MSN Nurse Salary Guide

9 Min Read Published August 2, 2024
MSN Nurse Salary Guide | Nurse.org

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

  1. Nurse practitioner salary$126,260
  2. Certified nurse-midwife salary: $129,650
  3. Nurse anesthetist salary: $212,650

Median annual U.S. salaries in 2023 via BLS

Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs

Sponsored
Purdue Global

Earn a valuable nursing credential at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Expand your expertise and prepare to take on leadership and independent practice opportunities. Complete your courses online, on your schedule.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

Grand Canyon University

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.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Western Governors University

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.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Georgetown University

Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.

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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


State NP Salary CNM Salary CRNA Salary
Alabama $110,020 - $173,370
Alaska $126,170 - -
Arizona $132,560 $119,190 -
Arkansas $113,410 - -
California $161,540 $183,740 $250,920
Colorado $121,990 $126,100 $215,870
Connecticut $136,980 $122,530 $247,740
Delaware $131,110 $121,690 $207,030
District of Columbia $134,850 $109,970 -
Florida $119,710 $99,310 $176,950
Georgia $121,150 $124,020 $204,070
Guam $88,570 - -
Hawaii $132,610 $161,820 -
Idaho $124,550 $78,530 $178,600
Illinois $126,900 $123,820 $281,240
Indiana $123,320 $120,090 $207,180
Iowa $130,820 $124,040 $227,710
Kansas $119,270 - $184,650
Kentucky $110,370 - $185,630
Louisiana $118,670 - $218,770
Maine $122,940 $140,440 $227,270
Maryland $127,990 $128,400 $187,420
Massachusetts $144,010 $154,080 $272,510
Michigan $120,680 $120,370 $219,050
Minnesota $135,010 $121,860 $221,650
Mississippi $117,490 - $201,280
Missouri $116,680 $122,900 $230,470
Montana $124,640 - $256,460
Nebraska $121,680 - $212,860
Nevada $148,670 - -
New Hampshire $130,740 $128,650 $239,630
New Jersey $145,030 $133,980 $252,130
New Mexico $136,770 $116,780 $212,950
New York $142,830 $135,120 $256,160
North Carolina $121,590 $118,660 $222,560
North Dakota $127,760 - $234,950
Ohio $122,870 $124,140 $210,760
Oklahoma $124,330 - $208,410
Oregon $144,950 $139,490 $215,260
Pennsylvania $127,450 $121,410 $209,890
Rhode Island $133,460 $125,820 -
South Carolina $116,940 $95,940 $233,920
South Dakota $120,980 - $211,090
Tennessee $103,720 $103,430 $194,790
Texas $130,010 $112,660 $216,280
Utah $127,820 $133,930 $125,890
Vermont $126,100 - $254,790
Virginia $120,870 $118,750 $232,250
Washington $145,400 $130,990 $246,350
West Virginia $113,450 - $232,410
Wisconsin $128,330 $128,550 $247,160
Wyoming $123,560 - $228,780
 

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:

  1. Business Support Services: $180,570
  2. Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: $158,140
  3. Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations: $153,580
  4. Home Health Care Services: $146,850
  5. 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

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

Sponsored
Purdue Global

Earn a valuable nursing credential at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Expand your expertise and prepare to take on leadership and independent practice opportunities. Complete your courses online, on your schedule.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

Grand Canyon University

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.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Western Governors University

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.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Georgetown University

Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.

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!

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Sarah Jividen
RN, BSN
Sarah Jividen
Nurse.org Contributor

Sarah Jividen, RN, BSN, is a trained neuro/trauma and emergency room nurse turned freelance healthcare writer/editor. As a journalism major, she combined her love for writing with her passion for high-level patient care. Sarah is the creator of Health Writing Solutions, LLC, specializing in writing about healthcare topics, including health journalism, education, and evidence-based health and wellness trends. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two children. 

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), National University - Los Angeles Bachelor of the Arts (BA) in Journalism, California State University - Chico

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