Nursing is one of the most diverse fields to work in with over 100 different areas to specialize in. From pediatrics to end-of-life care, the opportunities for nurses are limitless. With such a large selection of specialties, how can nurses know the average salary and how it varies by location? Below is a breakdown of the highest-paying nursing jobs by specialty and location in the United States according to Nurse.org.
The Top 15 Highest Paid Nursing Jobs by Specialty
|
|
Specialty |
Average Salary |
|
1. |
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist |
$195,610 |
|
2. |
General Nurse Practitioner |
$120,680 |
|
3. |
Intensive Care Unit Nurse |
$120,243 |
|
4. |
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse |
$118,586 |
|
5. |
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner |
$113,114 |
|
6. |
Certified Nurse Midwife |
$112,830 |
|
7. |
Clinical Nurse Specialist |
$112,267 |
|
8. |
Pain Management Nurse |
$110,420 |
|
9. |
Registered Nurse First Assist |
$101,890 |
|
10. |
Nursing Administrator |
$101,340 |
|
11. |
Family Nurse Practitioner |
$98,041 |
|
12. |
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner |
$90,391 |
|
13. |
Nurse Educator |
$82,040 |
|
14. |
Informatics Nurse |
$79,531 |
|
15. |
Health Policy Nurse |
$79,429 |
California is known for its great year-round weather, beautiful beaches, and natural beauty. It’s also one of the highest paying states for nurses due to its strong economy and union power. Below are the top ten highest paying cities for nurses in California according to Nurse Journal. Nurses who provide specialized care or are trained in certain areas can earn even more.
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Nurses in California
|
|
City |
Average Salary |
| 1. |
San José-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA |
$155,230 |
| 2. |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA |
$151,640 |
| 3. |
Vallejo-Fairfield |
$146,360 |
| 4. |
Santa Rosa, CA |
$141,440 |
| 5. |
Napa, CA |
$139,680 |
| 6. |
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA |
$138,590 |
| 7. |
Salina, CA |
$130,520 |
| 8. |
Modesto, CA |
$127,730 |
| 9. |
Hanford-Corcoran, CA |
$124,790 |
| 10. |
San Luis Obispo-Arroyo Granda, CA |
$122,730 |
If California isn’t your scene, there are still many cities across the nation that pay well. According to Nurse Journal, these are the top ten highest paying cities for nurses outside of California.
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Nurses Outside of California
|
|
City |
Average Salary |
| 1. |
Urban Honolulu, HI |
$107,690 |
| 2. |
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI |
$107,600 |
| 3. |
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA |
$101,710 |
| 4. |
Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH |
$99,950 |
| 5. |
Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
$99,310 |
| 6. |
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-PA |
$98,460 |
| 7. |
Eugene, OR |
$97,330 |
| 8. |
Anchorage, AK |
$96,160 |
| 9. |
Medford, OR |
$95,020 |
| 10. |
Albany, OR |
$94,820 |
Thinking about expanding your career options? Making a career move is a big decision. Here is a more detailed look at the highest paid nursing positions by specialty and the requirements needed for each.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) are advanced practice registered nurses and are the highest paid nurses in the United States! CRNA’s work with surgical healthcare teams and are responsible for administering anesthesia to patients during surgery and monitoring for complications. In many states, CRNA’s practice independently with complete autonomy.
Average Salary: $195,610
Requirements: Registered nurse license, advanced degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program, and passing of the National Certification Examination.
Employers: Outpatient surgical centers, hospitals, ambulatory centers, clinics, and ambulatory centers.
General Nurse Practitioner
General nurse practitioners are trained and licensed independent healthcare providers who manage patients’ health. They provide a wide range of primary and specialty care either independently or with a doctor, depending on the state and area of practice.
Average Salary: $120,680
Requirements: Registered Nurse license, Master’s or Doctoral degree in Nursing, national certification, and state licensure.
Employers: Nurse practitioners work in hospitals, clinics, private practice, and urgent care centers.
Intensive Care Unit Nurse
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses mostly work in the hospital and care for the most critically ill patients. They have highly specialized skills needed to care for patients who are dealing with severe illness or trauma. ICU nurses must obtain excellent critically thinking skills.
Average Salary: $120,243
Requirements: Active registered nurse License
Employers: Hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, cardiac catheterizatopm labs, post-anesthesia care units, urgent care clinics, short-term stay hospitals, staffing agencies
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
Neonatal intense care unit (NICU) nurses provide care to newborns who have a variety of needs such as prematurity, birth defects, breathing support, and more. The level of care NICU nurses provide is dependent on the level NICU that they work in.
Average Salary: $118,586
Requirements: Active registered nurse License
Employers: Hospitals
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are trained to work with mental, psychiatric, and behavioral health. They provide comprehensive mental health care to patients in a variety of healthcare settings.
Average Salary: $113,114
Requirements: Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing, Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Exam certification, and state licensure.
Employers: Hospitals, mental health clinics, psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, staffing agencies
Certified Nurse Midwife
Certified nurse midwives provide independent care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. They also provide care for gynecologic health, preconception care, and reproductive health.
Average Salary: $112,830
Requirements: Certified Nurse-Midwife through the American Midwifery Certification Board
Employers: Hospitals, birthing centers, staffing agencies
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical nurse specialists are advanced practice registered nurses who manage and treat various illnesses. They are considered experts in their field and are specialized in diagnosing and treating the patients in their care.
Average Salary: $112,267
Requirements: Master’s degree in Nursing
Employers: Hospitals, clinics, private practices, staffing agencies
Pain Management Nurse
Pain management nurses provide for patients who need assistance in pain management post-surgery, acute, and chronic pain. Theses nurses are experts in interventions and treatment for pain management.
Average Salary: $110,420
Requirements: Active registered nurse License
Employers: Hospitals, drug counseling centers, drug dependency clinics, rehabilitation centers, oncology clinics, sports rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities, staffing agencies
Registered Nurse First Assist
Registered nurse first assists are a surgeon’s right hand man during procedures. From administering medications to suturing incisions, they are there every step of the way during a surgical procedure.
Average Salary: $101,890
Requirements: Active registered nurse license
Employers: Hospitals, surgery centers, private offices, research, staffing agencies
Nursing Administrator
Nursing administrators handle back-office operations of nursing from human resource functions, budgeting, and staff management.
Average Salary: $101,340
Requirements: Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration
Employers: Hospitals, private practice, clinics, staffing agencies
Family Nurse Practitioner
Family nurse practitioners provide comprehensive primary care that is very similar to a Primary care physician. The responsibilities of a family nurse practitioner include patient assessments, consultations, prescribing medications, treatment planning, and more.
Average Salary: $98,041
Requirements: Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Exam certification, and state licensure.
Employers: Clinics, ambulatory centers, urgent cares, hospitals, staffing agencies
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
Gerontological nurse practitioners treat adults and elderly patients throughout the aging process. They provide specialized, comprehensive care to treat and prevent illness while considering the cultural, social, and psychological impact of aging.
Average Salary: $90,391
Requirements: Master’s degree in nursing, Certified Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
Employers: Hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, clinics, staffing agencies
Nurse Educator
Nurse Educators teach, train, and provide continuing education for nursing students and licensed nurses. The duties of nurse educators depend on their work setting. Nursing educators in universities teach nursing students while those in hospitals may train registered nurses on how to properly use medical equipment and devices.
Average Salary: $82,040
Requirements: Master’s degree in nursing
Employers: Hospitals, clinics, universities, colleges, healthcare companies, nursing programs, staffing agencies
Informatics Nurse
Nurse informaticists is a technical role in the nursing field. Nurse informaticists drive process and patient improvement through data collection, analysis, and process change.
Average Salary: $79,531
Requirements: Active registered nurse License, master’s degree in nursing
Employers: Hospitals, medical record companies, clinics, healthcare technology companies, staffing agencies
Health Policy Nurse
Health policy nurses work with public health policy and government officials to improve the community and public health and wellness. Health Policy Nurses analyze and evaluate healthcare policies and laws.
Average Salary: $79,429
Requirements: Master’s degree in nursing, Health Policy Residency
Employers: Occupational health, case management, infection control, international health organizations, government offices, hospitals, law practices, staffing agencies, research
Need help finding a high-paying contract?
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