The healthcare field (to be precise, nursing) can be a lot more exhilarating, especially when you consider the highest paying nursing careers in America and worldwide.
We know you might have encountered different forms of unverified information regarding nursing as a career, especially regarding payments and related benefits.
This article discusses:
- Important Facts on Highest Paying Nursing Careers.
- Top 15 List of the Highest Paying Nursing Jobs.
- Top 10 highest paying states in America for RNs.
Important Facts on Highest Paying Nursing Careers
Before exploring the list, here’s what you should know:
- Average salaries for registered nurses (RNs) vary based on state (more on this later).
- According to Incredible Health, the average RN salary is $82,750, whereas the median is $77,600.
- Most Importantly, data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate that California is the highest-paying state for nurses, with the Registered Nurses (RNs) salaries averaging $124,000 as of May 2021.
We know you might be considering applying for different nursing jobs in California.
However, you should know that for a suitable and successful nursing career, you must evaluate all the underlying factors, including your academic qualifications, salary, and convenience, among many other determinants.
For academic qualifications, whether you are starting your studies or advancing your career, our group of qualified tutors and writers can help you complete different types of nursing assignments on time and guarantee excellent results.
Top 15 List of the Highest Paying Nursing Jobs
Here is the top 15 list:
- Registered Nurse Anesthetist ($183,580 Annually)
- Certified Nurse Midwife ($115,540 Annually)
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (Annual Salary: $112,196/$63.28 per hour)
- General Nurse Practitioner ($111,680 Annually)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists ($111,215 Annually)
- Nursing Administrator ($104,280 Annually)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse ($101,665 Annually)
- Pain Management Nurse ($101,665 Annually)
- Registered Nurse First Assist ($100,925 Annually)
- Family Nurse Practitioner ($97,664)
- Intensive Care Unit Nurse (ICU) ($95,000)
- Gerontological Nurse Practitioner ($89,521)
- Nurse Educator ($84,060)
- Informatics Nurse ($79,549)
- Health Policy Nurse ($79,178)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) (Annual Salary: $183,580/$88.26 per hour)
What is the role of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist?
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who administer anesthesia and other medications. CRNAs also monitor patients who are receiving anesthesia and those recovering from it.
CRNAs care for patients with different complications, such as those scheduled and those with potentially life-threatening conditions.
What are the education requirements for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)?
A doctorate degree specializing in anesthesia is the minimum requirement for becoming a CRNA. One must also complete extensive clinical training and pass a certification exam approved by the National Boards of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
What is the Career Outlook for CRNAs?
According to insights from BLS, CRNA career is expected to grow by 45% from 2020 to 2030.
Where Do CRNAs Work?
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) work in hospitals, ambulatory centers, staffing agencies, surgical centers, and pain management centers.
Certified Nurse Midwife (Annual Salary: $115,540/$55.55 per hour)
What is the role of a Certified Nurse Midwife?
A Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) represents an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who provides healthcare to women throughout the entire course of life. The type of care may include gynecological checkups, family planning, and prenatal care. In some cases, CNMs are believed to offer similar healthcare services to an OB/GYN doctor.
What are the education requirements for Nurse Midwife?
Before becoming a nurse midwife, you need first to be an RN, and you also have to pass the NCLEX-RN. Notably, most graduate-level nursing programs demand that one should have more than one year of nursing experience to be admitted. Nurses must also go through the American Midwifery Certification Board to earn the crucial designation.
What is the Career Outlook for Certified Nurse Midwives?
The Career Outlook for Certified Nurse Midwives is good, and this area of specialties is expected to grow by 45 per cent between 2020 and 2030.
Where Do Certified Nurse Midwives Work?
Certified Nurse midwives work in hospitals, private clinics, and freestanding birthing clinics, among other clinical units.
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Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (Annual Salary: $112,196/$63.28 per hour)
What is the role of a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?
Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Practitioners or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners specialize in mental health-related treatments. Their role includes assessing and diagnosing patients suffering from mental illnesses, substance abuse complications, and related disorders. They engage in psychotherapy and clinical prescriptions, educate patients and families about diagnosis and treatment plans, and manage their treatment plans. Their focus is on assisting individuals to cope with different psychiatric disorders and related or similar illnesses.
What are the education requirements for a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?
Becoming a Nurse requires one to have a Master of Science (MSN) together with other Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner licensures (normally specified by the specific states)
What is the Career Outlook for a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?
With the increasing need for improved mental health, the demand for psychiatric services is also rising. Most importantly, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners will be expected to be knowledgeable about mental health as well as substance abuse management/prevention.
Where Do Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Work?
Psychiatric Nurse practitioners can work in hospitals, mental care units, staffing agencies, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and outpatient clinics.
General Nurse Practitioner (Annual Salary: $112,196/$63.28 per hour)
What is the role of a General Nurse Practitioner?
General Nurse Practitioners (NPs) represent Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who have completed the required nurse practitioner schooling (either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). GNPs can serve as primary or specialty care providers.
What are the education requirements for a General Nurse Practitioner?
The minimum requirement is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which should be supported by a Nurse Practitioner licensure based on state requirements.
What is the Career Outlook for a General Nurse Practitioner?
According to BLS, the Nurse Practitioner career is expected to grow by 45% through 2030. It is worth noting that NPs can work independently or via healthcare organizations.
Where Do General Nurse Practitioners Work?
General Nurse practitioners work in clinics, staffing agencies, and hospitals and can also practice privately.
Clinical Nurse Specialists (Annual Salary: $112,267/$54.00 per hour)
What is the role of a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) represents one of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) with graduate-level education as well as clinical training. Just like other nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists have special skills for specific patient populations; however, unlike other nurse practitioners, they focus more on educating other nurses and improving overall patient outcomes. A clinical nurse specialist career comes with lucrative employment opportunities.
One can also provide a higher standard of patient care and increase the chances of taking a supervisory role within an interdisciplinary care delivery team. Furthermore, clinical nurse specialists play a crucial role in an increasingly complex healthcare system.
What are the education requirements for a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
A Clinical Nurse Specialist should have at least a Master of Science in Nursing degree focusing on a CNS track.
What is the Career Outlook for a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
Clinical Nurse Specialists have an advantage over physicians, especially when it comes to offering specialized care at a lower cost when compared to physicians. Consequently, more healthcare facilities and institutions seek their skills and expertise.
Where Do Clinical Nurse Specialists Work?
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) work in clinics, staffing agencies, hospitals, and practice privately.
Nursing Administrator ($101,340 or $48.72 per hour)
What is the role of a Nursing Administrator?
The nurse Administrator combines the lessons and experience acquired from years of clinical practice with management and operational skills.
Nurse administrators represent high-level executives who work in healthcare facilities and systems, supervising as well as overseeing nursing practice while at the same time developing and administering clinical programs for the respective organization.
They can also act as top executives or report to their facility’s CEO.
What are the education requirements for a Nursing Administrator?
To become a nurse administrator, one needs a Master’s degree in healthcare administration and state licensing. In some cases, nurse administrators have a master’s in business administration.
What is the Career Outlook for a Nursing Administrator?
The employment rate of nursing administrators is projected to rise by 32% from 2020 to around 2030
Where Do Nursing Administrators Work?
Nurse Administrators work in hospitals, healthcare companies, clinics, and practice privately.
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse (Annual Salary: $118,586/$57.00 per hour)
What is the role of a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse?
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses care for sick or premature babies and babies suffering from birth-related defects. NICU nurses are registered nurses with experience in working with neonatal patients and can potentially be certified in a related area.
One needs an ADN or a BSN to qualify as a neonatal nurse. It is important to note that Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses look after the most fragile patients, both sick and premature newborns.
Additionally, they are on the front lines when it comes to assisting scared parents through traumatic experiences.
What are the education requirements for a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse?
To become a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse, you need to be at least an RN as well as earn a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP)/ Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) designation. Notably, the more you advance, the more you enjoy lucrative salaries.
What is the Career Outlook for a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse?
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurses have an advantage due to technological advances as well as the frequency of premature births, which have led to a strong job outlook.
Where Do Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurses Work?
NICU nurses work in hospitals, neonatal intensive care units, newborn nurseries, private-duty baby nurses, birth centers, and pediatric outpatient clinics and can practice privately.
Pain Management Nurse (Annual Salary: $110,420/$47.41 per hour)
What is the role of a Pain Management Nurse?
The main role of pain management nurses is to assist in managing patient’s pain, mostly after surgery (post-surgery). Sometimes, they work with patients with chronic pain illnesses. Pain management nurses work with a multidisciplinary healthcare team to help establish the cause and proper treatment and educate patients on pain management.
What are the education requirements for a Pain Management Nurse?
To become a pain management nurse, an advanced degree is not necessary. However, you need sufficient experience as a registered nurse (RN) and should also vie for Nurse Practitioner certification specifically for Pain Management Specialists.
What is the Career Outlook for a Pain Management Nurse?
Pain management nurses can work in different care settings, thus leading to a strong demand for related services. Furthermore, the increasing baby boomer population increases the demand for pain management services.
Where Do Pain Management Nurses Work?
Pain Management Nurses work in hospitals, drug dependency clinics, oncology clinics, long-term care facilities, sports rehabilitation facilities, drug counseling centers, and fitness centers.
Registered Nurse First Assist (Annual Salary: $101,890/$49.00 per hour)
What is the role of a Registered Nurse First Assist?
A registered nurse first assistant (RNFA) refers to a perioperative registered nurse who plays the role of first assistant during surgical operations. RNFA’s role and responsibilities vary based on the healthcare facility.
What are the education requirements for a Registered Nurse First Assist?
Becoming a Registered Nurse First Assist necessitates substantial perioperative experience because advanced training builds on basic knowledge and focuses on surgical anatomy, techniques, and procedures. Further, one needs CNOR certification, a bachelor’s degree, an active and unencumbered RN license, and at least 2000 hours of working experience as an RNFA.
What is the Career Outlook for a Registered Nurse First Assist?
The increasing number of outpatient surgical centers increases the demand for well-trained Registered Nurse First Assistants.
Where Do Registered Nurse First Assists Work?
RNFAs can work in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, private offices, outpatient same-day surgical facilities, research, and product development.
Family Nurse Practitioner (Annual Salary: $98,041/$51.20 per hour)
What is the role of a Family Nurse Practitioner?
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) represent advanced practice registered nurses who specialize in providing primary health care services to all people regardless of age. Family nurse practitioners play a crucial role in the health care system as well as provide patient care to people of diverse ages and backgrounds, mostly the underserved.
What are the education requirements for a Family Nurse Practitioner?
To become an FNP, one needs to earn the Family Nurse Practitioner Board Certified (FNC-BC) designation.
What is the Career Outlook for a Family Nurse Practitioner?
According to BLS, family nurse practitioner jobs are expected to increase by 45 percent through 2029. Most importantly, there will always be an increasing demand for FNPs
Where Do Family Nurse Practitioners Work?
FNPs work in clinics, urgent centers, hospitals, and ambulatory centers
Intensive Care Unit Nurse (ICU) (Annual Salary: $120,243/$57.81 per hour)
What is the role of an Intensive Care Unit Nurse?
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses practice in complex and challenging units. They provide life-saving care to patients, especially those who are extremely sick and, in most cases, fighting for their lives. ICU nurses have a vast knowledge of all care aspects that focus on restoring wellness.
What are the education requirements for an Intensive Care Unit Nurse?
Whereas there are no specific credentials for starting practice in critical care, one must have advanced in passing the CCRN certification exam. Most healthcare facilities offer specific training for ICU Nurses.
What is the Career Outlook for an Intensive Care Unit Nurse?
With the increasing nursing shortage, ICU Nurses have myriad employment opportunities in different critical care units, neonatal and pediatric ICUs, and emergency departments.
Where Do Intensive Care Unit Nurses Work?
ICU nurses work in hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, research committees, emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and cardiac centers. ICU Nurses can specialize in adult, pediatric, or geriatric critical care.
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (Annual Salary: $90,391/$47.78 per hour)
What is the role of a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner?
Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioners provide care as well as support to patients throughout their adult lives. As such, they diagnose, examine, and treat patients while at the same time offering routine assessments, counseling, and education. The primary goal of AGNPs is to develop and implement healthy lifestyles and disease prevention mechanisms for patients.
What are the education requirements for a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner?
To become an adult gerontology nurse practitioner, one needs to be an RN who has been certified by the Gerontological Nurse Practitioners (CGNP) after getting a Master’s degree in Nursing.
What is the Career Outlook for an Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner?
The increasing aging population with longer life spans and increased access to long-term care options provide more opportunities for AGNP nurses.
Where Do Gerontological Nurse Practitioners Work?
AGNPs work in clinics, long-term care units, retirement communities, nursing homes, hospitals, and urgent care facilities.
Nurse Educator (Annual Salary: $82,040/$39.44 per hour)
What is the role of a Nurse Educator?
Nurse educators work with nursing students to specifically bridge the gap between clinical practice and didactic learning.
What are the education requirements for a Nurse Educator?
Nurse Educators must be holders of a master’s degree. Most of them have a doctoral degree. They can also earn national certifications in their respective fields.
What is the Career Outlook for a Nurse Educator?
With the current shortage of nurse educators, aiming for a career becomes a smart choice. Further, several nurse educator positions are waiting to be filled.
Where Do Nurse Educators Work?
Nurse educators work in hospital-based nursing programs, hospitals, universities and colleges, clinics, healthcare companies, and can practice privately.
Informatics Nurse (Annual Salary: $79,531/$34.94 per hour)
What is the role of an Informatics Nurse?
Informatics Nurses are RNs who practice at the intersection of nursing and technology. In this regard, they combine nursing knowledge, information science, communications, and computer science.
What are the education requirements for an Informatics Nurse?
To become an informatics nurse, one needs to have a Master of Science in Nursing, Computer Science, or Information Technology.
What is the Career Outlook for an Informatics Nurse?
The American Medical Informatics Association states that at least 70,000 informatics nurses and analysts will be needed in the next 5 years.
Where Do Informatics Nurses Work?
Informatics Nurses work in hospitals, medical record companies, clinics, healthcare technology companies, and staffing agencies.
Health Policy Nurse (Annual Salary: $79,429/$38.19 per hour)
What is the role of a Health Policy Nurse?
Health Policy Nurses’ roles comprise advocacy, research and analysis, development of policies, implementation, and policy evaluation.
What are the education requirements for a Health Policy Nurse?
After achieving an MSN, one must complete a 10-week healthy policy residency program in advocacy institutions, government organizations, or community groups.
What is the Career Outlook for a Health Policy Nurse?
With increased attention on healthcare policy, there are unlimited opportunities for those who intend to become Health Policy Nurses.
Where Do Health Policy Nurses Work?
Health Policy Nurses work in hospitals, government offices, staffing agencies, international health organizations, case management offices, law practices, and some practice privately.
Top 10 Highest Paying States in America for RNs
Here are the top 10 highest paying states in America for Registered Nurses
| RANK | STATE | AVERAGE RN SALARY |
| 1. | California | $124,000 |
| 2. | Hawaii | $106,530 |
| 3. | Oregon | $98,630 |
| 4. | District of Columbia | $98,540 |
| 5. | Alaska | $97,230 |
| 6. | Massachusetts | $96,630 |
| 7. | Washington | $95,350 |
| 8. | New York | $93,320 |
| 9. | New Jersey | $89,690 |
| 10. | Connecticut | $88,890 |
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