Best paying nursing roles in 2024

Not all nurses are paid equal. To maximize your earning potential, you want to take on the highest-paying nursing professions in the business. How in-demand a particular HCP’s services are, and the level of difficulty of their services will all determine how much compensation they will see. Using past data and some projections, we can make educated guesses on what nursing roles will compensate the best in the coming years. Whether you are in the process of becoming one of these HCPs, or looking for future career opportunities to work towards, these are the best compensating HCP jobs in 2024.

What are APRN roles?

Below, you will see plenty of mentions of “Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN.)” APRNs are HCPs who receive specialized education and training to offer particular services that regular RNs are not allowed to offer. Because of how difficult they are to replace, it is no wonder why APRNs make up the majority of the best compensated HCP roles. At minimum, you will require at least a Master of Science in Nursing with your specialization of choice. Certain roles will even require at least a Doctor of Nursing Practice in the near future. The additional education is a significant investment, but it can be well worth it.

What are the best compensating nursing specializations?

 Nurse Anesthetist

 Mean annual compensation: $205,770

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are APRNs primarily responsible for administering and managing anesthesia, typically in the middle of delicate surgical procedures. CRNAs also provide crucial aftercare, to ensure patients are safe from harmful side effects and can recover without a hitch. They are easily among the most valued and sought after HCPs in the industry, which is why their average annual compensation is so high. It is a specialized healthcare service that is essential for almost every kind of healthcare facility. 

Nurse Practitioner

Mean annual compensation: $124,680

Although Nurse Practitioners can work within a healthcare unit, their ability to provide primary health care services makes them stand out. Among other tasks, these APRNs can diagnose conditions, offer treatment, order medical tests, lay out a preventative care plan or prescribe medication (depending on where they live.) These services are especially important in rural areas without any readily-available physicians in their vicinity. In fact, the projected physician shortage will make NPs more on-demand than ever before.

 NICU Nurse

Mean annual compensation: $137,720

Sometimes, babies are born with critical birth defects or illnesses that could prove to be fatal, if left unchecked. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurses are in charge of caring for these infants, and bringing them to a more stable condition. Babies are more delicate than your average patient, and providing them with special healthcare comes with a host of unique issues. NICU nurses also offer care for babies who were born premature or underweight.

Nurse Midwives

Mean annual compensation: $122,450

 Like NICU nurses, nurse midwives are APRNs who oversee the labor process. This time, they offer childbirth education and reproductive health services to individuals throughout their whole lives. Women giving birth are susceptible to deadly infections or complications without the guidance and treatment of a nurse midwife. Midwives also take care or prenatal and postpartum care services, and can even provide gynecological treatment.

Nurse Administrator

Mean annual compensation: $122,450

APRNs are not the only professionals who are compensated handsomely, in this space. Nurse Administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of a facility, to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Among other tasks, they may be asked to coordinate training programs, develop facility policies and procedures, hold staff evaluations and meetings, and more. It is a demanding role that not everyone is prepared for. At the very least, you will require a master’s degree. A Master’s Degree in Nursing or a Master of Public Health would suffice, and a Master of Business Administration would be a perfect fit with either.