2025 State of U.S. Nurses & Technicians
6th Annual Report
What the data reveals
The 6th Annual State of U.S. Nurses & Technicians Report captures a critical shift in the healthcare workforce. For the first time ever, we include perspectives from both nurses, as well as technicians and technologists, offering a deeper look at burnout, mobility decisions, workplace safety, and the future of healthcare.
Backed by proprietary data from over 1 million professionals and 1,500 healthcare employers, the message is clear: resilience alone won’t sustain care teams. Healthcare employers must shift to modern, transparent, and sustainable workforce models.
Backed by proprietary data from over 1 million professionals and 1,500 healthcare employers, the message is clear: resilience alone won’t sustain care teams. Healthcare employers must shift to modern, transparent, and sustainable workforce models.
The frontline workforce, unfiltered
Burnout is intensifying and retention is at risk
Staffing shortages, growing caseloads, and a lack of recognition have become daily realities. Nurses and technicians want to stay in healthcare—but many are rethinking how, where, and under what conditions. Here’s what they’re experiencing:
71% of nurses and 61% of technicians say understaffing is hurting their role
80% of nurses report rising stress
69% of nurses and technicians have less time with patients
Nearly 1 in 4 nurses and technicians are likely to leave their job by the end of 2025
85% of nurses and technicians still intend to retire in healthcare
Compensation, career mobility, and safety must improve
Healthcare professionals are struggling to afford career decisions that match their passions. Stagnant pay, costly relocation, and limited career advancement paths are fueling frustration. Meanwhile, safety concerns and mental health barriers continue to grow. Here’s what they’re saying:
66% of nurses and 71% of technicians feel underpaid
55% say housing costs or interest rates limit job mobility
Only 1 in 3 nurses and 1 in 5 techs feel satisfied with growth options
Only 1 in 4 rate their mental health as “very good”
46% of nurses and 24% of techs experienced physical or verbal assault this year
The future needs innovation, but trust comes first
AI and automation could ease workloads, but most nurses and technicians haven’t been exposed to these tools yet. Widespread adoption depends on transparency, trust, and training. AI is still unfamiliar, but interest to learn is high:
86% want training on how to use AI effectively
Over 85% haven’t used AI on the job
Top use cases are patient monitoring, documentation, workflow optimization
Concerns are loss of patient connection (64%), and override of clinical judgement (63%)
Technicians and technologists are facing the same struggles with even fewer resources
Despite being vital to care delivery, technicians often report even fewer resources and less recognition than nurses. Here’s what they’re saying:
76% say it’s harder to find a healthcare job today
71% feel undercompensated
Only 25% of techs rated their mental health as “very good”. 17% rated it “bad” or “very bad”
Change starts from the top.
Nurses and technicians have spoken. Here’s how healthcare organizations can better support the professionals powering care:
Offer competitive, transparent compensation
Improve scheduling
flexibility
flexibility
Define internal mobility and training pathways
Ensure physical and psychological safety
Invest in responsible AI rollout and education
Read previous Annual Reports
Built for healthcare. Backed by data.
Incredible Health is the largest software and AI-enabled career marketplace for healthcare workers in the United States, trusted by over 1 million nurses and technicians, as well as over 1,500 hospitals, home health organizations, and surgery centers nationwide.
Incredible Health’s software and AI-enabled marketplace help healthcare employers hire permanent healthcare workers 5x faster than the national average—often in 20 days or less. In addition to speeding up hiring, Incredible Health helps healthcare employers save up to $5 million per facility annually by reducing dependency on travel nurses and overtime, improving retention, and expanding services in their communities.
Whether you’re a healthcare employer looking to improve hiring outcomes or a healthcare professional seeking your next opportunity, Incredible Health is built to support your goals.
Incredible Health’s software and AI-enabled marketplace help healthcare employers hire permanent healthcare workers 5x faster than the national average—often in 20 days or less. In addition to speeding up hiring, Incredible Health helps healthcare employers save up to $5 million per facility annually by reducing dependency on travel nurses and overtime, improving retention, and expanding services in their communities.
Whether you’re a healthcare employer looking to improve hiring outcomes or a healthcare professional seeking your next opportunity, Incredible Health is built to support your goals.
