What Is The Highest Paid Nurse job every aspiring nurse asks the question, After all, they want to make sure that the career they are opting, should be able to not only pay sufficient amounts of their bills but must also offer a bright future. Now, the highest paid nurse job depends on a lot of factors.

First of all, it depends on whether you opt for the highest paid nursing course. All nursing courses are not the same. While some pay you a huge compensation once you join the workforce, others might offer you an average payout. So, it’s always advisable that you consider all the aspects of a particular career before you choose it. So, you see, all your ambitions can be fulfilled in just a click. Continue reading below to know more about the medical school near me

what is the highest paid nurse
What Is The Highest Paid Nurse

What Is The Highest Paid Nurse- In Details

In order to help you decide if your program will provide you the highest paid nurse job. We have come forward with this detailed guide. Here we shall compare all the available highest paid nursing course options and figure out which career should suit you better.

So, let’s not waste any more time and get started as quickly as possible. Let’s find out, what is the highest paid nurse job?

A Bright Career Ahead

If you are an aspiring nurse, you must already know that credentials and skills in the nursing sector offer you a career path with huge career opportunities. Registered nurses are currently on high demand, according to the United States, as they receive a median annual salary of $71,730 as of May 2018. So, you are not far from the highest paid nursing course. You may also visit medical coding courses online

And, to truly excel, many RNs are seeking further certifications, aiming for an advanced degree and focusing on one particular field of nursing. By helping them apply for positions at prestigious hospitals, particularly academic teaching hospitals, this increases their earning potential. Many qualified RNs of practice can also open their own clinics, depending on state legislation.

Take a look at some of the highest paid nurse job options for RNs, what you can receive in each of them, and how to get started as an advanced practice nurse to help you determine which career path is right. Keep in mind that wages vary significantly based on place and employer, so the earnings mentioned below are just a guide for helping with your study.

So if you are looking to find out what is the highest paid nurse, make sure that you check out the following highest paid nurse job options. Take a look for best nursing schools in the usa

Types of Nursing Jobs and Salaries

Types of Nursing Jobs and Salaries
Types of Nursing Jobs and Salaries
  1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): $167,950 per annum or $80.75 / hr  

According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, this highly specialized occupation includes the preparation and delivery of anesthesia to patients in conjunction with physicians, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other eligible healthcare professionals.

Nurse Anesthetist Salary: Licensed Registered Nurse Anesthetists receive, as of May 2018, an average of $167,950 per year, as reported by the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it the top paid specialty for nursing. CRNAs usually work 40 hours a week, putting the average hourly wage at about $80.75 an hour.

  • Development outlook: the expected growth for CRNAs from 2018 to 2028 is 17 percent, according to the BLS.
  • Criteria: make sure that you are prepared to hit the books to attain a minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited educational nurse anesthesia program, and pass the National Certification Examination upon completion. You can also find medical assistant schools
  1. General Nurse Practitioner : $107,030 per annum or $51.45 / hr 

As a general Nurse Practitioner, opening a private practice or operating in a number of primary care settings may be your preference. On the way, you can also develop your abilities and earning potential. General NPs can later specialize in a specific area if they wish.

Salary: General Nurse practitioners are eligible to earn up to $107,030, as of May BLS. General Nurse practitioners usually work 40 hours a week, earning about $51.45 of their hourly pay.

Growth outlook: Nurse Practitioner jobs (including general jobs) are expected to grow by 26 percent by 2028. Add to that the independent work alternative, and the outlook for this specialty is robust.

  • Criteria: A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the minimum prerequisite to becoming a nurse practitioner, followed by the state’s certification of Nurse Practitioner.
  • Jobs: Hospitals, facilities, emergency services, dental clinics, private practice, and staffing companies are employers.
  1. Clinical nurse specialist: $106,028 per annum $50.98 / hr  

Someone wishing to work in a specialist unit or clinic would follow the direction of a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). In addition to diagnosing and treating different illnesses, within the healthcare department, you can be considered an expert. You could also be specializing in a particular illness.

Registered nurse professionals concentrate on strengthening patient nursing status. They are interested in the study and development of the healthcare services offered. 

Wage: The average salary for registered nurses professionals in the US is $106,028, according to Salary.com. Clinical nurse specialists typically work 40 hours a week, making about $50.98 of their hourly wage.

Development outlook: Since Clinical Nurse Practitioners may provide advanced treatment at a lower cost than a doctor, growing numbers of hospitals and institutions may try to add these professionals to their teams.

  • Criteria: A specialist in clinical nursing must be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a specialty in clinical nursing.
  • Jobs: Employers for this designation include hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, independent surgical centers, centers for pain management, and various staffing agencies.
  1. Psychiatric nurse practitioner: $105,658 or $50.79 per hour per annum  

Working as a clinical nurse practitioner would give you the ability to consult with psychiatric care practitioners and advise patients on mental health problems for nurses with an interest in mental health. Psychiatric nurse practitioners also deal with patients who are suffering from mental health problems and drug abuse issues together.

Salary: Clinical Nurse According to Payscale, practitioners receive on average $105,658 per annum as of February 2020. Psychiatric nurse practitioners typically work 40 hours a week, making around $50.79 of their hourly wage.

Development outlook: As the need for better mental health care gains national recognition, and demand for clinical services for youth and children rises, PNPs will be strongly sought after. Furthermore, as drug abuse continues to escalate across the world, PNPs will need to be well versed in both mental health and substance abuse issues. For elaborated information what do medical assistant do

  • Criteria: A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the minimum qualification to become a nurse practitioner, followed by the state-specified certification as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.
  • Jobs: Employers for this particular job profile include hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities, mental health services, outpatient clinics, and certain staffing agencies.
  1. Certified midwife-nurse: $103,770 a year or $49.89 an hour 

Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife is the perfect career path for RNs who love obstetrics, labor and delivery, and prenatal care. CNMs work mostly in OB / GYN offices, clinics, or hospital settings, but many are opening up their own practices depending on their practice state.

Salary: Licensed midwives and nurses should expect an annual salary and $103,770 per BLS. CNMs usually work 40 hours a week, earning about $49.89 of their hourly wages.

Development Outlook: Midwives’ work outlook is beyond strong, with forecasts that vacancies should rise 16 percent over the decade from 2018 to 2028.

  • Prerequisite: Nurses may go through the American Midwifery Certification Board to earn Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Midwife designations in order to practice certified nurse-midwife. Learn more about Midwives at Certified Nurse.
  • Jobs: Employers for this position include nursing homes, private clinics, hospitals, and several staffing companies. You can also explore medical assistant vs nurse
  1. Neonatal intensive care nurse: $102,487 or $54.75 an hour an annum  

When you want to care for children, find the career route for neonatal nurses. This specialization commands a high salary especially for nurses with advanced experience.

Salary: According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for nurses at NICU is $102,48. Those with a BSN have higher earning potential, more experienced, and advanced certifications. NICU nurses usually work 36 hours a week earning them an average salary of $54.75 an hour.

  • Growth perspective: Both technical advancements and the number of premature births have led to a positive work outlook.
  • Criteria: While you can get the experience of a neonatal unit as an RN worker, obtaining either the certification of a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) or a neonatal clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is how the real advancement takes place. 

Advancement in the highest paid nurse job also comes with a bump in salaries. Nurses seeking to gain certification without a degree in advanced practice will receive their RNC-NIC.

Highest Paid Nurse Practitioner
Highest Paid Nurse Practitioner

Job opportunities: Employers for this position include hospitals, birth centers, private practice, neonatal intensive care facilities, pediatric emergency services, infant care centers, private consultant, newborn nursery, private baby nurse, and staffing agencies. You can also check for no cost online medical assistance classes.

  1. Pain management nurse: $101,916 per annum or $48.99 an hour 

Pain management Nurses help manage post-surgery pain or work with patients suffering from chronic pain problems. They work through a clinical team to help identify the cause of the pain and proper treatment plan, while also educating patients about pain control and preventing abuse or dependency about prescription medication.

This indeed is one of the highest paid nursing course options you have.

Compensation: According to Indeed.com, the average annual salary for pain treatment nurses is $101,916 a year. Pain management nurses usually work 40 hours a week, earning about $48.99 for their hourly pay.

Development outlook: While pain management nurses can operate in a number of health care settings — hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private clinics, and nursing homes — there is a growing demand for this expertise. When the population keeps getting older, the need for skilled nurses to treat pain will only continue to increase.

  • Criteria: Although there is no requirement for an advanced degree to become a pain management nurse, ample training as an RN is required to qualify for Pain Management Specialists’ Nurse Practitioner certification.
  • Job opportunities: Employers include addiction treatment centers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, alcohol dependency services, oncology services, long-term care facilities, sports rehabilitation facilities, staffing agencies, and fitness centers.
  1. Nursing administrator: $99,730 per annum or $47.95 an hour 

A nursing supervisor deals with nursing’s backstage activities, from budgeting and staff control to HR tasks. Salary: As of May 2018, according to the BLS, nursing administrators are earning an average salary of $99,730 per annum. Nurse Administrators usually work at least 40 hours a week and earn about $47.95 an hourly wage

Development outlook: According to the BLS, the jobs of medical and health care managers (of which nursing administrators are a part) are expected to rise by 23 percent from 2018 to 2028.

  • Criteria: A Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration is usually required, as is the state licensing procedure. Some nursing administrators will also have a Business Administration Masters.
  • Jobs: Hospitals, private practice, health care firms, clinics, and staffing agencies are the typical employers of these kinds of professionals.
  1. Family Nurse practitioner: $98,408 per annum or $47.31 per hour  

Family Nurse Practitioner’s (FNP) work is the profession of medical assistant that is closest to working as a primary care doctor. Typically, FNPs perform many of the same roles as an MD — operating in a medical office, hospital, clinic, or nursing home.

Their roles include patient visits, examinations, medication and recovery referrals, and more. Salary: As of December 2019, according to Payscale.com, family nurse practitioners earn an average of $98,408 a year. FNPs typically work 40 hours a week making about $47.31 in their hourly wages.

Development outlook: From 2018 to 2028, according to the BLS, nurse practitioner jobs are expected to rise by 28 percent. Those who focus on family practice will always be in demand, as they can work in a variety of health care institutions. Completely autonomous practice is possible both within the Veterans Administration (VA) program and in nearly half of the states in the U.S.

  • Criteria: FNPs are expected to receive the Certified Family Nurse Practitioner-Board (FNP-BC) certification.
  • Job opportunities: Employers for these specialized nurses include hospitals, private clinics, emergency services, freestanding health centers, and departments for staffing.
What Is The Highest Paid Nurse
What Is The Highest Paid Nurse

Winding Up

By now you must have figured out types of nursing jobs and salaries . You can simply choose any of the highest paid nursing course options that we have mentioned below and go ahead with your career aspirations. The job prospects for nurses are highly in demand.


As the population grows over time, there would be an even higher demand for the highest paid nursing job openings. Make sure that you ride the opportunity without delay. In case you want to know more about what is the highest paid nurse job, please leave us a comment below in our online schools near me website.