Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) industry earns $47,034 per year ($22.61/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$47,034
Avg Annual Pay
1,418,010
Total Employees
19,888
Total Establishments
71
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Nursing Care Facilities Workers Earn?

At $47,034/year (equivalent to $22.61/hour for a full-time worker), nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) business employs 71 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

31.1%

For the average nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) business generating $10.8M/year with 71 employees at $47,034 each, total payroll represents roughly 31.1% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)business, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $61,144/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 71 employees = ~$3,339,414/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $22.61/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $10.8M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) employees make?
The average nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) employee earns $47,034 per year, which is equivalent to $22.61/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) industry?
The nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) industry employs 1,418,010 workers across 19,888 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 71 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).