nurses a better chance of moving into leadership positions and jobs with higher pay.
The demand is there. Texas continues to suffer from a shortage of nurses. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies projects the shortage of nurses in the state will reach almost 60,000 by 2030.
As with much of the country, the demand in Texas is driven by the medical needs of an aging population. Also, more people are making use of preventive medical services. Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other medical facilities all need more nurses.
In Texas, an additional problem is high population growth. Texas is the second most populous state in the union. The population gained more than 2.7 million residents between 2010 and 2016.
Overall Nursing Jobs
Across the country, a staggering 3.3 million people are expected to work in nursing jobs by 2029. That is a growth of 221,900 jobs.
The growth in Texas and across the nation involves more than hospitals. Financial pressures on hospitals have created a situation where more patients may be discharged earlier from hospitals, according to information from the BLS, which adds that could result in more patients than ever spending time in outpatient care centers.
Medical facilities that offer long-term care will also need more nurses as an aging population requires this type of service more frequently. Nurses will continue to be in demand in those areas in Texas and across the country.