Nurse Salaries / CNS Salary
A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has graduated from a Master’s or Doctorate program and is certified in their area of expertise. They have advanced training and education in assessment, pharmacology, and physiology. In addition to providing direct care for prevention or intervention, the CNS’ scope of practice includes diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries within their specialty.
While registered nurses overall in the United States receive $82,750 per year according to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, clinical nurse specialists are among the highest-paid nurses. A CNS will typically earn over $100k annually on average across the United States.
| Source | Salary |
|---|---|
| Salary.com | $111,697 |
| Ziprecruiter.com | $106,407 |
| Nurse.org | $111,215 |
| Glassdoor.com | $113,724 |
Remember that these estimates are aggregate averages and do not take into account nursing salaries that consider unit position, experience level, and other factors.
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Average Clinical Nurse Specialists Salary Compared to Similar Healthcare Professions
CNSs are a type of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). APRNs also include nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse-midwives. These positions share a lot of similarities in educational background. However, all of these positions vary in their practice and in earnings.
| Profession | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | $110,760 |
| Registered Nurses | $82,750 |
| LPNs / LVNs | $51,850 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $118,040 |
| Nurse Midwives | $114,210 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $202,470 |
Career Outlook for Clinical Nurse Specialists
According to the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), an estimated 69,017 RNs have the education and credentials to be able to become a CNS. The BLS also states that APRNs have a projected growth of 40% from 2021 to 2031. So, these statistics indicate a great opportunity for growth for APRNs.
Frequently asked Questions About Nurse Salary
The primary factors impacting a nurse’s salary are specialty, location, years of experience, education, and the employer.
The best thing a nurse can do is gain experience in a specialty requiring additional education, training, or experience like CRNA, NP, or an admin role.
Sources
- Bls.gov. Accessed. April 28, 2022.
- Glassdoor.com. Accessed April 28, 2022.
- Nurse.org. Accessed April 28, 2022.
- Payscale.com. Accessed April 28, 2022.
- Salary.com. Accessed April 28, 2022.
- Ziprecruiter.com. Accessed April 28, 2022.
