In general, the current mean salary of a U.S. nurse is $68,450 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — a figure not necessarily due to the whims of employers but to forces of politics and the market. Is that enough money? Many nurses don’t seem to think so.

In this salary-focused digital edition, we address central salary issues that affect us all, including basic wages, peripheral perks and regional and career-stage differences — all vital considerations. Here we stress that regardless of salaries, nurses are making intense, meaningful contributions to society, and one couldn’t find a better profession, although better-paying ones exist.

We have articles that examine differences in salary due to geographical regions, as well as educational credentials. We tell you how to negotiate your salary and what benefits you can expect in small versus large healthcare organizations. Look for trends in healthcare; for where healthcare goes, salaries follow. And speaking of going, you might change your practice after reading our account of travel nursing.

Remember, it’s perfectly all right to enter nursing to make money — and you can —although seasoned nurses warn that if you don’t have altruistic motivation as well, you might not last. Always consider that salary is just a piece of total compensation. Another part is the soulful satisfaction of changing the world, one patient at a time.