We used the latest data and insights to identify the Highest Paying Nursing Jobs so that you can learn and earn more.
From an economic and lifestyle perspective, a career in nursing is very appealing. But, of course, choosing a profession that truly interests you is both important and essential. If you like helping people and savoring the joy of accomplishment, these are some of the highest-paying nursing jobs and perhaps the best professions to consider.
We have reviewed data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, career platforms, and other major sources. We hope that you find this information helpful in planning your professional future.Â
Let’s take a look at the highest-paid nursing jobs.
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Table of Contents
#10. Nursing Administrator
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Payscale
- Low Range: $64,000 per year
- High Range: $133,000 per year
- Median Pay: $88,621 per yearÂ
What do they do?
Clinical nurse administrators are the people responsible for the day-to-day operations of a nursing facility. They coordinate the work of nurses, doctors, and other staff members to provide excellent care for patients. These administrators also ensure that the facility meets all legal and ethical standards.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Employers require different degrees for jobs in this field. Some organizations hire candidates with only an associate’s degree. You may need at least a bachelor’s degree with specific coursework in management to qualify for well-paying administrative jobs.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Clinical nurse administrators work in nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, clinics, and private practices that provide home health care services.
What’s the best way to get this job?
If you’d like to become a clinical nurse administrator, you should consider getting your education first. After that, it’s time to apply for positions online or through job boards.
What’s it like to be a nursing administrator?
#9. Neonatal Intensive Care NurseÂ
How much do they get paid?
- Source: ZipRecruiter
- Low Range: $32,000 per year
- High Range: $136,500 per year
- Median Pay: $99,711 per yearÂ
What do they do?
These nurses provide care for newborns born prematurely or underweight who may have other health issues that require special attention. They are also responsible for diagnosing problems, keeping up with current research, and improving patient treatment.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
This neonatal nurse practitioner job requires an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing and licensure from the state in which you work. You’ll need good communication skills to explain treatment options to parents and families, as well as excellent organizational skills for keeping track of all your patients’ information.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
They work in hospitals, clinics, and private practices, where they’re responsible for monitoring and supporting patients from birth through discharge.
What’s the best way to get this job?
There are many ways to get this job—the best way is to start by volunteering at a hospital or clinic where you can get hands-on experience caring for neonatal patients.
What’s it like to be a neonatal intensive care nurse?
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#8. Research Nurse
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Glassdoor
- Low Range: $35,000 per year
- High Range: $326,000 per year
- Median Pay: $106,286 per yearÂ
What do they do?
A research nurse is a healthcare professional who works in a hospital, clinic, or other medical facility to assist doctors and other healthcare professionals with the collection of data for a study. These nurses may also work with patients who are participating in clinical trials, where they collect and analyze data from those patients.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
A bachelor’s degree in nursing is usually enough to get started as a research nurse, but many employers prefer candidates who have completed an advanced degree program.
If you want to become a researcher, it helps if you’ve had some experience working with scientific equipment before.
You must be able to work under pressure and make quick decisions without compromising patient care.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Research nurses work in hospitals, clinics, and medical labs. They may also work for pharmaceutical companies or other organizations conducting clinical trials.
What’s the best way to get this job?
If you want to get hired as a research nurse, try looking into clinical trials or volunteering at your local hospital after earning your degree.
What’s it like to be a research nurse?
#7. Pain Management Nurse
How much do they get paid?
- Source: ZipRecruiter
- Low Range: $26,000 per year
- High Range: $273,500 per year
- Median Pay: $109,001 per yearÂ
What do they do?
Pain management nurses are healthcare professionals who help patients manage chronic and acute pain.Â
Their duties may include:
- Assessing the severity of the patient’s condition.
- Determining the suitable treatment options for each patient’s needs (including medications and alternative methods).
- Educating patients on how to manage their symptoms
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Pain management nurses must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. They must also be certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM).
You must be able to listen to your patients’ concerns, answer questions, and provide information about treatment options.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
These nurses work in hospitals, private practices, hospices, and other healthcare settings.Â
What’s the best way to get this job?
The first thing you’ll need is a registered nurse’s license. You can still pursue this career path by enrolling in a graduate program to earn your degree if you already have your bachelor’s, but not in nursing.
You will also need to take courses to learn about specific ailments and their treatments.
With your education and experience as a nursing intern, you can apply for the available jobs through job boards and hiring organizations’ websites.
How do you become a pain management nurse?
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#6. Certified Nurse-Midwives
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Glassdoor
- Low Range: $43,000 per year
- High Range: $315,000 per year
- Median Pay: $111,232 per yearÂ
What do they do?
Certified nurse-midwives are registered nurses who specialize in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. They work with their patients throughout the entire process of pregnancy and childbirth, from the first appointment to the last. These nurses also provide education about:
- Reproductive health.
- Family planning.
- Prenatal care.
- Delivery services.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
This job requires a nursing degree with an additional specialization in nurse-midwifery. The nurses must also be certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Nurse-midwives work primarily in hospitals or freestanding clinics specializing in women’s health care. However, they may also work in other clinical settings, such as public health departments.
What’s the best way to get this job?
To become a certified nurse-midwife (CNM), you must first complete an undergraduate degree program at an accredited school. You may then enter into an advanced practice program. Here you’ll earn either a master’s degree or higher-level credentialing.
You also need a registration certificate from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) to practice legally within your state.
What’s it like to be a certified nurse-midwife?
#5. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Salary.com
- Low Range: $89,153 per year
- High Range: $132,520 per year
- Median Pay: $111,830 per yearÂ
What do they do?
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are healthcare professionals who work with individuals with mental illnesses. They provide primary care services, including diagnosis, treatment planning, and medication management.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
A bachelor’s degree in nursing is the basic requirement for this position. You must also complete an accredited master’s program in psychiatric or mental health nursing.
This profession needs strong communication skills, empathy, compassion, and the ability to relate to others experiencing mental health issues.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Psychiatric nurse practitioners work in hospitals, clinics, private practice agencies, schools, and correctional facilities.
What’s the best way to get this job?
You need to earn a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing from an accredited university. This will give you the proper training and knowledge base necessary to work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
What’s it like to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner?
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#4. Clinical Nurse Specialist
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Glassdoor
- Low Range: $35,000 per year
- High Range: $401,000 per year
- Median Pay: $114,096 per yearÂ
What do they do?
Clinical nurse specialists serve as the bridge between healthcare providers and patients. They provide knowledge and advice to doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals on the best care for patients with certain conditions or diseases.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Most clinical nurse specialists have a master’s degree in nursing. In some cases, clinical nurse specialists may need board certification in their area of specialization (such as cardiology or oncology). This requires passing an exam administered by the National Certification Corporation (NCC).
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
These specialists work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, and private practice.
What’s the best way to get this job?
The first step to becoming a clinical nurse specialist is getting your RN (registered nurse) license. Once you’ve done that, you can move on to earning a master’s degree in nursing (MSN). After that, you’ll need to take additional training at a school accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
You can then get this job through networking and applying for positions online or at job fairs held by hospitals or other institutions that hire clinical nurse specialists.
What’s it like to be a clinical nurse specialist?
#3. Family Nurse Practitioners
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Salary.com
- Low Range: $99,434 per year
- High Range: $134,319 per year
- Median Pay: $115,310 per yearÂ
What do they do?
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are registered nurses who offer primary care to patients of all ages. They diagnose and treat various health problems, including acute and chronic illnesses and some surgical procedures.Â
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Family nurse practitioners usually have an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) plus a master’s degree in family practice. They must also pass the certification exam administered by their state board of nursing before beginning practice.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
These nursing professionals work in physicians’ offices, hospitals, urgent care centers, schools, or other health-related facilities.
What’s the best way to get this job?
With your degree in nursing, you may apply for a master’s program in family practice that includes clinical hours at a hospital or clinic. This lets you gain practical experience working with patients and doctors. You can then begin interviewing for positions.
What’s it like to be a family nurse practitioner?
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#2. Women’s Health Nurse
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Glassdoor
- Low Range: $46,000 per year
- High Range: $388,000 per year
- Median Pay: $131,345 per yearÂ
What do they do?
Women’s health nurses are professionals who have many responsibilities, including providing women with education and counseling on topics like contraception and pregnancy.Â
What degrees and skills are usually required?
These nurses must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited program before entering the field. Some employers require that candidates hold an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) first. However, many students choose to pursue a BSN after completing an ADN program because it allows them to gain more experience before entering the job market. Some employers may prefer candidates with advanced degrees such as a master of science (MS) or doctorate (Ph.D.), but this is not required.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Some women’s health nurses work in hospitals and other healthcare environments where they provide medical care for women who need it most (such as pregnant women). They also educate their patients about the best ways for them to stay healthy.
What’s the best way to get this job?
Networking remains your best way to find a job with a solid educational background. It allows you to meet others working in this field. You can also connect to hiring managers.
Should you become a women’s health nurse?
#1. Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthesist
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Salary.com
- Low Range: $172,089 per year
- High Range: $229,987 per year
- Median Pay: $199,060 per yearÂ
What do they do?
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are medical professionals who administer anesthesia to patients.Â
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Most employers require a bachelor’s degree for this position. Many nurses choose to specialize in anesthesia. This means you’ll need to earn an additional master’s degree in nursing or a related field to pursue this career path.
These healthcare professionals are certified by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
The skills that are important for this position include the ability to:
- Assess patients’ needs quickly.
- Identify problems before they arise.
- Make quick decisions about how best to manage them.Â
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
CRNAs are highly trained professionals who work in various health settings, including private hospitals, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes.
What’s the best way to get this job?
You must pursue your degree through either an associate or bachelor’s degree program in nursing. After completing your education, you may begin working toward certification through additional training programs. With your certificate, you can now practice in this field.
How do you become a certified registered nurse anesthetist?
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Conclusion
It is hard to determine exactly how much you’re going to make as a nurse. But if you know what the highest nursing salaries are in your area, you have a better chance of earning what you deserve.
So there you have it — a review of the highest-paid nurses and some potential options if you’re interested. Which high-paying nursing jobs do you think are worth pursuing? Let us know by leaving a comment in the area below.
