Jobs and career pathways
NCLEX – Pharmacology jobs, salary benchmarks, and career pathways
Passing the NCLEX-RN is the licensure gate for registered nursing, so the rows below use BLS data for the RN role itself plus the advanced-practice tier candidates most often move toward.
Updated August 23, 2026
Where this exam tends to lead
This cluster is oriented around related jobs and career pathways. The role targets below are the main search patterns this jobs page is built around.
This page is built around related job searches now, with room for richer direct-ingestion job feeds later.
Nursing salary benchmarks
Passing the NCLEX-RN is the licensure gate for registered nursing, so the rows below use BLS data for the RN role itself plus the advanced-practice tier candidates most often move toward.
| Role / benchmark | Pay | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | $93,600 median annual wage | May 2024 figure; the role the NCLEX-RN licenses you into, with about 189,100 openings projected each year BLS Registered Nurses |
| Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners | $132,050 median annual wage | 2024 figure; the advanced-practice tier, projected to grow 35% from 2024 to 2034 BLS Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $62,340 median annual wage | 2024 figure; useful contrast for candidates deciding between the PN and RN licensure paths BLS Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses |
Search live openings now
Official NCLEX-RN facts
| Fact | Current detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology share of the exam | Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies is 13–19% of scored items — the largest single subcategory in the test plan | 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan |
| How the other subcategories compare | Management of Care 15–21%, Safety and Infection Prevention and Control 10–16%, Physiological Adaptation 11–17%, Reduction of Risk Potential 9–15%, Basic Care and Comfort 6–12%, Health Promotion and Maintenance 6–12%, Psychosocial Integrity 6–12% | 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan |
| Exam length | 85 to 150 items, variable-length computerized adaptive test | NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin, April 2026 |
| Time limit | Five hours regardless of how many items you receive, and that total includes the introductory screen and every optional break | NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin, April 2026 |
| RN passing standard | 0.00 logits, upheld by the NCSBN Board in December 2022 and effective through March 31, 2029 | NCLEX passing standard |
| Registration fee | $200 USD for U.S. licensure, plus $150 USD if you schedule at an international test centre | NCLEX fees and payment |
| Clinical judgment measurement | Measured explicitly through 18 case study items (three item sets) plus approximately 10% stand-alone items, selected depending on exam length | 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan |
| Test plan validity window | The 2026 RN Test Plan is built on the 2024 RN Practice Analysis and governs exams through March 31, 2029 | 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan |
Fetched job listings
These listings come from the latest automated jobs update run. If a board blocks or limits retrieval, use the live search links above.
6 listings captured
The Muse
Licensed Insurance Sales Representative (Remote / Home-Based)
Allstate
Flexible / Remote
The Muse
(USA) Tire and Battery Service Advisor
Walmart
Eau Claire, WI
The Muse
Café Associate
Walmart
Clive, IA
The Muse
Maintenance Custodian Associate
Walmart
Ellicott City, MD
The Muse
Retail Customer Service Associate
Walmart
El Paso, TX
The Muse
PRODUCE/CLERK
Kroger
Bowling Green, OH
Official resources
The authoritative source for subcategory percentages. Read the Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies activity statements directly rather than relying on a third-party summary.
Item counts, the five-hour limit, and the three rules that end a variable-length exam.
Current RN and PN logit standards and the dates they apply through.
Registration, international scheduling, and change-of-registration fees.
External resources and benchmarks
Neutral wage, employment, and outlook data for the RN role.
Benchmark for where RN licensure can lead with a graduate degree.
Questions people ask before choosing this path
Is pharmacology really the biggest part of the NCLEX-RN?
It is the largest single subcategory. The 2026 RN Test Plan assigns Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 13–19% of scored items. Management of Care is higher at 15–21%, but that is a category covering delegation, advocacy, and care coordination rather than a content area you can drill the way you can drill drug classes.
Does every candidate get the same number of pharmacology questions?
No. The NCLEX is a variable-length adaptive test of 85 to 150 items, and NCSBN states that content distributions on individual exams may differ by up to ±3% in each category to accommodate that variation.
How long do I have for the exam?
Five hours, regardless of whether you receive 85 items or 150. That window includes the introductory screen and every break you take, so unscheduled breaks come out of testing time.
What score do I need on pharmacology specifically?
There is no subcategory score. The exam produces a single ability estimate measured against the RN passing standard of 0.00 logits, so weak pharmacology performance lowers one overall estimate rather than failing you on a section.
What does the NCLEX cost?
Registration is $200 USD for U.S. licensure. Scheduling at an international test centre adds $150 USD, and changing your nursing regulatory body or exam type after registering costs $50 each.