The highest paying nursing job is certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), with a median salary of $236,590 a year, followed by certified nurse-midwives ($134,040) and nurse practitioners ($132,300), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For registered nurses without a graduate degree, the highest paying options are specialties with extra pay potential, such as travel, flight and cath lab nursing, along with jobs in government and hospital settings.
Below, we rank 37 nursing specialties from highest to lowest earning potential using BLS data, explain what drives nurse pay and link to our complete guide for every specialty.
In this guide
- How we ranked the highest paying nursing jobs
- Highest paying nursing jobs at a glance
- Tier 1: Advanced practice nurses
- Tier 2: Advanced and specialized RN roles
- Tier 3: RN specialties with premium pay potential
- Tier 4: Government nursing roles
- Tier 5: Hospital-based RN specialties
- Tier 6: Outpatient, home and community care
- Tier 7: Long-term care and rehabilitation
- Tier 8: School nursing
- How to increase your nursing salary
- Frequently asked questions
How we ranked the highest paying nursing jobs
Many salary lists use job-posting estimates that vary widely from site to site. We used U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data instead, which comes from employer wage surveys. Here is how the ranking works:
- Advanced practice nurses: BLS reports separate median salaries for nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners, so they are ranked by those figures.
- Registered nurse specialties: BLS does not report pay for individual RN specialties like ER, NICU or dialysis nursing. It does report RN pay by work setting, so we grouped each specialty by where it is usually practiced.
- Within each group: specialties are ordered by earning potential, such as travel stipends, on-call pay, transport roles, certification and experience requirements.
The registered nurse median was $97,550 in May 2025. BLS median RN pay by setting was:
| Work setting | RN median pay (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Government | $110,780 |
| Hospitals | $100,220 |
| Ambulatory health care services | $91,230 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | $84,300 |
| Educational services | $78,620 |
Individual pay always depends on location, experience, shift, certification and employer, so a nurse in a lower tier can earn more than a nurse in a higher one.
Highest paying nursing jobs at a glance
| Rank | Nursing specialty | Pay data |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $236,590 BLS median (May 2025) |
| 2 | Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) | $134,040 BLS median (May 2025) |
| 3 | Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $132,300 BLS median (May 2025) |
| 4 | Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) | Above the RN median is common (BLS groups CNSs with RNs) |
| 5 | Nurse Informaticist | Above the RN median is common (BLS groups with RNs) |
| 6 | Travel Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220, plus stipends |
| 7 | Flight Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220, plus transport roles |
| 8 | ICU Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220, plus certification differentials |
| 9 | Cath Lab Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220, plus on-call pay |
| 10 | Trauma Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 11 | ER Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 12 | NICU Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 13 | Burn Unit Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 14 | OR Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220, plus on-call pay |
| 15 | Cardiac Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 16 | PACU Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220, plus on-call pay |
| 17 | Float Pool Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220, plus float premiums |
| 18 | Correctional Nurse | Government RN median $110,780 (when employed by a government agency) |
| 19 | Public Health Nurse | Government RN median $110,780 (when employed by a government agency) |
| 20 | Telemetry Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 21 | Labor and Delivery Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 22 | Oncology Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 23 | Medical-Surgical Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 24 | Pediatric Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 25 | Psychiatric Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 26 | Orthopedic Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 27 | Postpartum Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 |
| 28 | Endoscopy Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 (lower in some outpatient centers) |
| 29 | Lactation Consultant Nurse | Hospital RN median $100,220 for RNs |
| 30 | Dialysis Nurse | Ambulatory care RN median $91,230 |
| 31 | Wound Care Nurse | Ambulatory care RN median $91,230 (varies by setting) |
| 32 | Occupational Health Nurse | Ambulatory care RN median $91,230 (varies by employer) |
| 33 | Home Health Nurse | Ambulatory care RN median $91,230 |
| 34 | Hospice Nurse | Ambulatory care RN median $91,230 |
| 35 | Rehabilitation Nurse | Nursing and residential care RN median $84,300 (higher in hospital rehab units) |
| 36 | Geriatric Nurse | Nursing and residential care RN median $84,300 |
| 37 | School Nurse | Educational services RN median $78,620 |
Tier 1: Advanced practice nurses (highest BLS salaries)
These advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) need a graduate degree and national certification, and BLS reports their pay separately. They are the highest paid nurses by a wide margin.
1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Pay: $236,590 BLS median (May 2025)
CRNAs give anesthesia for surgery, childbirth and procedures, often with a high degree of independence. It is the highest paying nursing job in the United States, but it requires critical care experience and a doctoral degree.
Read the complete Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist guide →
2. Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
Pay: $134,040 BLS median (May 2025)
Nurse-midwives provide prenatal care, deliver babies and offer gynecological care. They need a graduate degree and certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board.
Read the complete Certified Nurse-Midwife guide →
3. Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Pay: $132,300 BLS median (May 2025)
Nurse practitioners diagnose illnesses, order tests and prescribe medications, often as a patient's primary care provider. NPs can specialize in family, acute care, pediatrics, psychiatric-mental health and more.
Read the complete Nurse Practitioner guide →
Tier 2: Advanced and specialized RN roles
These roles usually require a graduate degree or specialized experience. BLS includes them with all registered nurses, but their education and responsibilities often support pay above the $97,550 RN median.
4. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Pay: Above the RN median is common (BLS groups CNSs with RNs)
A CNS is an APRN with a master's or doctoral degree who improves care across a unit or hospital through expertise, education and research.
Read the complete Clinical Nurse Specialist guide →
5. Nurse Informaticist
Pay: Above the RN median is common (BLS groups with RNs)
Informatics nurses design and improve the electronic health records and technology nurses use every day, often with a graduate degree and weekday hours.
Read the complete Nurse Informaticist guide →
Tier 3: RN specialties with premium pay potential
These specialties are mostly hospital-based, where the RN median is $100,220, and they offer extra ways to earn more: travel stipends, on-call pay, transport roles, critical care certification and shift differentials.
6. Travel Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220, plus stipends
Travel nurses take short-term contracts where staffing is short. Pay packages often include tax-advantaged housing and meal stipends on top of hourly pay, which is why travel nursing is one of the best paying options without a graduate degree.
Read the complete Travel Nurse guide →
7. Flight Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220, plus transport roles
Flight nurses provide critical care in helicopters and planes. Most programs require years of ICU or ER experience and multiple certifications, which supports higher pay.
Read the complete Flight Nurse guide →
8. ICU Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220, plus certification differentials
ICU nurses care for the sickest patients in the hospital, managing ventilators, vasopressors and invasive lines. Many hospitals pay a differential for the CCRN, and ICU experience is the gateway to travel ICU contracts, flight nursing and CRNA school.
Read the complete ICU Nurse guide →
9. Cath Lab Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220, plus on-call pay
Cath lab nurses assist with heart procedures like stents and angiograms. Many take call for STEMI alerts at night and on weekends, which adds on-call and callback pay.
Read the complete Cath Lab Nurse guide →
10. Trauma Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Trauma nurses work in trauma bays and trauma ICUs, often at large Level I centers in cities, where pay tends to be higher.
Read the complete Trauma Nurse guide →
11. ER Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Emergency nurses work 24/7 departments with night, weekend and holiday differentials, and the CEN certification can add to pay.
Read the complete ER Nurse guide →
12. NICU Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
NICU nurses care for premature and critically ill newborns. Level III and IV NICUs at large hospitals often pay more, and the RNC-NIC can bring a certification differential.
Read the complete NICU Nurse guide →
13. Burn Unit Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Burn nurses work in specialized burn centers, usually at large academic and trauma hospitals, combining critical care and complex wound care.
Read the complete Burn Unit Nurse guide →
14. OR Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220, plus on-call pay
Operating room nurses often take call for emergency surgeries, and the CNOR certification is widely recognized.
Read the complete OR Nurse guide →
15. Cardiac Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Cardiac nurses work in cardiac ICUs, step-down units and heart centers. Critical care roles and certifications like the CCRN often pay more.
Read the complete Cardiac Nurse guide →
16. PACU Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220, plus on-call pay
PACU nurses recover patients after anesthesia and often take call for after-hours surgeries. Most need critical care experience.
Read the complete PACU Nurse guide →
17. Float Pool Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220, plus float premiums
Float nurses cover different units every shift. Many hospitals pay a premium for that flexibility.
Read the complete Float Pool Nurse guide →
Tier 4: Government nursing roles
BLS reports that government is the highest paying setting for RNs, with a median of $110,780. Pay depends heavily on whether the job is with a government agency or a private contractor.
18. Correctional Nurse
Pay: Government RN median $110,780 (when employed by a government agency)
Correctional nurses work in jails and prisons. State and federal positions often include strong benefits and pensions, while contract jobs vary.
Read the complete Correctional Nurse guide →
19. Public Health Nurse
Pay: Government RN median $110,780 (when employed by a government agency)
Public health nurses work for health departments and community programs. Pay varies widely between federal, state and local agencies.
Read the complete Public Health Nurse guide →
Tier 5: Hospital-based RN specialties
These specialties are mostly hospital-based, with the $100,220 hospital RN median, but have fewer built-in pay boosters than Tier 3. Shift differentials and certification still raise pay.
20. Telemetry Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Telemetry nurses monitor heart rhythms on step-down units. The PCCN certification can add a pay differential.
Read the complete Telemetry Nurse guide →
21. Labor and Delivery Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
L&D nurses care for patients during labor and birth. Night shifts and the RNC-OB certification can increase pay.
Read the complete Labor and Delivery Nurse guide →
22. Oncology Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Oncology nurses give chemotherapy and support people with cancer in hospitals and infusion centers.
Read the complete Oncology Nurse guide →
23. Medical-Surgical Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Med-surg is the largest hospital specialty. It is a common starting point that leads to higher paying specialties.
Read the complete Medical-Surgical Nurse guide →
24. Pediatric Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Pediatric nurses care for children in hospitals and clinics. Hospital roles generally pay more than office roles.
Read the complete Pediatric Nurse guide →
25. Psychiatric Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Psych nurses care for people with mental health conditions. The path to psychiatric nurse practitioner is one of the highest-demand APRN roles.
Read the complete Psychiatric Nurse guide →
26. Orthopedic Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Orthopedic nurses care for patients after joint replacements, fractures and spine surgery.
Read the complete Orthopedic Nurse guide →
27. Postpartum Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220
Postpartum nurses care for new mothers and babies after birth on mother-baby units.
Read the complete Postpartum Nurse guide →
28. Endoscopy Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220 (lower in some outpatient centers)
Endoscopy nurses assist with GI procedures. Many jobs offer weekday hours, which may mean fewer shift differentials.
Read the complete Endoscopy Nurse guide →
29. Lactation Consultant Nurse
Pay: Hospital RN median $100,220 for RNs
RN lactation consultants with the IBCLC support breastfeeding families. Pay is typically higher for RNs than for non-RN lactation consultants.
Read the complete Lactation Consultant Nurse guide →
Tier 6: Outpatient, home and community care
BLS reports a median of $91,230 for RNs in ambulatory health care services, which includes outpatient centers and home health. These roles often trade some pay for more regular schedules.
30. Dialysis Nurse
Pay: Ambulatory care RN median $91,230
Most dialysis nurses work in outpatient dialysis centers, often with early morning schedules and no night shifts.
Read the complete Dialysis Nurse guide →
31. Wound Care Nurse
Pay: Ambulatory care RN median $91,230 (varies by setting)
Wound care nurses work in hospitals, wound clinics, long-term care and home health. WOCNCB certification often raises pay.
Read the complete Wound Care Nurse guide →
32. Occupational Health Nurse
Pay: Ambulatory care RN median $91,230 (varies by employer)
Occupational health nurses care for employees in workplaces. Corporate and manufacturing roles vary widely in pay.
Read the complete Occupational Health Nurse guide →
33. Home Health Nurse
Pay: Ambulatory care RN median $91,230
Home health nurses visit patients at home. Some are paid per visit, so productivity affects income.
Read the complete Home Health Nurse guide →
34. Hospice Nurse
Pay: Ambulatory care RN median $91,230
Hospice nurses provide end-of-life care at home and in facilities. On-call roles can add extra pay.
Read the complete Hospice Nurse guide →
Tier 7: Long-term care and rehabilitation
BLS reports a median of $84,300 for RNs in nursing and residential care facilities.
35. Rehabilitation Nurse
Pay: Nursing and residential care RN median $84,300 (higher in hospital rehab units)
Rehab nurses help patients recover after strokes, injuries and surgery. Hospital-based inpatient rehab units usually pay more than skilled nursing facilities.
Read the complete Rehabilitation Nurse guide →
36. Geriatric Nurse
Pay: Nursing and residential care RN median $84,300
Geriatric nurses care for older adults in nursing homes, assisted living, hospitals and home care. Leadership roles like director of nursing pay more.
Read the complete Geriatric Nurse guide →
Tier 8: School nursing
BLS reports a median of $78,620 for RNs in educational services, the lowest of the major settings.
37. School Nurse
Pay: Educational services RN median $78,620
School nurses usually work a school-year schedule with summers, weekends and holidays off, which explains much of the pay difference.
Read the complete School Nurse guide →
How to increase your nursing salary
- Earn a specialty certification. Many hospitals pay a differential for certifications like the CCRN, CEN, PCCN or CNOR.
- Work nights, weekends and holidays. Shift differentials can add up quickly over a year.
- Take on-call or procedural roles. Cath lab, OR and PACU nurses often earn on-call and callback pay.
- Try travel nursing. Travel contracts often include stipends on top of hourly pay.
- Consider your location and setting. Pay varies widely by state and city, and government and hospital jobs have the highest BLS medians.
- Go back to school. A BSN opens more roles, and a graduate degree opens the APRN roles at the top of this list.
- Move into leadership, education or informatics. Charge nurse, manager and informatics roles often pay more.
Want to explore every specialty, not just the highest paid? See our complete guide to nurse specialties and the types of nurses.
Not a nurse but working beside them? Phlebotomists earned a BLS median of $45,230 in May 2025. Learn more in our phlebotomist guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest paid nurse?
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are the highest paid nurses. BLS reports a median annual wage of $236,590 for nurse anesthetists in May 2025.
What is the highest paying nursing job without a master's degree?
Without a graduate degree, the best paying options are usually RN specialties with extra pay potential, such as travel nursing, flight nursing, cath lab nursing and critical care roles, especially in high-paying states and government or hospital settings.
How much do registered nurses make?
BLS reports a median annual wage of $97,550 for registered nurses in May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $68,940, and the highest 10% earned more than $137,470.
Which work setting pays nurses the most?
Government is the highest paying major setting for RNs, with a BLS median of $110,780 in May 2025, followed by hospitals at $100,220.
Which nursing jobs pay the least?
Among the major settings, RNs in educational services, such as school nurses, have the lowest BLS median at $78,620, partly because many work a school-year schedule.
Do nursing certifications increase pay?
Often, yes. Many hospitals pay a certification differential or prefer certified nurses for higher paying roles. Certifications like the CCRN, CEN, PCCN and specialty board certifications can help nurses move into better paying positions.
Why doesn't BLS report salaries for each nursing specialty?
BLS groups most nursing specialties, such as ER, ICU and labor and delivery nurses, together as registered nurses. It reports separate pay only for nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners.
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