Registered Nurse Jobs in Charlotte, NC
Registered nurses in Charlotte earn a median of about $43.50 an hour, and Atrium Health's med-surg postings at Carolinas Medical Center run from $38.20 to $57.30. Atrium and Novant Health both have RN openings posted now. Here are the current jobs, followed by who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current registered nurse Openings in Charlotte, NC
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Registered Nurse Work in Charlotte
Most Charlotte RN jobs sit inside two hospital systems a short drive apart. Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Children's Hospital share the Blythe Boulevard campus in Dilworth, and Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center is a few minutes away on Hawthorne Lane in Elizabeth. Both systems also staff suburban hospitals, from Atrium Health Pineville off Park Road to Novant's Matthews and Ballantyne medical centers, so a nurse can change employers without changing commutes.
Demand runs from adult med-surg and the emergency department to specialty units: Novant is posting operating room, neuro ICU, stroke and labor and delivery nurses at Presbyterian, while Atrium is hiring for the pediatric ICU and behavioral and medical observation unit at Levine Children's. North Carolina is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so nurses who live across the line in Fort Mill or Rock Hill can work here on a South Carolina multistate license.
Top Charlotte Employers Hiring Registered Nurses
These Charlotte employers have RN openings posted on their own careers sites:
- Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center - the Dilworth flagship hires med-surg, emergency and specialty RNs, with posted pay up to $57.30 an hour.
- Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital - the children's hospital hires pediatric ICU and behavioral and medical observation nurses.
- Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center - the Elizabeth hospital is hiring OR, neuro ICU, stroke and labor and delivery RNs.
- Aldersgate - the nonprofit retirement community hires RN supervisors for skilled nursing and an RN case manager for home care.
- Mecklenburg County Public Health - the county health department hires public health nurses for immunizations, TB control and school health.
- VIA Health Partners - the hospice provider based on Little Avenue hires staff nurses for home hospice and palliative care.
Registered Nurse Salaries in Charlotte
- Entry level: about $33 to $38 an hour for new graduates and nurses in their first year.
- Experienced: roughly $38 to $48 an hour for staff nurses with a few years on a unit.
- Senior: $50 to $57 an hour or more for specialty, charge and long-tenured nurses.
These are estimates based on 2025 federal wage data for the Charlotte metro, where RNs earn about $33.50 an hour at the 10th percentile and $52.89 at the 90th, and on Atrium Health's posted range. Night and weekend shifts, ICU, emergency and OR experience, a BSN and specialty certification all move pay up. Pay also varies by employer type and unit.
How to Become a Registered Nurse in Charlotte
You need an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing from a state-approved program, a passing score on the NCLEX-RN, and a license from the North Carolina Board of Nursing, or a multistate license from another compact state. Charlotte options include Central Piedmont Community College's ADN and accelerated ADN, Carolinas College of Health Sciences at The Pearl in Midtown, the UNC Charlotte School of Nursing's BSN and accelerated BSN in University City, and the Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens University in Myers Park. Hospital postings also ask for BLS certification.
What the Job Involves
Registered nurses assess patients, give medications and treatments, start IVs, monitor vital signs and lab results, and update the care plan with physicians. They chart in the electronic health record, teach patients and families before discharge, and supervise LPNs and nursing assistants on the unit. Most hospital RNs work 12-hour shifts, three days a week.
Skills Employers Look For
- An active NC or multistate compact RN license
- Current BLS, plus ACLS or PALS for critical care units
- Strong assessment and critical thinking
- Electronic health record charting
- Clear communication with patients, families and providers
- Calm under pressure on busy units
Career Path and Advancement
New graduates in Charlotte often start through Atrium Health's New Graduate RN Residency or on a med-surg floor, then move to ICU, emergency, OR or pediatrics after a year or two. Central Piedmont's LPN-to-ADN bridge and UNC Charlotte's online RN-to-BSN help nurses move up a credential while working. From there the ladder runs to charge nurse, nurse manager, nurse educator or a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthesia degree through UNC Charlotte's graduate programs.
Related Careers in Charlotte
For a wider look at the Charlotte job market in this field, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in Charlotte?
The median RN in the Charlotte metro earns about $43.57 an hour, or roughly $90,600 a year, based on 2025 federal wage data. Atrium Health's posted range for a med-surg RN at Carolinas Medical Center is $38.20 to $57.30 an hour.
Can I work in Charlotte with a South Carolina RN license?
Yes, if it is a multistate compact license. North Carolina and South Carolina are both Nurse Licensure Compact states, so a South Carolina multistate license lets you work in Charlotte without a separate North Carolina license.
Do Charlotte hospitals hire new graduate nurses?
Yes. Atrium Health runs a New Graduate RN Residency, and both Atrium and Novant post entry-level RN roles. Some units, such as Atrium's adult med-surg postings, ask for about a year of clinical experience, so check each posting.
Which nursing schools are in Charlotte?
Central Piedmont Community College offers the ADN and an accelerated ADN, and Carolinas College of Health Sciences offers ADN and BSN programs. The UNC Charlotte School of Nursing and the Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens University both offer the BSN and an accelerated BSN.
What schedule do Charlotte hospital nurses work?
Most hospital RNs work three 12-hour shifts a week, on days or nights, with some weekends. Both big systems also post part-time and weekend-only roles, and clinic and public health nurses usually work weekday hours.
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