The 20 Highest-Paying Nursing Specialties

Key Takeaways

• The highest-earning nurses are CRNAs, at $231,700 per year. Other APRN roles, including nurse-midwives and psychiatric nurse practitioners, also clear six figures.
• Education drives earning potential. Most top specialties require advanced degrees and certification: CRNAs need a DNP, NPs need at least an MSN.
• When you pick a specialty, weigh projected job growth and demand against your own skills and interests, not just the salary.

Some nursing careers pay a lot more than others. The list below ranks 20 specialties by average salary, with how to enter each one and what it pays. Nurse anesthetists sit at the top by a wide margin.

Top 20 nursing specialties by salary:

1. Nurse Anesthetist
2. Nurse-Midwife
3. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
4. Family Nurse Practitioner
5. Clinical Nurse Specialist
6. Nurse Educator
7. Informatics Nurse
8. Travel Nurse
9. Oncology Nurse
10. Operating Room Nurse
11. Dialysis Nurse
12. Infection Control/Prevention Nurse
13. Nurse Researcher
14. Trauma Nurse
15. Neonatal Nurse
16. Geriatric Nurse
17. Acute Care Nurse
18. Public Health Nurse
19. Nurse Advocate
20. Pediatric Nurse

Top Nursing Salaries by Specialty

1. Nurse Anesthetist

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). They administer anesthesia and pain medication, monitor vital signs, adjust anesthesia as needed, and watch patients through surgery and recovery. CRNAs work with patients of all ages in scheduled and emergency procedures, and they record patient histories and explain anesthesia options before surgery.

• How to Become: You need an RN license and a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) in nurse anesthesiology, plus specialized certification and a state CRNA license. Certification requires more than 3,000 hours of clinical experience and a passing score on the national exam from the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
• Salary: $231,700 (BLS, May 2024)

2. Nurse-Midwife

These APRNs specialize in pregnancy, prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. They care for patients from labor through delivery and provide postpartum support, and many also offer general women's health services, including gynecological, reproductive, and preventive care.

• How to Become: With a BSN and RN license, you can enroll in a master's or doctoral nursing program. Some MSN programs admit RNs without a bachelor's degree, and direct-entry MSN programs admit applicants from non-nursing backgrounds. After graduate training, you earn the Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) credential from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).
• Salary: $131,570 (BLS, May 2024)

3. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

These APRNs assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions, working with patients who have mood disorders, phobias, depression, dementia, or substance use disorders. Their work spans medication management, therapy, crisis intervention, and mental health assessment.

• How to Become: You need at least an MSN and a valid RN license to qualify for APRN licensure. Pathways include RN-to-MSN programs for RNs with associate degrees and direct-entry MSN programs for people with non-nursing bachelor's degrees. After finishing an NP program with a psychiatric mental health focus, you obtain the PMHNP certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
• Salary: $125,325 (Payscale, August 2025)

4. Family Nurse Practitioner

Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) treat patients from childhood through adulthood in clinical and family practice settings. About 65% of nurse practitioners hold FNP certification, making it the most common APRN category. FNPs examine, diagnose, and treat across the lifespan with a focus on preventive care.

• How to Become: An MSN is the minimum. Most programs require a BSN, though some admit students without one, and direct-entry options exist for people with non-nursing bachelor's degrees. After graduate training, FNPs pursue family practice certification from a recognized board such as the AANP.
• Salary: $129,210 (BLS)

5. Clinical Nurse Specialist

This APRN holds a master's or doctoral degree in a focused area such as pediatrics, geriatrics, critical care, a specific disease (diabetes, cardiovascular illness), rehabilitation, mental health, or pain and wound care.

• How to Become: Most CNSs enter an MSN program after getting their RN license and some work experience. The role does not require an extra certification to practice, but many pursue specialty credentials to advance and earn more. Licensure, practice regulations, and prescriptive authority vary by state, so check your state board. The ANCC offers certifications in gerontology, cardiovascular disease, oncology, and other areas.
• Salary: $105,206 (Payscale, August 2025)

6. Nurse Educator

Nurse educators are RNs with advanced graduate training who teach in academic programs or hospital training settings. Beyond teaching, they advise students, build and evaluate curriculum, conduct research, and write grants.

• How to Become: Pass the NCLEX-RN, complete an MSN, and gain clinical experience in an APRN practice area. Schools increasingly prefer a DNP or PhD in nursing. Certification is not always required, but you can earn a specialty credential in clinical or academic nurse education through the National League for Nursing (NLN).
• Salary: $87,172 (Payscale, August 2025)

7. Informatics Nurse

Informatics nurses manage healthcare data and communications for hospitals, nursing homes, insurers, and public health agencies. Trained in nursing, computer science, and information technology, they integrate data across providers to improve efficiency and patient care.

• How to Become: Most enter after a BSN and RN license. From there, RNs often earn a general MSN or an MSN in health informatics, and some pursue graduate degrees in information or computer science. Specialty certification in nursing informatics through the ANCC can strengthen your prospects.
• Salary: $86,844 (Payscale, August 2025)

8. Travel Nurse

Travel nurses move between facilities, across the state or country and sometimes internationally, to fill staffing gaps. They may specialize or perform general RN duties, taking contracts that run anywhere from one month to two years, whether self-employed or placed through an agency.

• How to Become: You need an associate or BSN degree and a current RN license. Most agencies require at least one year of nursing experience. There is no travel-specific certification, but RN specialty credentials in pediatric, critical care, or emergency nursing improve your prospects.
• Salary: $92,366 (Payscale, August 2025)

9. Oncology Nurse

Oncology nurses care for cancer patients across treatment stages, often specializing in pediatric, geriatric, breast cancer, or hematology. They administer chemotherapy, track symptoms and progress, and support patients through treatment.

• How to Become: You need an active RN license and an associate degree (ADN) or BSN. A graduate degree from an NP program with an oncology focus opens advanced clinical roles and higher pay. The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation offers the Oncology Certified Nurse credential and several specialty certifications.
• Salary: $85,936 (Payscale, August 2025)

10. Operating Room Nurse

Operating room (OR) nurses, also called perioperative nurses, work with surgeons and anesthesiologists during surgery. They serve as first assist RN, circulating nurse, or scrub nurse, preparing patients, setting up the sterile field, documenting the procedure, passing instruments, and assisting with suturing.

• How to Become: You need an active RN license, a nursing degree, and experience, plus OR-specific training such as a surgical residency. The Competency and Credentialing Institute offers the Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) credential to RNs with two or more years of surgical experience.
• Salary: $84,266 (Payscale, August 2025)

11. Dialysis Nurse

Dialysis nurses care for patients whose kidneys can no longer filter waste and fluid. They run the equipment that filters the blood, check vital signs before and after treatment, and teach patients about medications and aftercare.

• How to Become: You need a nursing diploma, associate, or BSN and an RN license. An MSN opens better-paid APRN roles. Nephrology certifications also help: the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) offers the Certified Nephrology Nurse and Certified Dialysis Nurse credentials.
• Salary: $82,839 (Payscale, August 2025)

12. Infection Control/Prevention Nurse

These nurses identify, monitor, and manage infections and outbreaks in hospitals, clinics, and community health centers. The role proved critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when systems needed specialists focused on case reporting and infection prevention.

• How to Become: You need an active RN license and an ADN or BSN. Some employers require certification in infection prevention and control (CIC) from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, which calls for a nursing degree and about two years of experience with infectious diseases.
• Salary: $82,281 (Payscale, August 2025)

13. Nurse Researcher

Nurse researchers conduct studies, analyze data, and report findings on illness and healthcare improvement, working in hospitals, universities, and research labs. They do not provide direct patient care, but their work shapes the field and saves lives.

• How to Become: Most hold a bachelor's and master's in nursing and a valid RN license, and many positions, especially in academia, require doctoral training. No specialty certification is required, but credentials such as the Certified Clinical Research Professional from SOCRA or certifications from the Association of Clinical Research Professionals can boost your prospects.
• Salary: $91,797 (ZipRecruiter, August 2025)

14. Trauma Nurse

Trauma nurses care for critically ill and injured patients in emergency rooms, critical care units, and emergency response teams. They assess, stabilize, and treat unstable patients, administering wound care, emergency medications, IV fluids, and transfusions, and operating equipment such as defibrillators.

• How to Become: Earn an associate or BSN and pass the NCLEX-RN, then take advantage of clinical rotations or internships in trauma settings. After two years of RN experience, you earn the Certified Emergency Nurse credential or a related trauma certification from the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing.
• Salary: $80,563 (Payscale, August 2025)

15. Neonatal Nurse

Neonatal nurses care for at-risk infants in intensive care, including premature newborns and babies with cardiac or other congenital conditions, genetic disorders, or drug dependency. They typically care for these infants until discharge, sometimes beyond.

• How to Become: You need a valid RN license and at least an associate degree, though competitive positions require a BSN. Most facilities require neonatal resuscitation program certification, and many nurses add credentials in low-risk neonatal or neonatal intensive care nursing.
• Salary: $79,253 (Payscale, August 2025)

16. Geriatric Nurse

As the population ages, demand for geriatric nurses keeps growing. They manage the health needs of older adults, working closely with physicians, social workers, families, and caregivers, and educating patients about their conditions and options.

• How to Become: An RN without a graduate degree can work in geriatrics, but APRNs with advanced geriatric training at the master's or doctoral level have better prospects. APRNs can earn the gerontological specialist-certified (GS-C) credential through the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA).
• Salary: $77,820 (Payscale, August 2025)

17. Acute Care Nurse

Acute care nurses treat patients with severe or life-threatening problems, such as heart attacks or sudden complications from chronic illness. The specialty is versatile, with 15 certifications spanning neonatal and pediatric acute care to adult cardiac and gerontology acute care.

• How to Become: A valid RN license plus an MSN or doctoral degree leading to acute care nurse practitioner licensure opens higher-paying roles. Certification requirements vary by state. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses offers credentials with varying practice, licensure, and degree requirements.
• Salary: $77,590 (Payscale, August 2025)

18. Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses serve communities rather than individual patients, educating people on health and safety and connecting them to care. They identify and prioritize community health concerns, build and implement safety plans, and advocate for access.

• How to Become: Pass the NCLEX-RN and gain experience in community or public health nursing. The Certified in Public Health credential requires a bachelor's degree, at least five years of public health experience, and an exam from the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
• Salary: $74,427 (Payscale, August 2025)

19. Nurse Advocate

Nurse advocates assess, educate, and represent patients, coordinating between patients and their doctors. They review concerns, consult with physicians on quality and cost, explain conditions and treatments, and mediate conflicts.

• How to Become: Earn a BSN and pass the NCLEX-RN, then build advocacy exposure through continuing education and work experience. There is no dedicated nursing advocacy certification, but the Patient Advocate Certification Board offers credentials for healthcare professionals in this area.
• Salary: $72,155 (Payscale, August 2025)

20. Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric nurses care for children from birth through adolescence. Depending on training, they provide primary and preventive care, conduct exams, manage chronic and acute illness, run diagnostic tests, build care plans, and educate patients and families.

• How to Become: Start with an active RN license and a nursing degree. Most enter with an associate or BSN, but APRNs with a pediatric focus and an MSN or DNP are in higher demand. The ANCC administers pediatric nursing certification; RNs qualify after two years of experience with a minimum of 2,000 hours in pediatric nursing.
• Salary: $72,210 (Payscale, August 2025)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a nursing specialty? A specialty is a specific patient population, acuity level, or condition you focus on. Examples include pediatrics (children), emergency nursing (acute and trauma patients), and oncology (cancer patients).

Which nursing specialty pays the most? Nurse anesthetists, by far. The average CRNA wage is $231,700 as of May 2024 (BLS), more than $100,000 above the average registered nurse.

Can a nurse make $200,000 a year? Yes, though it is most likely for advanced practice RNs such as CRNAs. Nurses working contracts or multiple jobs can also reach that level.

What is the average RN salary? The mean annual RN wage is $98,430 (BLS). Actual pay varies widely by specialty and licensure; Payscale reports an average of $35 per hour as of January 2025.