Are you considering becoming a registered nurse (RN) in the United States? Or are you already a nurse looking to increase your pay potential?
If so, you’re probably asking how to get the best nurse salary, and you’re in the perfect spot.
We’ve produced a detailed list of the highest-paying nursing jobs in 2024 to assist you in making financial decisions in your nursing career.
Not only will we examine the highest-paying nursing occupations, but we will also go over the school requirements, career outlook, and locations where you can work in these roles.
How Much Do Nurses in the United State Make?
The typical annual RN income in the United States is $81,220, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
However, that statistic includes all types of nurses, including the lowest and highest-paying nursing occupations, with some of the highest-paid nurses making more than $200K per year!
NURSING JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES
1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): $203,090 per year.
CRNAs make far more than any other sort of nurse or nursing specialty. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists defines this highly trained profession as preparing and providing anesthesia to patients in partnership with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other competent healthcare professionals.
Requirements to Become a Nurse Anesthetist
Prepare to study in order to graduate from an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program and pass the National Certification Examination.
Currently, a doctorate is not required to practice as a CRNA. However, the Council on Accreditation has announced that by 2025, all practicing CRNAs will be required to obtain a PhD. To achieve this criteria, all master’s CRNA programs will move to doctoral programs beginning this year.
CRNA Jobs
Hospitals, clinics, free-standing surgical centers, ambulatory centers, pain management facilities, and staffing agencies are among the employers.
2. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse: $136,592 per year
If you enjoy caring for babies, consider becoming a NICU nurse. This specialty attracts a high wage, particularly for advanced practice nurses.
The average yearly income for NICU nurses is $136,592, according to ZipRecruiter. Individuals with a BSN, more experience, and additional qualifications have greater earning potential. NICU nurses typically work 36 hours per week at an average hourly salary of $66*.
Advances in technology, as well as the incidence of premature babies, have contributed to neonatal nurses’ favorable work prospects.
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Requirements for Becoming a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse
While you can gain neonatal unit experience as a staff RN, acquiring a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) or newborn clinical nurse specialist (CNS) certification is where the true development occurs.
However, obtaining a graduate degree can help you earn a greater salary. Nurses who do not hold an advanced practice degree but want to become certified can obtain their RNC-NIC.
Hospitals, private practices, birth centers, well-baby units, private consultants, private duty baby nurses, pediatric outpatient clinics, and staffing agencies are some of the employers.
3. Pain Management Nurse – $124,006 Per Year
Pain management nurses help patients control their pain after surgery or work with patients who have chronic pain.
They collaborate with a healthcare team to discover the source of the pain and the best course of therapy, as well as to educate people about pain management and how to avoid addiction or dependence on prescribed medications.
Indeed reports that the average annual income for pain management nurses is $124,006. Pain management nurses typically work 40 hours per week, with an hourly rate of around $53.
Career Prospects for Pain Management Nurses
Because pain management nurses can work in a number of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and nursing homes, there is a high demand for their skills. As the population ages, there will be an increasing demand for expert pain management nurses.
Requirements
While an advanced degree is not required to become a pain management nurse, adequate RN experience is required to compete for the Nurse Practitioner certification for Pain Management Specialists.
Pain Management Nurse Jobs
Employers include hospitals, drug counseling centers, drug dependency clinics, rehabilitation centers, oncology clinics, sports rehabilitation facilities, long-term care institutions, fitness centers, and staffing agencies.
4. General Nurse Practitioner – $121,610 Per Year
As a general nurse practitioner, you have the option of starting your own practice or working in one of several primary care settings.
You can also improve your nursing abilities and earnings potential along the way. General NPs have the option to specialize in a certain field later on.
The median yearly pay for nurse practitioners is $121,610. General nurse practitioners typically work 40 hours each week, generating an hourly rate of around $59.
Career Prospects for Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioner positions (including general) are predicted to expand by 45 percent by 2032 (BLS).
Add to that the ability to work independently, and the outlook for this profession is promising.
Requirements to Become a Nurse Practitioner
The minimal degree requirement for becoming a nurse practitioner is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), followed by state-specific certification.
Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Employers include hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, outpatient clinics, private practices, and staffing companies.
5. Certified Nurse Midwife – $120,880/Year
For registered nurses who enjoy obstetrics, labor and delivery, and prenatal care, being a certified nurse midwife is an ideal career choice. CNMs typically work at OB/GYN offices, clinics, or hospitals; however, many open their own practices based on their state of practice.
The average certified nurse-midwife pay is $120,880, according to the BLS. CNMs typically work 40 hours per week, earning an hourly income of roughly $58.
READ MORE NURSING JOBS IN USA FOR FOREIGNERS & ONLINE NURSING PROGRAMS IN USA
Career Prospects for Certified Nurse Midwives
From 2022 to 2032, the BLS expects a demand for 500 new CNMs, representing a 6% increase in the profession.
Requirements for becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife
Nurses seeking to practice certified nurse midwifery can get the Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Midwife designations from the American Midwifery Certification Board.
Certified Nurse Midwife Jobs
Employers include hospitals, freestanding birthing clinics, private practice clinics, and staffing firms.
How to Apply
To apply in any of the above nursing jobs in the United States, click Here
FAQS
Which nurses earn the most money?
The highest-paid nursing specialty is Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), with an average annual compensation of $203,090. Travel nurses in any specialty, on the other hand, may be able to earn close to or more than that amount, depending on the terms of their contracts.
Can a nurse become a millionaire?
A nurse can become a millionaire, but they must first take on a high-level leadership position and/or develop additional revenue streams, such as becoming an entrepreneur.
How can a nurse make $100,000?
An RN can earn $100,000 in an advanced practitioner role, such as obtaining a CRNA, NP, or CNM, becoming a nurse manager, traveling nurse, or starting a second income stream.
Which nurses are the happiest?
Advanced practice nurses, which include nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and CRNAs, had the highest job satisfaction rates.
Conclusion
International nurses looking for a career in North America will find plenty of chances in both the United States.
From recruitment processes to scholarships and online schooling possibilities, the opportunities are numerous and intriguing.
With effort, perseverance, and the correct resources, overseas nurses may navigate these opportunities and make major contributions to the United States’ healthcare systems.