MSN Nurse Salary Guide
What is the Average Salary for a Nurse With a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN)?
Earning a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) can help you advance your nursing career into several different, exciting and higher-paying positions within the healthcare industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that in 2023, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) earned a median income of $129,480 per year or $62.25 per hour.
But the average salary you can earn depends largely on the type of MSN you obtain.
Avg. Salaries for Different Types of MSN Nurse Careers
- Nurse practitioner salary: $126,260
- Certified nurse-midwife salary: $129,650
- Nurse anesthetist salary: $212,650
Median annual U.S. salaries in 2023 via BLS
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
MSN Nurse Salary by State
The location where you work as an MSN-trained nurse is one of the factors that will determine your overall salary. Salaries are also dependant on the type of MSN-trained education you achieve. However, the states that pay a higher salary for one type of MSN degree usually also pay higher wages for other types.
Highest Paying States for MSN Nurses
| Highest Paying States for NPs | Highest Paying States for CNMs | Highest Paying States for CRNAs |
|---|---|---|
| California - $161,540 | California - $183,740 | Illinois - $281,240 |
| Nevada - $148,670 | Hawaii - $161,820 | Massachusetts - $272,510 |
| Washington - $145,400 | Massachusetts - $154,080 | Montana - $256,460 |
| New Jersey - $145,030 | Maine - $140,440 | New York - $256,160 |
| Oregon - $144,950 | Oregon - $139,490 | Vermont - $254,790 |
Source: Annual Mean Wages via May 2023 BLS National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
MSN Nurse Salaries by State
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Source: May 2023 BLS National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
MSN Nurse Salary by Industry
Nurses with an MSN most commonly work in hospitals or physician offices, however, nurses with an MSN may make even more money working in other industries outside of the traditional healthcare setting.
For nurse practitioners, these are the highest-paying industries according to the BLS:
- Business Support Services: $180,570
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: $158,140
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations: $153,580
- Home Health Care Services: $146,850
- Other Ambulatory Health Care Services: $144,570
Highest Paying Jobs for Nurses with a Master’s Degree
There is a wide range of career opportunities for MSN nurses. Some of the potential careers and their median US incomes include:
- Nurse Practitioner (NP): $128,490
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM): $131,570
- Clinical Nurse Specialist: $94,545
- Informatics Nurse: $98,409
- Clinical Nurse Leader: $89,949
- Nursing Administrator: $110,680
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers: $86,530
Nurse Practitioner (NP): $128,490
Nurse practitioners are a type of APRN who is trained and qualified to provide medical care for patients. Depending on the state’s nursing laws, NPs often work under the supervision of a physician; however, in many states, NPs are allowed to work independently and even own their own practice!
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM): $131,570
A CNM, or nurse-midwife, is an APRN who provides care for women of all ages. They are most known for caring for women during the pre-and postpartum period and assisting women during childbirth.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): $94,545
Clinical Nurse Specialists are MSN-trained clinicians who work in various areas of healthcare. CNSs usually study within certain specialties, such as emergency care, geriatrics, women’s health, or critical care.
A CNS provides care at the bedside; however, their primary role includes educating and supporting nurses who care for patients. They incorporate evidence-based practice into nursing units to achieve the highest level of care possible.
Informatics Nurse: $98,409
If working with technology interests you, becoming an informatics nurse might be a perfect career fit! Informatics nurses help improve nursing care through computers and healthcare technology.
Some of the most common technology that informatics nurses work with include electronic medical records (EMR) and data entry equipment for healthcare providers.
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL): $89,949
A Clinical Nurse Leader focuses on overall patient care and management. Some of their tasks include care coordination, outcome management, risk assessment, quality improvement, and the transition of care.
Nurse Administrator: $110,680
Nursing Administrators perform various management tasks within the healthcare setting. But their most essential job usually includes managing the nursing staff. You can find nurse administrators working in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, long-term care facilities, and mental health institutions.
Nurse administrators frequently work with other managers to ensure that a healthcare organization runs smoothly while also managing the financial aspects of the business.
Nurse Educator: $86,530
Nurse educators are essential education providers for nurses of all educational levels, including ADN, BSN, MSN, and doctoral degrees. They provide teaching at the bedside, in the classroom, and in simulation settings.
If helping nurses hone their nursing skills, develop critical thinking abilities, and advance their careers, becoming a nurse educator might be a great nursing career for you.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
MSN vs. BSN: How Much More Can You Make With an MSN Degree?
The BLS states that the 2023 median annual income of RNs with a bachelor’s degree or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) was $86,070 per year or $41.38 per hour.
When you compare the median BSN salary to the income of an APRN or nurse administrator, nurses who earn an MSN can, on average, make between $29,000 to $42,000 more per year!
It is also essential to consider several other factors that come into play when determining the overall BSN to MSN salary, like the city and state where you live, the type of industry you work in, whether you work full-time or part-time, and the type of MSN degree earned.
Is Earning an MSN Degree Worth it?
Achieving an MSN can completely alter your nursing career in the best possible way. There are so many potential career opportunities with higher salaries to match for nurses who pursue advanced education.
One of the biggest reasons many nurses decide to obtain an MSN is because they want more opportunity within their career that does not involve working at the bedside. The skills you can learn while obtaining an MSN will earn you more money. But it also helps by improving patient care, providing more nursing autonomy, and elevating the nursing profession as a whole. Best of luck to you on your MSN journey!
