30 Highest Paying Nursing Jobs in 2025

Nursing is one of the most dynamic and in-demand careers in healthcare, forming a vital part of the broader team of healthcare professionals. As healthcare needs grow due to an aging population, emerging diseases, and expanding healthcare access, the demand for highly skilled nursing professionals continues to rise.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the 30 highest-paying nursing jobs, ranked by average salary, and include essential information on education requirements, job duties, and career outlook.

Why Specialize in Nursing?

Specializing in nursing is a strategic move for career growth. Beyond the financial incentives, specialization allows nurses to focus on areas they are passionate about and become experts in their fields. Here are some reasons to consider a nursing specialty:

• Increased Earning Potential: Specialized nurses often earn significantly more than generalist RNs.
• Job Security: Highly skilled specialists are in greater demand.
• Leadership Opportunities: Many specialties lead to management or executive-level roles.
• Professional Fulfillment: Specializing allows nurses to make deeper impacts in specific patient populations.
• Educational Advancement: Obtaining a nursing degree and pursuing further nursing education are essential steps for career advancement and access to specialized roles.

Advanced roles typically require:

• A master’s degree or doctoral degree (MSN, DNP, or Ph.D.), which is often necessary for specialized training in high-paying nursing jobs
• Specialty certifications from accredited boards
• Several years of clinical experience

These investments can open doors to direct patient care, administrative leadership, nursing education, and policy-making positions.

30 Highest Paying Nursing Jobs (Ranked by Salary)

Whether you are a registered nurse considering a specialty or a student planning your nursing career path, understanding high paying nursing jobs and knowing which roles are considered the highest paid nurses can help guide your decisions.

Below, we present a detailed ranking of the top 30 nursing careers, including the highest paid nurse roles in the industry, based on average annual salary, along with essential information about educational requirements, typical duties, and job outlooks.

1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Average Salary: $210,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP in Nurse Anesthesia

Role Overview: Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are responsible for administering anesthesia and monitoring patients during procedures. They provide anesthesia care before, during, and after surgical procedures, administering anesthesia and ensuring patient safety throughout. CRNAs work in hospitals, surgical centers, outpatient care centers, pain management centers, and pain clinics.

Career Outlook: Due to the high level of responsibility, the demand for certified registered nurse anesthetists remains strong across all healthcare settings.

2. Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Average Salary: $180,000/year

Education Required: MSN or MBA in Healthcare Management

Role Overview: CNOs are senior executives who oversee nursing departments, staff management, compliance, budgeting, and policy-making. As senior nursing administrators, they supervise nursing staff and collaborate with health services managers to ensure efficient operations. They work closely with hospital leadership to improve patient care standards.

Career Outlook: CNOs are vital to healthcare institutions and often have years of clinical and administrative experience. The growing need for experienced nursing administrators in healthcare organizations is driving demand for these leadership roles.

3. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Average Salary: $140,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP with Neonatal Focus

Role Overview: Neonatal NPs care for premature or critically ill newborns. They perform diagnostic tests, initiate treatment plans, and counsel parents. Neonatal nurse practitioners work closely with neonatal nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), providing specialized care to high-risk infants.

Career Outlook: With the increasing survival rates of premature babies, demand for neonatal expertise is rising.

4. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Average Salary: $135,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health

Role Overview: Psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are advanced practice nurses who diagnose and treat mental health disorders, including conditions like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Psychiatric nurse practitioners may prescribe medications and offer therapy in a variety of settings, such as inpatient psychiatric hospitals, mental health units, outpatient clinics, hospitals, and telehealth environments.

Career Outlook: With growing awareness of mental health, psychiatric nurse practitioners are highly sought after.

5. Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner

Average Salary: $134,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP with Orthopedic Specialization

Role Overview: These NPs manage musculoskeletal disorders, assist with surgeries, and guide patients through rehabilitation. They often work in orthopedic clinics or sports medicine practices.

Career Outlook: As populations age and sports injuries increase, orthopedic care becomes more critical.

6. Oncology Nurse Practitioner

Average Salary: $132,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP with Oncology Training

Role Overview: Oncology NPs manage cancer treatment plans, administer medications like chemotherapy, and support patients emotionally during treatment. They often collaborate with oncology nurses, who specialize in cancer care, to deliver comprehensive cancer care and ensure patients receive both medical treatment and essential support.

Career Outlook: The cancer burden is increasing globally, boosting demand for oncology specialists.

7. Cardiac Nurse Practitioner

Average Salary: $130,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP with Cardiology Training

Role Overview: Cardiac NPs diagnose and manage heart conditions such as hypertension, arrhythmia, and heart failure. They often work in hospitals and cardiology clinics.

Career Outlook: Cardiovascular disease remains a top health concern, ensuring job stability.

8. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Average Salary: $129,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP in Acute Care

Role Overview: ACNPs care for critically ill patients in ICUs, emergency departments, or trauma units. They perform invasive procedures and manage complex cases. Acute care nurse practitioners often work alongside critical care nurses and ICU nurses in high-acuity settings. Specialties within acute care include pediatric critical care and geriatric critical care. In addition to hospitals, ACNPs may work in outpatient surgical centers and urgent care clinics.

Career Outlook: Hospitals rely heavily on ACNPs for critical care coverage.

9. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Average Salary: $125,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP

Role Overview: Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) serve as primary care providers, delivering comprehensive, family-centered primary care across all ages. They are responsible for diagnosing, treating, managing chronic illnesses, and prescribing medications for patients. Responsibilities include diagnosing illnesses, ordering tests, and prescribing treatments.

Career Outlook: FNPs are in high demand due to physician shortages in primary care.

10. Nurse Midwife

Average Salary: $122,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP in Nurse Midwifery

Role Overview: Nurse midwives provide prenatal, childbirth, postpartum, and gynecological care. Certified nurse midwives specialize in prenatal care and may work in private practice clinics, as well as hospitals, birthing centers, and home birth settings.

Career Outlook: Interest in holistic and personalized birth experiences fuels demand. The need for certified nurse midwives is growing in diverse healthcare settings.

11. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Average Salary: $120,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP in Pediatrics

Role Overview: PNPs treat children from infancy through adolescence, offering preventive care, diagnosing illnesses, and managing chronic conditions.

Career Outlook: Child healthcare remains a priority for families and public health programs.

12. Nurse Researcher

Average Salary: $115,000/year

Education Required: MSN or Ph.D. in Nursing Research

Role Overview: Nurse researchers design, conduct, and analyze studies to improve patient care, outcomes, and healthcare systems.

Career Outlook: Research is crucial for evidence-based practice and healthcare innovation.

13. Nurse Educator

Average Salary: $110,000/year

Education Required: MSN or Doctorate in Education/Nursing

Role Overview: Nurse educators teach in academic or clinical settings, train nursing students, and develop educational materials. Teaching nurses play a vital role in nursing education by training future nurses and providing continuing education for practicing professionals.

Career Outlook: The growing nursing shortage creates strong demand for educators.

14. Pain Management Nurse

Average Salary: $109,000/year

Education Required: RN + Pain Management Certification

Role Overview: Pain management nurses help patients manage pain through medication, therapy, and interventions. They often work in clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and drug counseling centers, where they assist patients in managing pain and addressing substance use issues.

Career Outlook: Chronic pain conditions are increasingly common, requiring skilled providers.

15. Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP)

Average Salary: $108,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP in Geriatrics

Role Overview: GNPs care for older adults, managing conditions like dementia, osteoporosis, and heart disease.

Career Outlook: The aging population ensures long-term demand for geriatric specialists.

16. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Average Salary: $106,000/year

Education Required: MSN or DNP with CNS Focus

Role Overview: Clinical nurse specialists are advanced practice nurses who often hold an MSN or doctoral degree. CNSs offer expert guidance in clinical care, policy, education, and system improvement.

Career Outlook: Clinical nurse specialist salary varies by region and is among the highest for advanced practice nurses. CNSs improve care quality and cost efficiency in healthcare institutions.

17. Nurse Informatics Specialist

Average Salary: $104,000/year

Education Required: MSN in Nursing Informatics

Role Overview: They merge nursing science with IT to improve EHR systems, data analysis, and healthcare workflows. Informatics nurses and informatics nurse specialists manage healthcare data and electronic medical records, often working for medical record companies.

Career Outlook: Tech-savvy nurses are in demand as healthcare becomes more data-driven, with a growing need for informatics nurses in healthcare technology integration.

18. Nurse Administrator

Average Salary: $102,000/year

Education Required: MSN or MBA in Healthcare Administration

Role Overview: Administrators manage teams, allocate resources, and oversee healthcare operations. Nursing administrators are responsible for managing nursing staff and ensuring efficient department operations.

Career Outlook: Effective leadership is key to healthcare success, creating strong job prospects. Experienced nursing administrators are increasingly important in healthcare leadership roles.

19. Nurse Legal Consultant

Average Salary: $100,000/year

Education Required: RN + Legal Nurse Consultant Certification

Role Overview: They analyze medical records, provide expert testimony, and assist attorneys with legal cases.

Career Outlook: Growing litigation in healthcare creates a niche for nurse legal experts.

20. Infection Control Nurse

Average Salary: $98,000/year

Education Required: RN + CIC Certification

Role Overview: They develop and implement infection prevention protocols and monitor compliance. Infection control nurses may also work in community health centers to implement infection prevention protocols.

Career Outlook: Infection prevention is critical in today’s post-pandemic environment.

21. Perioperative Nurse (Operating Room Nurse)

Average Salary: $95,000/year

Education Required: RN + perioperative nursing certification (CNOR)

Role Overview: Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and OR staff to maintain a sterile surgical environment.

Career Outlook: As surgical volumes increase and technology advances (e.g., robotics), skilled OR nurses are essential.

22. Occupational Health Nurse

Average Salary: $94,000/year

Education Required: RN + Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN)

Role Overview: Provide health and safety services in workplace environments—factories, office buildings, or government agencies.

Career Outlook: Global safety regulations and increased awareness of workplace wellness programs make this role increasingly relevant.

23. Dialysis Nurse

Average Salary: $92,000/year

Education Required: RN + Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN)

Role Overview: Dialysis nurses monitor patients during dialysis treatment, observing vital signs and responses to ensure safety and proper care. They are also responsible for educating patients about self-care, disease management, and treatment adherence.

Career Outlook: Chronic kidney disease remains prevalent, and indications for dialysis are increasing globally—especially in aging populations.

24. Hospice Nurse

Average Salary: $90,000/year

Education Required: RN + Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)

Role Overview: Provide compassionate end-of-life care focusing on comfort, symptom management, and emotional support.

Career Outlook: With growing emphasis on palliative care and quality of life, hospice nursing is a vital specialty with strong demand.

25. Public Health Nurse

Average Salary: $88,000/year

Education Required: BSN or MSN in Public Health Nursing

Role Overview: Public health nurses focus on community-based health promotion and disease prevention, working in community settings, schools, and public health agencies to prevent disease and promote population health.

Career Outlook: Public health roles are expanding, especially following global health challenges that spotlight prevention and community-based care.

26. Case Management Nurse

Average Salary: $86,000/year

Education Required: RN + Certified Case Manager (CCM) or similar

Role Overview: Coordinate long-term care plans for individuals with chronic or complex medical needs.

Career Outlook: As the healthcare system shifts toward value-based care, skilled case managers are critical for cost control and patient outcomes.

27. Home Health Nurse

Average Salary: $84,000/year

Education Required: RN

Role Overview: Deliver direct patient care—wound care, medication management, physical therapy assistance—outside of hospital settings.

Career Outlook: Rising preference for in-home care and shorter hospital stays make this role more critical and supported by policy initiatives.

28. Telehealth Nurse

Average Salary: $82,000/year

Education Required: RN + telehealth certification or training

Role Overview: Provide clinical assessments, triage, education, and follow-up care using virtual platforms (phone, video, messaging) .

Career Outlook: The pandemic accelerated acceptance and use of telehealth—many organizations now maintain hybrid or fully remote nursing roles.

29. School Nurse

Average Salary: $78,000/year

Education Required: RN + School Nurse Certification

Role Overview: Develop health programs, communicate with families, and support public health efforts in schools.

Career Outlook: Increasing awareness of student well-being, behavioral health, and chronic conditions in youth supports demand for qualified school nurses.

30. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Average Salary: $55,000/year

Education Required: Practical Nursing Diploma or Vocational Program

Role Overview: Provide essential bedside support and maintain patient comfort in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, or home care.

Career Outlook: As foundational healthcare workers, LPNs will continue to be very much in demand—especially in long-term care and rural areas.

Introduction to the Highest Paying Nursing Jobs

To understand the factors influencing salaries in nursing, it’s important to consider several key elements that contribute to variations in pay across different roles and locations. These factors can help you strategize your career path and maximize your earning potential in the highest paying nursing jobs. Key considerations include:

• Location: Urban and high-cost regions tend to pay more—e.g. U.S. coastal cities may offer 10–20% higher wages than rural areas.
• Experience & Certifications: Tenure and specialty credentials (CIC, COHN, CNO) can boost pay by $10,000–$40,000+.
• Academic Achievements: Nurses with MSN/DNP/Ph.D. typically land the highest-paying roles (CRNA, CNO, NMP, etc.).
• Work Setting: Hospitals, surgical centers, outpatient care centers, private practice, and other healthcare facilities often pay more than schools or public health agencies.

Bonus Tip: Pathways to Specialization

To advance in your nursing career and access higher-paying roles, it is essential to follow a clear pathway toward specialization. This journey typically involves a combination of education, clinical experience, certification, and targeted job roles. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process of becoming a specialized nursing professional:

• Obtain BSN (or practical diploma for LPN) and RN licensure.
• Gain 1–3 years’ clinical experience in your chosen field.
• Identify desired specialty and obtain required certifications or advanced degrees (MSN/DNP).
• Pursue advanced nursing practice by becoming an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), which involves specialized education, certification, and an expanded scope of nursing practice.
• Seek roles offering specialized or advanced practice (e.g., acute care, NP, OR NP).
• Consider administrative, research, or leadership tracks as you accumulate experience, including opportunities in private practice clinics for advanced practice registered nurses.

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