Salary is only part of what a job pays. Benefits do the rest of the work, keeping nurses rested, healthy, and less prone to burnout, and signaling that an employer is invested in its staff. By the numbers, nurses do well here. Drawing on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employee Benefits Survey, which tracks paid leave, retirement, and other benefits across industries, this guide shows how nurses' benefits compare to other workers and how they have shifted over the past decade.
Nurses rank first for access to childcare, paid family leave, and employee wellness benefits:
- 28% of nurses get childcare benefits
- 36% get paid family leave
- 81% have access to employee wellness programs
Nurses have better access to most benefits
Across 11 of 12 common benefits, nurses have better access than the average U.S. worker. The widest gaps:
- Employee wellness programs: 81% of nurses versus 44% of all workers, a 37-point gap.
- Life insurance: 84% of nurses versus 60% of all workers, a 24-point gap.
- Retirement: 90% of nurses versus 71% of all workers, a 19-point gap.
The one benefit where all workers come out ahead is flexible scheduling, which is no surprise given how many nurses work nights and 12-hour shifts.
| Employee benefit | Registered nurses | All workers |
|---|---|---|
| Paid sick leave | 94% | 78% |
| Paid holiday leave | 92% | 78% |
| Healthcare | 91% | 73% |
| Retirement benefits | 90% | 71% |
| Paid vacation leave | 89% | 76% |
| Life insurance | 84% | 60% |
| Employee wellness program | 81% | 44% |
| Paid family leave | 36% | 21% |
| Childcare | 28% | 11% |
| Subsidized commuting | 14% | 8% |
| Student loan repayment | 10% | 4% |
| Flexible work schedule | 10% | 12% |
Source: BLS Employee Benefits Survey
Access has improved over the past decade
Nurses' access to benefits rose across the board between 2010 and 2020. The biggest movers:
- Employee wellness programs: from 59% in 2010 to 81% in 2020, up 22 points.
- Life insurance: from 73% to 84%, up 11 points.
- Subsidized commuting: from 11% to 14%, the smallest gain at 3 points.
| Benefit | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare | 21% | 24% | 28% |
| Employee wellness program | 59% | 69% | 81% |
| Healthcare | 82% | 85% | 91% |
| Life insurance | 73% | 77% | 84% |
| Paid holiday leave | 82% | 86% | 92% |
| Retirement benefits | 82% | 83% | 90% |
| Subsidized commuting | 11% | 9% | 14% |
Source: BLS Employee Benefits Survey. Several rows from the original decade table were dropped because the source data was internally inconsistent (duplicate and mislabeled rows that did not reconcile with the 2020 figures above). Student loan repayment and flexible scheduling are excluded because BLS only began tracking them in 2020.
Nurses get more paid vacation than average
Nurses consistently earn about three more paid vacation days than the average worker, and the gap holds across years of service. After one year, nurses average 17 vacation days versus 14 for all workers. After 20 years, it is 26 versus 23.
| Length of employment | Registered nurses | All workers |
|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | 17 | 14 |
| After 5 years | 21 | 18 |
| After 10 years | 24 | 21 |
| After 20 years | 26 | 23 |
Source: BLS Employee Benefits Survey
Time off matters: research links taking vacation to better mental health and productivity. Yet many nurses leave days on the table, citing scheduling or other obligations. In a high-pressure field, taking the time you have earned is one of the simpler ways to manage stress.
Why this matters for nurses
Good benefits drive retention. One survey from America's Health Insurance Plans found 56% of workers with health coverage called it a key reason to stay in their job. That gives nurses leverage. Knowing that most nurses get paid vacation and sick leave makes it easier to negotiate for them, and knowing which benefits are rarer (paid family leave at 36%, childcare at 28%, student loan repayment at 10%) shows where there is still room to push. The field is not perfect, but nurses enjoy a deep benefits package compared to most U.S. workers, and that pays off in retention, lower burnout, and better patient outcomes.
Methodology
Data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey, March 2020, accessed December 7-8, 2020. Figures reflect access rates for civilian workers across the public and private sectors. Healthcare here means access to medical, vision, dental, or outpatient prescription drug coverage. Average vacation days reflect consolidated leave plans that combine multiple leave types into a single allotment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do registered nurses get better benefits than most workers?
Yes. According to the BLS National Compensation Survey, nurses have better access than the average U.S. worker on 11 of 12 common benefits. The gaps are widest for employee wellness programs (81% of nurses versus 44% of all workers), life insurance (84% versus 60%), and retirement plans (90% versus 71%).
Which benefits do nurses rank first for?
Nurses lead all workers on access to childcare (28% versus 11%), paid family leave (36% versus 21%), and employee wellness programs (81% versus 44%). These are benefits that are still relatively rare across the broader workforce.
Is there a benefit where nurses come out behind?
Flexible scheduling. About 10% of nurses have access to a flexible work schedule versus 12% of all workers. That is expected in a field built around nights, weekends, and 12-hour shifts where coverage has to be continuous.
How much paid vacation do nurses get?
Nurses average roughly three more paid vacation days than the typical worker, and the gap holds across tenure. After one year it is about 17 days versus 14 for all workers, and after 20 years it is 26 versus 23.
Have nurses' benefits improved over time?
Yes. Access rose across the board between 2010 and 2020. The biggest gain was employee wellness programs, up 22 points from 59% to 81%, followed by life insurance, up 11 points from 73% to 84%.
Why do good benefits matter for nurses?
Benefits drive retention and reduce burnout, and knowing the data gives nurses leverage. Most nurses already get paid sick leave and vacation, so those are easier to negotiate, while rarer benefits like paid family leave (36%) and student loan repayment (10%) show where there is still room to push.