The Highest Paying Career Paths for MSN Graduates
| 8 Min Read
Stand out for higher earning potential and advanced nursing career paths with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
Now is a great time to think about expanding your expertise as nursing is among the most in-demand professions in our country. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis reported that over the past five years, the nursing workforce has increased 4.6%,1 with growth across nearly every nursing specialty.
An MSN degree salary can also be higher than a BSN degree, so you might be interested in the highest paying nursing careers available to MSN graduates. Here’s a breakdown of expected salaries* in these top-paying nursing careers.
Where do Nurses Work for the Highest Salaries?
Over half of registered nurses in 2024 worked in state, local and private hospitals—about 58%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.2 Registered nurses are integral to every department in a hospital, such as cardiology, endoscopy, obstetrics and psychology. Within hospitals and other settings, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis provided percentages of the total number of registered nurses in several specialties, and some of the most common were:1
- Surgery (pre-op, post-op, PACU, and anesthesia): 10.3%
- Critical care or intensive care: 10.3%
- Emergency or trauma care: 7.7%
- Ambulatory care – primary care: 6.5%
- School health service (K-12 or post-secondary): 2.9%
- Community or public health: 2.2%
- Pulmonary or respiratory: 0.6%
Nurses also work in education settings, as consultants in businesses or organizations, in research labs and as administrators for health care providers and hospitals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2024 median annual wages for the top five industries for RNs:2
- Government: $106,480
- Hospitals; state, local and private: $97,260
- Ambulatory healthcare services: $83,780
- Nursing and residential care facilities: $81,820
- Educational services; state, local and private: $74,360
Within these industries, nurses have opportunities for leadership and specialization that can influence their salary. Among the multitude of nursing career paths available, some offer a higher salary than others. Explore some of the highest paying nursing careers below.
Highest Paying Nursing Specialties
1. Nursing Instructor and Nurse Educator Salary
$63,436-$132,998 average base salary3
7.8% faculty vacancy rate4
From community colleges to universities to medical centers and even business schools, the range of educational opportunities for nursing instructors and educators is diverse and continues to grow.
A specialized MSN degree in nursing education allows graduates to go on to become instructors or professors of nursing in hospitals, community colleges and universities. The MSN degree program from Sacred Heart University fulfills the education certification requirement through the National League for Nursing. This track requires graduates to have practical, real-world experience as an educator in any of the above job locations.
Postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers earned a median wage of $91,852 in 2025, according to Indeed, and the salary range is $63,436-$132,998.3 The salary for nurse educators with an MSN has the potential to be higher due to their expanded expertise. There is ample opportunity for nurse educators due to the increased need for well-educated nursing professionals. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing stated that additional nurse educators are needed to prepare students who will ultimately help fulfill a shortage of bachelor’s and master’s-prepared nurses in the workforce; the faculty vacancy rate was 7.8% in the U.S. in 2023, not counting additional faculty positions that needed to be created.4
2. Nurse Consultant Salary
$71,000-$130,000 average base salary5
3% higher salary with clinical education skills5
A consulting nurse provides informed advice and counsel to medical facilities, insurance companies, law firms, nonprofits and other health care-related organizations. They are experts when it comes to regulatory and legal considerations related to nursing or the health field. Other specialty areas include consulting related to specific health conditions, occupational consulting, community consulting and management consulting.
Payscale reported that nurse consultants earn an average base salary of $92,384 in 2025 with a range of $71,000-$130,000.5 Skills in clinical education, consulting management, regulatory compliance and medical terminology were correlated to pay that was above average.
To pursue this field, nurses should select their specialty area during their degree program. As for which degree to pursue, an RN-MSN bridge program such as Sacred Heart University’s is an excellent option and can help prepare you to be a nurse consultant.
Additionally, you can choose from five specializations at the MSN level: Clinical Nurse Leader, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, Nursing Management & Executive Leadership and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
3. Research Nurse and Clinical Research Coordinator Salary
$77,520-$239,200 median annual wage6
6-8% job growth from 2023 to 20336
Research nursing is another rapidly growing field. Research nurses work in universities, medical labs, nonprofits, organizations and companies related to health care. They may have to write grant proposals and articles for medical journals, so writing skills will be required.
A research nurse can also have a clinical nurse position with a specialty focus on research and related tasks. These roles can be called clinical research coordinators, clinical research nurses and clinical research managers. They must gather and evaluate data, statistics and other key information to enhance the function of the organization. They may work as part of a team or independently in a lab. Their findings often influence changes in medical procedures and policies.
These positions came with a median wage of $157,740 in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, with a range of $77,520 to $239,200.6 In addition to this salary potential, careers for research nurses and clinical research coordinators are growing fast. The U.S. Department of Labor projects faster-than-average growth for these professionals from 2023 to 2033—about 8,300 positions will become available.6
An MSN with a clinical nurse leader specialization can help ready you to impact the future of health care as a research nurse or clinical research coordinator.
4. Nurse Administrator Salary
$73,000-$106,000 average base salary7
2% higher salary with leadership experience7
A nurse administrator can have many responsibilities, including overseeing personnel, departments and entire facilities. They strive to meet their organization’s goals with leadership and management expertise. Nurse administrators frequently handle hiring, payroll, performance evaluation and communication with other departments. When you earn a Master of Science in Nursing from a program such as Sacred Heart University’s, you’ll obtain the administrative skills you need for these roles.
According to Payscale, nurse administrators earn an average base salary of $96,538 in 2025, with a range of $73,000-$106,000.7 With leadership and management experience and an MSN degree, salary potential can increase and help nurse administrators qualify for promotions.
5. Nurse Practitioner Salary
$94,530- $168,030 median annual wage8
46% job growth from 2023 to 20338
Nurse practitioners often work closely with patients throughout their lifespan. They order tests, prescribe medications, develop and oversee treatment plans and perform a variety of other important duties that contribute to high-quality care and successful patient outcomes.
Registered nurses can utilize the experience from an MSN degree to become nurse practitioners, which is a great nursing career path in terms of salary. An average nurse practitioner salary was $126,260 in 2023, with a range of $94,530- $168,030.8 Nurse practitioner job growth is also impressive. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 46% growth for nurse practitioners from 2023 to 2033, which equals about 29,000 job openings per year over the decade.8 Meet the demand for excellent patient care with an MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner degree. You’ll gain the skills to diagnose and treat patients over their entire lifespan and explore essential nursing theories such as holistic nursing care.
An online MSN program takes about two years to complete, and the personal and financial rewards can be significant. As you look ahead to your next steps, it’s good to keep these roles in mind so you can feel comfortable about your future as well as satisfied with your career choice. As shown by these statistics, students who obtain a Master of Science in Nursing have many opportunities for high pay and growth in up-and-coming nursing careers. If you’re interested in earning your online MSN degree from Sacred Heart University, request more information or apply now.
Sources and Disclaimer
- National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. “State of the U.S. Health Care Workforce, 2024.” November 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/state-of-the-health-workforce-report-2024.pdf.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Registered Nurses.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. August 29, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm.
- Indeed. “Nursing instructor salary in United States.” April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.indeed.com/career/nursing-instructor/salaries.
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. “Nursing Faculty Shortage Fact Sheet.” May 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/nursing-faculty-shortage#:~:text=Faculty%20shortages%20at%20nursing%20schools%20across%20the%20country,from%20clinical%20sites%20have%20contributed%20to%20this%20crisis.
- Payscale. “Average Nurse Consultant Salary.” March 5, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nurse_Consultant/Salary
- U.S. Department of Labor. “O*NET OnLine. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9121.01.
- Payscale. “Average Nurse Administrator Salary.” May 21, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nurse_Administrator/Salary.
- O*NET OnLine. “Nurse Practitioners 29-1171.00.” U.S. Department of Labor. April 8, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1171.00.
*Salary data was gathered in April 2025. You may earn more or less than the reported salaries depending on experience, region and employer.