There are many reasons RNs choose to go back to school and receive their Master of Science in Nursing. However, one of the most attractive reasons—the salary. Nurses with an MSN degree are able to further their education, career opportunities, impact as well as increase their paycheck.
Getting an MSN degree opens up several career paths for registered nurses. Let’s take a look at the master of science in nursing salary broken down by specialty, state and highest paid jobs.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Salaries
The MSN nurses’ salary can range anywhere from $60,000 to $180,000, with an average of $92,000. However, your actual salary will depend on your experience and the specialty you decide to go into. Below are the average salaries for advanced practice registered nurses, nurse administrators and nurse instructors.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) Salaries
Advanced practice nurses hold a master’s degree or doctoral degree in a focus area. Some of the most popular types of advanced practice nurses include, certified nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, family nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for nurse practitioners in 2018 was $107,030. However, your actual salary will depend on the nursing career path you take. When looking at current salaries on Payscale, we were able to compare the salary ranges and average annual salary for over 25 of the top APRN jobs in the country.
| JOB TITLE | SALARY RANGES | AVG. SALARY PER YEAR |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $99,000 – $193,000 | $146,354 |
| Psychiatric Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) | $82,000 – $139,000 | $104,553 |
| Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $84,000 – $124,000 | $100,336 |
| Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) | $84,000 – $124,000 | $100,041 |
| Cardiovascular Surgery Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $85,000 – $121,000 | $99,616 |
| Hospitalist Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) | $85,000 – $119,000 | $98,922 |
| Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $79,000 – $123,000 | $98,825 |
| Cardiovascular Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) | $83,000 – $123,000 | $97,811 |
| Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP | $82,000-$121,000 | $97,392 |
| Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $82,000-$123,000 | $95,883 |
| Internal Medicine Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) | $79,000-$118,000 | $95,291 |
| Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) | $77,000-$119,000 | $95,078 |
| Dermatology Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) | $76,000-$123,000 | $94,340 |
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) | $78,000-$117,000 | $94,276 |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $75,000-$118,000 | $92,940 |
| Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $77,000-$114,000 | $92,548 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife | $76,000-$115,000 | $92,427 |
| Laser Dermatology Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) | $87,000-$119,000 | $92,086 |
| Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $79,000-$110,000 | $91,390 |
| Pediatrics Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) | $72,000-$118,000 | $91,041 |
| Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) | $70,000-$115,000 | $90,302 |
| Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $71,000-$109,000 | $89,597 |
| Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) | $71,000-$110,000 | $89,291 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | $66,000-$116,000 | $88,328 |
| Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $71,000-$110,000 | $88,167 |
| Informatics Nurse | $58,000-$98,000 | $77,414 |
| Critical Care Nurse | $41,000-$97,000 | $67,006 |
Nurse Administrator Salaries
If you’re looking for more of a leadership role, you can become a nurse administrator. Nurse administrators need an advanced degree along with business leadership skills. Some popular nurse executive roles include clinical nurse leader, manager, chief nursing officer and more.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health service managers make a median salary of $99,730. However, the more experience you have, the more money you will make. Below are some of the top nurse administrator roles ranked from highest to lowest pay.
| JOB TITLE | SALARY RANGES | AVG. SALARY PER YEAR |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $133,000-$224,000 | $176,686 |
| Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) | $91,000-$199,000 | $127,268 |
| Clinical Informatics Manager | $62,000-$128,000 | $90,261 |
| Nursing Director | $64,000-$129,000 | $89,413 |
| Director, Clinical Services | $60,000-$133,000 | $86,843 |
| Nursing Manager | $63,000-$116,000 | $84,710 |
| Clinical Nurse Manager | $61,000-$112,000 | $81,507 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | $53,000-$107,000 | $77,826 |
| Legal Nurse Consultant | $55,000-$101,000 | $76,556 |
| Registered Nurse (RN) Supervisor | $54,000-$97,000 | $72,808 |
| Nurse Case Manager | $56,000-$89,000 | $70,888 |
| Clinical Manager | $47,000-$100,000 | $70,449 |
| Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) | $54,000-$89,000 | $69,413 |
Nurse Instructor Salaries
If you don’t want to work in a hospital, consider a career as a nurse educator. Just like the other MSN fields, nurse educators require an advanced degree and get paid relatively well.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing instructors and teachers make a median annual wage of $73,490. Your salary will depend a lot on your experience, location, field and school you teach at. Below are some of the most popular nurse instructor jobs and their average annual salary.
| JOB TITLE | SALARY RANGES | AVG. SALARY PER YEAR |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Researcher | $63,000-$147,000 | $81,500 |
| Clinical Educator | $55,000-$100,000 | $74,962 |
| Nurse Educator | $54,000-$99,000 | $74,535 |
| Clinical Research Nurse | $54,000-$92,000 | $70,488 |
| Nursing Instructor | $45,000-$82,000 | $61,109 |
Master of Science in Nursing Degree Salaries by State
Just like any profession, the state you choose to work in, will play a factor in what salary you will make. Generally, states with a higher cost of living will pay higher wages but supply and demand can also play a role. Arizona is considered the best state for nurses based on their average salary, projected job growth and cost of living index.
Below are all 50 states ranked from highest master of science in nursing pay to lowest. The states with the highest MSN pay are Wyoming, California and Montana.
| STATE | AVG. SALARY PER YEAR |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $136,770 |
| California | $135,920 |
| Montana | $132,800 |
| Minnesota | $128,700 |
| Hawaii | $126,720 |
| Alaska | $124,620 |
| Massachusetts | $122,600 |
| Iowa | $120,780 |
| Oregon | $120,560 |
| New York | $118,810 |
| North Dakota | $118,800 |
| Nevada | $117,250 |
| Connecticut | $115,680 |
| Washington | $115,490 |
| Wisconsin | $114,040 |
| Virginia | $112,580 |
| West Virginia | $112,140 |
| District of Columbia | $111,710 |
| South Dakota | $111,080 |
| Michigan | $109,660 |
| Delaware | $108,780 |
| Mississippi | $108,440 |
| Maryland | $107,520 |
| New Hampshire | $107,410 |
| Kentucky | $106,730 |
| North Carolina | $106,690 |
| Indiana | $105,740 |
| Florida | $105,230 |
| Utah | $105,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,550 |
| Alabama | $103,370 |
| Arizona | $102,260 |
| Texas | $101,870 |
| Colorado | $101,620 |
| Kansas | $101,590 |
| New Jersey | $101,560 |
| Ohio | $101,490 |
| Georgia | $101,470 |
| New Mexico | $101,470 |
| Nebraska | $101,280 |
| Illinois | $101,180 |
| Idaho | $100,690 |
| Louisiana | $100,460 |
| Oklahoma | $100,300 |
| Maine | $98,720 |
| South Carolina | $98,700 |
| Arkansas | $98,540 |
| Missouri | $93,550 |
| Tennessee | $92,920 |
| Rhode Island | $85,550 |
| Vermont | $83,670 |
Source: NursingProcess
Top 5 Highest Paying MSN Jobs
1. Chief Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
A chief nurse anesthetist oversees, manages and schedules a lot of the work done by nurse anesthetists. To become a CRNA, you must be legally licensed in your state. This means first achieving your BSN and then acquiring a master’s degree. Most roles require 3+ years of managerial experience.
Average annual salary: $176,686
2. Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
A nurse anesthetist has the same level of education as a chief nurse anesthetist, but has less experience. They work under the chief nurse anesthetist and are responsible for administering anesthesia to patients undergoing obstetrical, surgical and trauma care procedures.
Average annual salary: $146,354
3. Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)
Chief nursing officer is the highest-ranking nurse administrative position. They are responsible for all nursing managers and directors and oversee daily activities within a hospital. Along with a BSN and graduate degree, CNOs must have at least five years of experience in a nurse leadership role.
Average annual salary: $127,268
4. Psychiatric Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)
A psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner treats patients with diagnosed disorders and patients with a family history of mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder. To become an ARNP, you must have a Master of Science in Nursing degree specializing in psychiatric care. You must also have an RN license and certification from the American Nurses Credential Center.
Average annual salary: $104,553
5. Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner (NP)
A hospitalist nurse practitioner provides direct nursing care for patients in a hospital. They are responsible for checking health status, outlining medical history and diagnosing any potential issues. To become a hospitalist nurse practitioner you must hold a master’s degree and pass a national certification exam.
Average annual salary: $100,336
Get Your Master of Science in Nursing Degree Today
Receiving your Master of Science in Nursing degree is one of the best things you can do for yourself as an RN. Your opportunities will widen and your impact will double. Not to mention the increase in your paycheck.
At the School of Nursing at the University of St. Augustine Health Sciences, we are building future leaders and advanced health care practitioners. Our Master of Science in Nursing program offers both online and on-campus options including the available nursing specialty like family nurse practitioner, nurse executive, nursing informaticist and nurse educator.
If you are interested in earning your MSN or another advanced degree, contact the USAHS admissions office today.
Sources:
“PayScale. “Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree.” https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Science_in_Nursing_(MSN)/Salary. Accessed: January 26, 2022
NursingProcess.org. “Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Salary – 2021.” https://www.nursingprocess.org/msn-salary/. Accessed: January 26, 2022
