Top Paying Careers for MSN Nurses

As with most careers, higher levels of education typically increase level of salary as well, that is the case with Nurses with a MSN degree.  Many nurses pursue a MSN degree for a variety of reasons, not just to increase their yearly take home salary.  Career opportunities and advancements come with increased knowledge, experience and specialized training that comes through earning a MSN degree.

Certain career paths will require a MSN such as anesthetist, nurse midwife and nurse practitioner.  Most people pursuing a MSN degree already have a BSN and have experience working in their field.  Not all MSN programs have the same requirements or will yield that came opportunities.  It is important to review each schools MSN program with what the requirements are for acceptance into their program and what specialties they offer their students.  It is imperative that students choose a program that will open their career in the direction they desire to take it.  Different programs offer different specialties such as nurse practitioner, nursing education, and clinical nurse leader, to name a few.

A typical MSN degree can be completed within two years and many are offered online so students can continue working as a nurse while pursuing a higher degree of education.  Some programs offer a fast track that allows students to complete their MSN degree in a shorter period of time.  There has never been a better time to earn a MSN degree.

Top Careers For People With a MSN Degree

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

An acute care nurse practitioner is an advanced-practice registered nurse who specializes in the care of acutely ill or injured patients.  They work under the supervision of a doctor and an acute care nurse manager.  Some responsibilities of acute care nurse practitioners are assessing the patient’s condition, assessing the patient’s needs, administering necessary treatments, interacting with both the patient and their family members, keeping accurate records of medical information and recording progress of any administered treatment.

The yearly salary for an acute care nurse practitioner is between $72K and $107K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Adult Nurse Practitioner

An ANP focuses on the primary care of adults (ages 12 and over). The main roles of ANPs focus on preventive care involving health promotion and disease prevention as well as the management of patients with acute and chronic health issues.  They usually work under the supervision of a physician, treating patients with both acute and chronic conditions.

The yearly salary for an ANP is between $73K to $110K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

An ARNP is an advanced care registered nurse that has completed graduate level education in the form of a MSN degree.  They can have the primary responsibility for patient care and are able to perform tasks that are normally performed by the physician in the event of his/her absence. They are also given responsibilities of coordinating treatment of patients and managing staff.

The yearly salary for ARNP is between $66K to $110K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Certified Nurse Midwife

A certified nurse midwife is a registered nurse with a MSN degree and has graduated from a nurse-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education.  CNM’s provide women’s gynecological health care, prenatal and postnatal care.  In addition to providing care during pregnancy they also perform routine exams, give counseling and write prescriptions for patients.

The yearly salary for CNM’s is between $67K to $100K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Chief Nurse Anesthetist

A chief nurse anesthetist is a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) that also has the responsibility of running the anesthesia department and coordinates with the surgical and nursing administration of a hospital.  This position requires not only a MSN specializing in anesthesia but experience, managerial skills and advanced nursing licensure and accreditation by the AANA.

The yearly salary for a CRNA is between $120K to $230K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Chief Nursing Officer

Responsibilities of a CNO include managerial, leadership, and training skills within the nursing department of a hospital, nursing home or other healthcare facility.  They are mandated to maintain clinical and patient standards and train other nurses in such standards. They often have duties that are similar to a CEO in administration of the hospital and staff in regards to schedules, staff level needed, and purchasing supplies within the budget.

The yearly salary for a CNO is between $78 to $170K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Clinical Nurse Manager

A clinical nurse manager has the primary duties of evaluating the performance of staff nurses, providing feedback and mentoring, developing education programs, contributing to staff professional development, interviewing and hiring nurses and medical staff, developing departmental budgets, and maintaining inventory of supplies.  They may also write and implement policies and procedures and train other nurses.  This particular position usually requires a minimum of three years of nursing management experience.

The yearly salary of clinical nurse manager is between $55K to $100K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Dermatology Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

A Dermatology NP holds a Masters or Doctoral degree in the Science of Nursing, is licensed within his/her state as an advanced practice nurse, is board certified by the AANP or ANCC, and specializes in the practice of dermatology.  The NP is going to be second in charge if the Doctor of Dermatology is out of the office or otherwise unavailable.  They counsel patients, provide treatments, and assist physicians with surgery and other procedures.

The yearly salary of a dermatology advanced registered nurse practitioner is between $66 to $100K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are graduate-educated, nationally-certified and state licensed advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who care for medically stable patients across the lifespan, from infants to geriatric patients.  Much like a family doctor, Family Nurse Practitioners work with patients throughout their lives, diagnosing illness, conducting exams, and prescribing medication.  They may work in a physician’s office or autonomously providing preventative care and treating common conditions.

The yearly salary of a FNP is between $65K to $100K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

A neonatal nurse is a registered nurse that attends to newborns, a neonatal nurse practitioner however attends to newborns that may have minor to complex health conditions and are in the NICU. They deliver comprehensive care to pre –term and full-term infants as well as other infants admitted due to illness.  These nurses often are needed all hours of the day and every day of the year due to their tiny patients needing constant care.

The yearly salary of neonatal nurse practitioner is between $54K to $110K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Nurse Anesthetist

A nurse anesthetist is an advanced practice nurse who specializes in the administration of anesthesia.  A nurse anesthetist will usually be employed in either a hospital or a surgical center.  They are responsible for preparing patients for anesthesia, determining the best anesthetic agents to administer to each patient and then administer the correct dosage of anesthetics to each patient.  A nurse anesthetist must be licensed as advanced practice registered nurses, having specialized in anesthesia, and be accredited by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).

The yearly salary for Nurse Anesthetists is between $87 to $170.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Nurse Educator

Nurse Educators are professionals, who work in the classroom and the practice setting, are responsible for preparing and mentoring current and future generations of nurses.  Nurse educators serve as faculty members in nursing schools and teaching hospitals, sharing their knowledge and skills to prepare the next generation of nurses for effective practice. They develop lesson plans and teach courses.

The yearly salary for nurse educators is between $58K to $98K. Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Nurse Midwife

A nurse midwife provides care for women during pregnancy, prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care.  They also provide gynecological care and exams.  They provide their patient’s and patient’s families with education through pregnancy, childbirth and caring for a newborn.  Some work exclusively at hospitals, or at birthing clinics while others offer the opportunity for low-risk patients to give birth at home.  In addition to these responsibilities they also offer counseling and resources for families to plan for parenthood.

The yearly salary for a nurse midwife is between $58 to $110. Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Nurse Practitioner

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who has additional responsibilities for administering patient care than RNs. NPs can prescribe medication, examine patients, diagnose illnesses, and provide treatment, much like physicians do.  They usually work under a supervising physician and must possess a master’s degree in nursing and be certified in their area of specialty.  A Nurse Practitioner also educates their patient’s and promote healthy lifestyle choices.  If they are not specialized to work with children they will typically have adult patients.

The yearly salary for a Nurse Practitioner is between $65K to $100K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Nursing Manager

Nurse managers are registered nurses who have educational qualifications (MSN) and at least three to five years of clinical experience qualifying them to effectively supervise nursing units in hospitals, clinics, and other medical institutions. Generally, nurse managers are appointed to units compatible with their degree emphasis.  These individuals need to have strong supervisory and leadership skills.  Nurse managers need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with co-workers.

The yearly salary for nursing managers is between $58K to $110K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Nurse Researcher

Nurse researchers are scientists who study various aspects of health, illness and health care. By designing and implementing scientific studies, they look for ways to improve health, health care services and health care outcomes. Most have a minimum of a master’s degree, many have a doctorate degrees in specialized areas of their research.

The yearly salary for nurse researchers is between $80K and $110K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization g is, and experience.

Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners specialize in the care of children from birth to young adult. They focus on primary care, preventive health, and growth and development, along with managing acute and chronic illnesses. Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are first and foremost nurses, which means they usually work under a physician.  Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) often work independently, or with pediatricians and other healthcare providers in settings that range from hospitals to physicians’ offices. Some even provide home care services. They may also treat young patients with chronic illness.

The yearly salary for PNPs is between $62K to $96K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioners are advanced-practice registered nurses who provide comprehensive mental health care to patients suffering from behavioral problems and mental health disorders.  They depend on a hybrid background of nursing and psychiatry. Most psych nurses begin in nursing then earn their Master’s in nursing with a specialization in psychiatry.  They perform mental health assessments, diagnose mental disorders, and prescribe medication and therapy. They usually work under the supervision of a psychiatrist.

The yearly salary for mental health nurse practitioners is between $68K to $110K.  Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Women’s health nurse practitioner delivers primary health care to women from adolescence through child bearing and advanced years.   They have the specialized skills and experience to treat and prevent illnesses unique to women, as well as provide focused care in areas such as: obstetrics, gynecology, labor, fertility and delivery.  They also diagnose and treat conditions and illnesses unique to women.

They yearly salary for women’s health nurse practitioner is between $61K to $96K. Factors that affect what salary a MSN holding professional earns includes the location (where they live and work), what their specialization is, and experience.