Average Nurse Salaries by Degree and Career Specialty (2024)

Updated on May 09, 2024

Licensed Vocational or Practical Nurse

Average salary: $59,730 annually

Licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) are some of the lowest-paid nursing roles, but that is due to the fact that the educational requirements are less than most other types of nurses.

Practicing as an LVN/LPN does not require a college degree, and some jobs only require minimal training and education. The nursing education source Nurse.com found in its 2022 survey of nurses found that 49% of LVN/LPNs planned to pursue a degree, and 47% planned to seek additional training to advance.

Registered Nurse

Average salary: $86,070 annually

Registered nurses (RN) are a large part of the nurse workforce. RNs practice in a variety of specialties and work environments. RNs must have at least an associate’s degree in nursing, and many RNs have a bachelor’s degree.

Additionally, many RNs go on to obtain advanced nursing degrees, at which point they earn more money and get promoted to advanced nursing positions with more clinical authority. In 2024, a third of RNs said they plan to pursue a bachelor’s (BSN) or master’s degree (MSN) in nursing.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Salary range: $100,392 average annually

Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) hold at least a master’s degree in nursing with a CNS track in one of several medical specialties, such as geriatrics or cardiology. They accounted for 6% of all advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) in the 2024 Nurse Salary Research Report from Nurse.com.

Due to their higher level of education and scope of practice, clinical nurse specialists earn more than RNs and many other types of nurses. Precise incomes vary based on specialty, such as intensive care or oncology.

Nurse Practitioner

Average salary: $128,490 annually

Nurse practitioners (NP) hold a master’s degree from an accredited nurse practitioner program​ and are considered advanced practice nurses. In fact, many states allow NPs to practice independently of physicians and even prescribe medications.

According to the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), average salaries for NPs vary by specialty but are on the rise. Primary care NPs have seen their salaries rise 13.6% from 2018 to 2022; it’s 11.5% for NPs working in surgical fields.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Average salary: $212,650 annually

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) administer anesthesia to block pain during surgery or surgical procedures in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, or dental offices. The top 10% of CRNAs earn $239,200 or more annually.

CRNAs are RNs who then go on to earn a master’s degree in an accredited nurse anesthetist training program. CRNAs typically must be on call for emergency surgeries and may have to work long hours.

The intensity and stress of the job, plus the high level of education required, make CRNA jobs among the highest-paying nursing jobs. It was ranked No. 1 in 2024 by Nurse.org.

Nurse Midwife

Average salary: $129,650 annually

Nurse midwives are nurses who have special training in obstetrics, specifically in childbirth. Nurse midwives care for people who are pregnant and assist them during and after the delivery.

Most nurse midwives work with a practice office, hospital, or outpatient care center. Salaries vary based on location as well as the setting.

Nurse Educator

Average salary: $49,120 to $130,320 annually

Nurse educators teach future nurses how to be nurses, typically in the college and university setting. There’s a wide salary range for this role due to the fact that nurse educators’ jobs are also varied. The U.S. average is $80,780 in 2024.

Some teach part-time, others full-time. Some nurse educators teach online, others teach on-site. Most nurse educators have master’s degrees, but some opportunities may be available to those with bachelor’s degrees.

Oncology Nurse

Average salary: $85,826 annually

An oncology nurse specializes in the care of people diagnosed with cancer. They administer medication, and support patients during radiation and surgery. They also may focus on a specific type of cancer, or an adjacent field like genetic counseling.

The level of experience and education may vary, with oncology nurse practitioners holding the highest salaries.

Geriatric Nurse

Average salary: $78,400 annually

Older adults and aging populations are the focus of geriatric nursing care. This can mean caring for people with a range of medical diagnoses, from Alzheimer’s disease to chronic kidney disease or heart and lung problems.

Geriatric nurses begin their careers with either associate or BSN degrees, with many achieving gerontological nursing certification. The requirements include 2,000 hours of experience and an active RN license.

Emergency Room Nurse

Average salary: $78,732 annually

Emergency room (ER) nurses are registered nurses providing emergency care, often with critical care nurse and trauma nurse designations. They practice nursing in a wide range of duties, triaging patients and stabilizing people before they are transferred to surgery or other settings.

An ER nurse typically advances their career with certification that covers cardiac (heart) care, trauma wound care, and other emergencies. The salary for an ER nurse varies based on education, experience, and location, with a range from $70,624 to $87,663 in 2024.

Travel Nurse

Average salary: $118,400 annually

Travel nursing is a popular choice for nurses with the lifestyle flexibility to change locations from one contract to another, while they help to meet staffing demands at healthcare facilities. Travel nursing often is facilitated through agencies and online platforms that match your nursing expertise, education, and interests to potential employers.

The job duties and expected salary will vary depending on the types of positions involved. Keep in mind that housing stipends and other compensation also are part of many travel nurse packages. In 2023, the range was $131,252 annually for people working in New York to $83,705 in North Carolina.

Cardiac Nurse

Average salary: $86,957 annually

Some nurses specialize in cardiology (heart care), practicing in hospitals, medical offices, outpatient clinics, and more. Many of these nurses work in cardiac intensive care units, with the highest salaries earned by cardiac nurse practitioners.

Summary

The nursing profession offers a wide range of opportunities and areas of specialty. People can begin their careers while pursuing advanced education, becoming a nurse practitioner, anesthesia specialist, or nursing educator as they progress.

With the diversity of opportunities come different levels of pay. The nursing profession remains a high-demand field, with demand for nurses expected to grow by 275,000 between 2020 and 2030.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.