Nursing is a fulfilling profession that offers many personal and professional growth opportunities. In terms of financial compensation, nursing offers competitive salaries that can vary depending on a range of factors such as education level, work experience, location, and specialization.
In this blog, we will explore the 20 highest-paid nursing jobs, including their job descriptions and salary. If you’re curious about the earning potential of nursing careers, this blog is for you!
20 Highest-Paid Nursing Jobs
Whether you are a nursing student, a new graduate, or an experienced nurse looking to advance your career, this list can help you identify the most lucrative job options in the nursing field. Let’s get started!
1. Certified registered nurse anesthetist
Salary: $207,100
A CRNA is a specialized advanced practice registered nurse who provides anesthesia and related care before, during, and after various medical procedures. They collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive safe and effective anesthesia during surgery or other medical procedures.
2. Cardiac nurse practitioner
Salary: $122,554
Cardiac nurse practitioners provide specialized care to patients with cardiovascular conditions. Cardiac nurses educate patients and their families on heart health, lifestyle modifications, and medications. In addition, they are responsible for maintaining accurate patient records, staying up-to-date with the latest research and advancements in cardiology, and adhering to all healthcare regulations and ethical standards.
3. General nurse practitioner
Salary: $120,680
A general nurse practitioner is responsible for providing comprehensive healthcare services to patients of all ages. General nurse practitioners work closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat acute and chronic illnesses. Their role may involve:
-Performing physical exams
-Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests
-Prescribing medications
-Developing treatment plans that promote wellness and prevent disease
4. Urgent care nurse practitioner
Salary: $129,333
Urgent care nurse practitioners provide high-quality medical care to patients requiring immediate attention for non-life-threatening conditions. They work in a fast-paced environment, assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients with various acute illnesses and injuries, including cuts, bruises, fractures, and infections. Urgent care nurse practitioners also educate patients on preventive health measures and follow-up care and manage patients with chronic conditions.
5. Surgical nurse practitioner
Salary: $116,800
A surgical nurse practitioner works alongside surgeons and other healthcare professionals to provide high-quality care to patients before, during, and after surgical procedures. They assist in assessing and diagnosing patients, developing treatment plans, and providing patient education and counseling. They also help the surgeon in the operating room by preparing equipment, monitoring vital signs, and assisting during procedures.
6. Family nurse practitioner
Salary: $120,250
A family nurse practitioner is responsible for providing comprehensive primary healthcare services to individuals and families across the lifespan. Their duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
-Conducting physical exams
-Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses
-Prescribing medications
-Collaborating with healthcare professionals to develop patient care plans
7. Orthopedic nurse practitioner
Salary: $121,314
An orthopedic nurse practitioner is a highly skilled healthcare professional who assesses, diagnoses, treats, and manages patients with musculoskeletal conditions, injuries, and disorders. They work closely with orthopedic surgeons and other healthcare providers to provide comprehensive patient care. As key orthopedic team members, they promote patient education, prevent complications, and improve patient outcomes.
8. Gerontological nurse practitioner (GNP)
Salary: $120,263
A GNP is a healthcare professional who provides medical care to elderly patients. They are responsible for conducting comprehensive health assessments, developing treatment plans, prescribing medications, and coordinating care with other healthcare professionals to optimize the health and well-being of their patients. GNPs also educate patients and their families about health promotion and disease prevention strategies for the aging population.
9. Neonatal nurse practitioner
Salary: $133,580
Neonatal nurse practitioners provide specialized care to critically ill newborns in neonatal intensive care units. They monitor vital signs, administer medications, and perform diagnostic tests. A neonatal nurse practitioner works closely with other healthcare professionals, such as neonatologists and respiratory therapists, to develop and implement treatment plans.
10. Pediatric nurse practitioner
Salary: $114,900
A pediatric nurse practitioner provides medical care to infants, children, and adolescents. Their responsibilities include:
-Conducting physical exams
-Diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries
-Prescribing medication
-Providing education to patients and their families
11. Oncology nurse practitioner
Salary: $121,203
An oncology nurse practitioner is a highly trained healthcare professional who cares for patients with cancer. They work closely with oncologists to provide comprehensive care to these patients, including diagnosing and treating cancer, managing symptoms and side effects of treatment, and offering emotional support to patients and their families. They are also responsible for developing and implementing treatment plans, monitoring patients’ progress, and educating patients and their families about their condition and treatment options.
12. Clinical nurse specialist
Salary: $114,993
A clinical nurse specialist provides expert clinical care and consultation to patients and their families. They develop and implement individualized treatment plans, manage patient care, and provide education and support to patients and healthcare staff. With their advanced knowledge and skills, clinical nurse specialists play a vital role in improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of healthcare.
13. Pain management nurse
Salary: $134,390
A pain management nurse is a highly skilled healthcare professional who specializes in helping patients manage acute or chronic pain. Their primary role is assessing and managing patients’ pain levels through various therapies and medications while monitoring potential side effects. Pain management nurses work closely with physicians and other healthcare providers to develop comprehensive plans for each patient’s needs.
14. Nurse midwife
Salary: $112,830
A nurse midwife provides comprehensive healthcare services to women throughout their lifespans, focusing on pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Nurse midwives also provide education, counseling, and support to women and their families, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
15. Women’s health nurse practitioner
Salary: $113,373
A women’s health nurse practitioner provides comprehensive primary and reproductive healthcare services to women of all ages. They perform routine exams, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and counsel patients on various health topics. They work closely with other healthcare professionals to ensure women receive the best care for their unique needs.
16. Nurse administrator
Salary: $99,552
A nursing administrator is a healthcare professional who oversees the management of nursing staff and the delivery of patient care services in a healthcare facility. They are responsible for ensuring that the nursing department is running efficiently, within budget, and in compliance with healthcare regulations. They also collaborate with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement policies that promote high-quality patient care.
17. Psychiatric nurse practitioner
Salary: $115,130
A psychiatric nurse practitioner works with patients struggling with mental health issues. They conduct evaluations, diagnose and treat mental health disorders, and prescribe medications as needed. Additionally, they work with patients and their families to develop effective treatment plans and provide ongoing support to promote overall mental wellness.
18. Nurse researcher
Salary: $89,482
A nurse researcher is a professional who conducts scientific research related to nursing and healthcare. They use their clinical experience and knowledge to design and conduct studies to improve patient outcomes, develop new treatments, and enhance care delivery. Nurse researchers work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, universities, and research institutes.
19. Nurse educator
Salary: $106,584
A nurse educator is responsible for training and educating future and current nurses in various healthcare settings. Nurse educators collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure that nursing education meets the needs of patients and the healthcare industry. They develop and implement curriculum plans, design educational materials, and evaluate the effectiveness of teaching strategies.
20. Home care nurse practitioner
Salary: $118,011
A home care nurse practitioner provides medical care and treatment to patients in their homes. Their duties may include performing physical exams, administering medications, providing wound care, and educating patients on disease management and prevention. They work closely with patients and their families to create customized care plans that address their unique needs and conditions.
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FAQs
What is the highest-paying job in the nursing field? ›
The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist consistently ranks as the highest-paid nursing career. That is because Nurse Anesthetists are highly skilled Registered Nurses who work closely with medical staff during medical procedures that require anesthesia.
How to make $100,000 a year as a nurse? ›- Become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) ...
- Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) ...
- Become a Nurse Midwife. ...
- Advance in Nurse Leadership. ...
- Begin travel nursing assignment. ...
- Change Nursing specialties. ...
- Relocate to a higher paying state. ...
- Make sacrifices.
Registered Nurse Salary Statistics In The United States
The average annual wage for a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States is $82,750. The bottom 10% of annual nursing salaries is $59,450. The top 10% of RNs make an annual salary of $120,250. The median annual salary for an RN is $75,330.
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
California tops our list of the highest-paying states, where registered nurses make $124,000 per year on average.
The lowest salary for a nurse is for licensed nurse practitioners (LPNs). The median salary for LPNs is about $47,000. LPNs are some of the lowest-paid nurses because it has the lowest educational requirements within the nursing field. To practice as an LPN, a person does not need a college degree.
What state pays nurses the lowest? ›RNs in California are paid the highest average annual salary of RNs in any state, while RNs in South Dakota are paid the lowest, according to a Forbes analysis of recently updated Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
Can a nurse make $500,000 a year? ›It's not uncommon when a person who wants to get into nursing school tells others they can make the “big bucks” doing what they do. That's why Olivia Reeves, 35, gives her steps to success on how she made between $250,000 to $500,000 a year — and paid off her student loans — by the time she was 27.
Why are nurse salaries so high? ›High demand, the high cost of living and union power underlie the higher salaries of California's registered nurses. Burger said the nurse's union has also played a role in assuring that nurses have access to pension plans and that they retire with health benefits.
What hospitals pay nurses the most? ›Industry | Average Hourly Pay | Average Salary |
---|---|---|
Outpatient Care Centers | $40.73 | $84,720 |
Specialty Hospitals | $38.86 | $80,840 |
General Hospitals | $38.20 | $79,460 |
Psychiatric & Substance Abuse Hospitals | $35.87 | $74,610 |
While both nurse practitioners and doctors can enjoy the benefit of great incomes, doctors make almost twice as much as nurse practitioners. In fact, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, doctors typically earn an average annual salary of about $200,000 or more.
What state pays school nurses most? ›
The highest-paid school nurses work in California and Hawaii where the cost of living is respectively 50 percent higher and 77 percent higher than it is throughout the U.S. as a whole.
What type of nurse makes 6 figures? ›Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn a median salary of $195,610 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it the top paying nursing specialty. CRNAs typically work 40 hours per week, making the hourly wage average out to approximately $94.04 per hour.
How can a nurse become a multi millionaire? ›- Set a Financial Plan. ...
- Work with an Investment Planner. ...
- Cut Down on Expenses. ...
- Stay Out of Debt. ...
- Invest and Save. ...
- Be Willing to Go the Extra Mile. ...
- Increase Your Income. ...
- Go Bold and Be an Entrepreneur.
Advice for Creating Wealth
Each method has the potential to generate a million dollars over time. However, the best strategy is to build your portfolio and utilize these strategies to build wealth. Many nurses can become millionaires by saving enough money in their retirement fund monthly and minimizing debt.
Institutional Nurses
These nurses administer more basic care and typically don't have to work long hours and overnight shifts, so this field of nursing tends to be low-stress.
With pay that is 49.8% higher than the national average, California has the highest salaries in the country for RNs. California's registered nurses make an average yearly salary of $124,000 and an hourly wage of about $60.
What is pharmacist salary? › Who hires the most nurses? ›Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment |
---|---|---|
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 1,724,510 | 30.85 |
Offices of Physicians | 208,760 | 7.50 |
Home Health Care Services | 173,640 | 11.31 |
Outpatient Care Centers | 152,120 | 14.87 |
...
2. Registered nurse (RN)
Education | ASN (required) or BSN (recommended) |
---|---|
Certifications | Must pass the NCLEX-RN exam |
- Nurse Administrator. ...
- Public Health Nurse. ...
- Nurse Researcher. ...
- Nurse Informaticist. ...
- Case Management Nurse. ...
- Home Health Nurse. ...
- Clinic Nurse. ...
- Occupational Health Nurse.
Which state has the happiest nurses? ›
- #5 Colorado. Quality of life ranking: #10. Average RN salary: $69,990.00. ...
- #4 Alaska. Quality of life ranking: #19. Average RN salary: $88,510.00. ...
- #3 Oregon. Quality of life ranking: #18. ...
- #2 Wisconsin. Quality of life ranking: #3. ...
- #1 Minnesota. Quality of life ranking: #2.
California's Medical Board is famously strict. The background questions on the Med Board's application are extensive. The background check is thorough. Any blemish on an applicant's record, it seems, is cause for further investigation and often denial.
How rich can a nurse be? ›Registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S. earned a median annual wage of $77,600 as of May 2021, the most-recent data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And the highest earning RNs earn more than $120,000 each year.
What are good side hustles for nurses? ›- Telehealth nursing. ...
- Teaching and tutoring. ...
- Health and nurse coaching. ...
- Medical coding and billing. ...
- Home health care. ...
- Medical consulting. ...
- Clinical device educator. ...
- Medical writing.
Even with the decrease, travel nurses can make nearly $200,000 per year, assuming a weekly rate of $3,080.
Why is nursing underpaid? ›'The lack of flexible working policies and practices is another barrier to career progression for women, a large proportion of whom are seeking family-friendly, flexible work, which also tends to be underpaid.
Why is nurse the hardest job? ›According to one study, job-related stress related to nurses because they had to perform non-nursing activities consistently. These nurses deal with various patients, and they also struggle to feel in control of the patient outcomes. They don't get to see patients heal, so it can seem a bit deflating at times.
Will nurses get paid more in the future? ›If 2020 was the year of the nurse, 2021 and 2022 should be “The Year of the Nurse Pay Increase” due to the expansive increase in nursing salaries. Labor statistics show the current median RN salary in 2022 is $77,600 or $37.30 an hour. This salary is an increase from 2020, which was $75,330 or $36.22 an hour.
What is the highest ranking nurse in a hospital? ›Chief nursing officers are nursing administrators who work within the leadership team of a healthcare organization. They are considered the highest level of nursing leadership.
Can nurses make more than 100k? ›Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a registered nurse.
The average annual salary is $72,033 for registered nurse jobs. For example, registered nurses in California whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $171,000.
What is harder paramedic or nursing? ›
Paramedics are more highly trained than LPNs, however, the 1,200 to 1,800 hours of schooling a paramedic receives is lower than the two to four years it usually takes to become an RN. The paramedic's duties are mainly concerned with delivering emergency care to patients prior to arriving at the hospital.
Is a nurse or doctor better? ›Nurses Have a Greater Impact on Patients
Typically, doctors spend only a few minutes per day with each patient, diagnosing illness and prescribing treatment. Nurses spend much of their shift with patients, ensuring their overall well-being. Nurses serve as the liaison between patients and doctors.
1. California
No surprise here: California is also the highest-paying state for registered nurses (RNs) and among the highest-paying states for certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Likewise, California tops our list of the highest-paying states for LPNs, with an average annual salary of $65,140.
- Healthcare Industry Jobs. ...
- Service Jobs. ...
- Retail Jobs. ...
- Freelance Writing Or Editing. ...
- Virtual Assistant. ...
- Tutoring. ...
- House Sitting Or Pet Sitting. ...
- Open An Online Store.
Among the best Nursing schools, Yale University has the most highest graduation rate of 96.92%, while University of Washington-Seattle Campus has the lowest rate of 83.88%.
What are the levels of nursing from lowest to highest? ›- Nursing assistant (CNA) Nursing assistants also go by the title of nursing aides or CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants). ...
- Licensed practical nurse (LPN) ...
- Registered nurse (RN) ...
- Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)
Pediatric LPN
If you are good with kids and would like to work with them, one of the highest-paying LPN specialties involves the treatment of infants and children. As a pediatric LPN, you will tend to care for hurt, ill, or still-in-recovery children under the direct supervision of an RN or doctor.
The area where registered nurses are paid the highest is The Woodlands, where the average RNs salary is $83,890 and 54,540 registered nurses are currently employed. The Dallas area comes in second, with a $82,260 average RN salary and 62,840 registered nurses employed.
What is a RN salary? › What is the easiest level of nursing? ›The easiest role you can have as a nurse is that of a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN). LPNs and LVNs work under registered nurses (RNs), providing basic nursing care.
What is the highest nurse name? ›
Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)
They are considered the highest level of nursing leadership.
Understanding the Hierarchy of Nursing. Chief Nursing Officer (CNO): The CNO, sometimes referred to as the chief nursing executive (CNE), is at the top of the pyramid. This position usually works under the CEO of the hospital or agency and has administrative and supervisory roles.
What state pays LPN the most? ›1. California
No surprise here: California is also the highest-paying state for registered nurses (RNs) and among the highest-paying states for certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Likewise, California tops our list of the highest-paying states for LPNs, with an average annual salary of $65,140.
- Napa, California. $76,890.
- San Jose, California. $75,880.
- San Francisco, California. $75,410.
- Santa Rosa, California. $71,180.
- Vallejo, California. $70,720.
Some of the most common places for an LPN to work are at a nursing home, assisted living facility or retirement home to assist elderly people with their care. There are other workplaces where many LPNs can find work, including facilities that require a medical professional like an LPN to be present.
What state has the lowest paying nurses? ›The lowest-paying states are South Dakota ($60,540), Alabama ($61,920), Mississippi ($63,130), Iowa ($64,990), and Arkansas ($65,810).
What state are nurses the happiest? ›- #5 Colorado. Quality of life ranking: #10. Average RN salary: $69,990.00. ...
- #4 Alaska. Quality of life ranking: #19. Average RN salary: $88,510.00. ...
- #3 Oregon. Quality of life ranking: #18. ...
- #2 Wisconsin. Quality of life ranking: #3. ...
- #1 Minnesota. Quality of life ranking: #2.
However, the average doctor's salary in USA is $294,000 per year. The average annual salary of US doctors in 2023 is expected to be higher globally. Doctors in the USA have great earning potential, but various factors affect their compensation.