Career Pathways for Nursing
October 28, 2026Nurses are a critical and expanding part of Oregon’s labor market. There are many different nursing specialties with a wide range of responsibilities and incomes, and many opportunities for career advancement. One in-demand nursing career pathway begins as a nursing assistant, progresses to a registered nurse, and ends as a nurse practitioner. All three of these nursing occupations are in high demand in Oregon and are projected to grow faster than the 6.4% average for all occupations.
Nursing Assistants – Low Educational Requirements and High Demand
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) need the least education of the three nursing occupations considered in this article, typically post-secondary training and a certification with the Oregon State Board of Nursing. CNAs provide or assist with basic care under the supervision of other licensed nursing staff and work in a wide range of environments including long-term care facilities and hospitals. Their tasks include providing physical support to patients, including those who are bedridden, in a variety of daily life activities like eating, using the bathroom, and getting dressed. CNAs may also monitor food and liquid intake from patients and report to other medical staff.
The were just over 14,300 nursing assistants in Oregon in 2024 and the occupation is projected to grow at a brisk rate of 10.2%. They earn a median wage of $24.57 and have a fairly compressed wage range. Entry level nursing assistants can expect to earn around $21 per hour while more experienced nurses could earn around $30.
Registered Nurses – More Education, but High Wages
One career progression for CNAs is to become a registered nurse. Registered nurses (RNs) plan and perform complex patient care. Their tasks include monitoring and recording patients’ medical information and vital signs, administering medications, and providing first aid and immunizations. Like nursing assistants, they work in a wide range of areas but are commonly employed in hospitals or ambulatory healthcare services. To become an RN in Oregon typically requires a bachelor’s degree along with a nursing certification. Although transitioning from a CNA to an RN requires a lot of work, CNAs have a head start from their training and nursing experience.
With this increased educational requirement comes a much higher wage. RNs in Oregon have a median wage of $63.76, more than twice the median for CNAs. RNs also have more potential for wage growth than CNAs. Entry level RNs can expect to earn around $47 per hour, while the most experienced could earn over $76.
Like CNAs, registered nurses are also in high demand. They represent one of the largest occupations in Oregon (46,400 in 2024) but are still projected to grow by a strong 9.1% over the next decade.
Nurse Practitioners – Demanding Process, but Top Wages, Rapid Growth
Registered nurses hoping to advance their career can complete a master’s or PhD program to become a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners (NPs) diagnose and treat acute illness and perform diagnostic tests including lab work or x-rays and may prescribe medication. NPs have more autonomy than the majority of other nursing occupations and are expected to independently analyze patients’ histories and develop scientifically informed diagnosis and treatment plans, sometimes for complex or emergency conditions. While some NPs work in hospitals and long-term care facilities, many work in outpatient clinics, either in physicians’ offices or private practices.
Becoming an NP is a long and challenging process. A master’s degree, experience as an RN, and certification are required to become a nurse practitioner. With increased experience comes with one of the highest median wages of any occupation in Oregon ($79.95). Like RNs, there is also ample opportunity for wage growth. The lowest earners have a wage of around $62 per hour while the highest earners could expect to earn over $95. This occupation isn’t large, only employing around 2,600 Oregonians in 2024, but is expected to grow at a very rapid rate of 48.0% over the next decade.
Note: Detailed descriptions of the tasks for occupations considered in this article come from O*Net Online.