What Nurse Makes the Most Money?
As the healthcare industry continues to grow and evolve, the demand for skilled and trained nurses has increased significantly. Nurses are crucial members of the healthcare team, responsible for providing quality patient care, medication management, and education. While every nurse plays a vital role in the healthcare industry, some specialized nurses tend to earn more than others. In this article, we will explore which nurse specialties pay the most, and what factors influence their salaries.
What Makes Nurses the Most Money?
Here are some factors that influence the salary of nurses:
- Level of Education: A higher level of education often results in a higher salary for nurses.
- Experience: Experience in a particular field or specialization can greatly impact salary.
- Geographic Location: Salaries tend to vary depending on the state and city of residence.
- Workplace Setting: The type of work environment, such as a hospital or outpatient center, can also affect salary.
- Shift Work: Night shifts and rotating shifts often pay more than regular shifts.
Highest-Paying Nursing Specialties
- Cardiothoracic Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Average salary: $112,000/year (
$93/hour
)
- CARDIO is a complex care setting, where nurses specialize in caring for patients with cardiac, thoracic, and vascular diseases.
- Average salary: $112,000/year (
[Bullet Points]
• Advanced coronary care, transplant, and ventricular assist devices
• Hemodialysis and other invasive interventions
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurses
- Average salary: $105,000/year (
$88/hour
)
- NICU nurses work with premature, high-risk newborns and require intense care, expertise, and equipment to prevent complications and provide life-saving measures.
- Average salary: $105,000/year (
[Bullet Points]
• Specialized skills in vent mechanics, CPAP, and NG suctioning
• High-tech care: ventilators, IV infusion, and medication administration
- Epidemiology, Nursing Administration, or Health Policy (NONA/HP) Nurse-Researchers
- Average salary: $100,000/year (
$83/hour
)
- These nurses leverage nursing expertise to influence healthcare policy and lead high-level decision-making.
- Average salary: $100,000/year (
[Bullet Points]
• Conduct studies on patient outcomes and care delivery models
• Develop and implement clinical guidelines, and analyze data
- Oral and Maxillofacial Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Average salary: $96,000/year (
$80/hour
)
- ORAL is an elective surgery and dental practice focused on reconstruction, correction of facial abnormalities, and reconstructive surgery.
- Average salary: $96,000/year (
[Bullet Points]
• Assist oral surgeons, general anesthesia, and OR management
• Oral and facial trauma and repair
- Psychiatry-Mental Health Nurses (PSY-MH)
- Average salary: $94,000/year (
$78/hour
)
- These nurses work closely with mental health specialists and patients with chronic mental illness or other psychological issues.
- Average salary: $94,000/year (
[Bullet Points]
• Diagnosis, medication administration, and therapeutic interventions
• Databases, symptom management, and disease education
- Gynecology-Oncology Registered Nurses (RN)
- Average salary: $92,000/year (
$77/hour
)
- These nurses specialize in breast care and gynecological oncology.
- Average salary: $92,000/year (
[Bullet Points]
• Administer chemotherapeutic drugs, radiation treatment, and tumor-specific medications
• Surgical procedure preparations and post-op care
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurses
- Average salary: $90,000/year (
$75/hour
)
- ICU nurses work in highly critically ill patient settings.
- Average salary: $90,000/year (
[Bullet Points]
• Invasive monitoring and equipment management
• Pharmacologic interventions, CPR, and sedation management
- Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) Nurses
- Average salary: $88,000/year (
$73/hour
)
- These nurses treat wound care patients, primarily elderly or injured individuals, for burns, pressure sores, or bed sores.
- Average salary: $88,000/year (
[Bullet Points]
• Wound, ostomy, and continent incontinence care
• Biochemical and biomechanical principles applied in wound healing
- Magnet Recognition and Quality Management Nursing
- Average salary: $84,000/year (
$69/hour
)
- MAGNET RNs strive to improve patient satisfaction, quality metrics, and hospital culture.
- Average salary: $84,000/year (
[Bullet Points]
• Nursing practice standard-setting and quality monitoring
• Nursing competencies and outcomes measurement
Where Do You Fit in the Nursing Career Ladder?
While this list highlights high-earning nursing specialties, it’s essential to recognize that every nursing role requires specific skills, experience, and expertise. Ultimately, choosing a specialty involves considering your values, interests, education level, and geographic location. Before venturing into any nursing role, ask yourself:
- What drives you? Are you driven by patient satisfaction, research, leadership, or education?
- How do your personal characteristics, skills, and experience align with various specializations?
Conclusion:
- Understanding the highest-paying nursing specialities can help guide career decisions, even outside of nursing itself.
- Highlight significant content to emphasize salary implications and the essential skills needed.
- Recognize the complex value of nursing skills and the high potential for career advancement.
| Rank | Nursing Specialty | Average Salary (Year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CARDIO | $112,000 |
| 2 | NICU | $105,000 |
| 3 | NONA/HP | $100,000 |
| 4 | ORAL | $96,000 |
| 5 | PSY-MH | $94,000 |
| 6 | GYO | $92,000 |
| 7 | ICU | $90,000 |
| 8 | WOC | $88,000 |
| 9 | MAGNET RM | $84,000 |