11 Highest-Paying Jobs with a Masters in Nursing: Salary & Duties
The profession of a nurse is rewarding enough to start with. Its humane nature allows nurses to bond with their patients and receive satisfaction. However, there are ways that can make you live the nurse’s life to the fullest. Obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing degree can help you achieve that. It comes with a whole pack of great opportunities to advance your career and give you more personal fulfillment overall.
Why Should I Get an MSN?
It is always a good idea to level up and advance in your career. Getting your Master of Science in Nursing degree opens a lot of doorways for you. MSN offers you more job opportunities, better pay, better work hours, research opportunities, continuous learning, job security, more independence, specialized duties, and personal fulfillment.
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Highest-Paying Nursing Jobs with MSN Requirements
While nurses are fulfilled by doing what’s best for their patients, another great advantage of being a graduate of a master’s in nursing is being eligible for some of the highest-paying nursing jobs. There's no doubt that masters in nursing salary expectations are high. Based on your clinical experience and level of education, your MSN salary might vary. However, after obtaining your master’s degree, you will have plenty of choices when choosing your career pathway. Listed below are the top 11 highest-paying nursing jobs that require a Master of Science in Nursing degree.
1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist – $190,726
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist is a qualified medical professional with a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Depending on the level of education and years of experience, the salary in this position might vary. However, typically, a nurse anesthetist’s average salary is $190,726.
As claimed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment rate of certified registered nurse anesthetists is predicted to grow 26% between 2018 and 2028, which is a faster pace than the average for all occupations.
Duties and responsibilities
A certified registered nurse anesthetist or CRNA is responsible for preparing anesthetic for patients during surgical, diagnostic, or obstetric procedures. Other responsibilities include:
Administering medications.
Keeping an eye on the patient's well-being as they recover from anesthesia.
Collaborating with other medical professionals to build pain management strategies.
Conducting patient assessments.
Educating patients about their surgery and recovery.
2. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner – $127,831
Neonatal nurse practitioners are a type of nurse practitioners who supervise and assist with the delivery and treatment of newborn babies. With a median salary of $127,831, neonatal nurse practitioners enter the list of the highest-paid medical occupations.
Duties and responsibilities
Typically, neonatal nurse practitioners carry out these duties and responsibilities:
Performing neonatal revitalize
Starting and managing IV lines
Monitoring ventilators, incubators, etc
Ordering or performing diagnostic and laboratory test
Creating treatment plans
Prescribing medications
Evaluating vital signs
Advising new parents to care for their newborn infant properly.
3. Cardiac Nurse Practitioner – $116,580
A cardiac nurse practitioner provides overall care to patients diagnosed with cardiac diseases. It holds third place in our list for the highest-paid medical professions. With a median income of $116,580, it is one of the most demanded professions in the field.
Duties and responsibilities
Analyzing pathophysiology for various cardiovascular disease processes.
Evaluating patient risks for cardiovascular disease.
Assisting with cardiac catheterization.
Accommodating patients requiring ECMO.
Conducting and interpreting stress tests.
Managing cardiac research.
4. Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner – $115,500
As medical professionals, orthopedic nurse practitioners take care of patients with muscular and skeletal illnesses or injuries. This profession makes it in the fourth position in the list of highest-paid nurses, with a median annual salary of $115,500.
Duties and responsibilities
The most common duties of orthopedic nurse practitioners are providing medical care for musculoskeletal disorders or conditions, communicating with patients, and informing them about their condition and medical history. In addition, they are responsible for:
Educating patients concerning their treatment.
Promoting healthier lifestyle routines.
Assisting orthopedic surgeons throughout surgeries.
Following up with patients after their operation.
Conducting routine health assessments and physical examinations.
5. Oncology Nurse Practitioner – $115,401
Oncology Nurse Practitioners work together with surgeons and physicians to assist in cancer treatment. If you are passionate about helping patients and their families overcome obstacles related to cancer, this job might be for you. Besides the rewarding and fulfilling feeling that this profession provides, the masters science nursing salary is quite high as well. With a median annual salary of $115,401, this medical profession is ranked fifth on our list.
Duties and responsibilities
Oncology nurse practitioner duties can include anything from research and education to administration and cancer prevention. Other responsibilities include:
Checking and evaluating test results, diagnosing and prescribing.
Collaborating with doctors to offer primary care.
Keeping medical records to prevent life-threatening drug interactions.
Managing and supervising the medical staff and the administration department.
7. Family Nurse Practitioner – $112,470
As another medical position that requires a master’s degree, the role of a family nurse practitioner is a professionally, financially, and personally rewarding one. A family nurse practitioner provides help for patients throughout their lifetime, therefore creating strong bonds with them. In addition, this profession has an average yearly salary of $112,470.
Duties and responsibilities
Some crucial duties of a family nurse practitioner are:
Diagnosing and evaluating health conditions.
Performing routine physical examinations.
Creating and implementing treatment programs for acute and chronic illnesses.
Providing primary health-care services with a focus on prevention.
8. Nurse-Midwife – $113,152
As master program graduates, nurse-midwives typically diagnose and treat patients and refer patients to a specialist when needed. With a median annual salary of $113,152, this profession is surely financially gratifying.
Duties and responsibilities
The most critical duties held by a nurse-midwife are:
Performing gynecological examinations.
Educating women about child-birth alternatives based on their particular health situations.
Coaching and caring for moms throughout the labor and birthing process.
Assisting moms in making birth plans that reflect their preferences.
Teach new mothers how to feed and take care of their infants.
9. Clinical Nurse Specialist – $109,627
Clinical nurse specialists are advanced practice registered nurses with a master’s or doctoral degree in a specialized nursing area. Having this type of education and experience qualifies them for a better salary. The median annual salary for a clinical nurse specialist stands at $109,627.
Duties and responsibilities
In addition to standard nursing duties that focus on assisting patients in diagnosing or curing an illness, a clinical nurse specialist’s range of operation includes:
Supervising nursing staff.
Distinguishing and treating sickness, injuries, or disabilities in their field of specialization.
Develop nursing policies, practices, and procedures.
10. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – $109,460
psychiatric nurse practitioners are nurse practitioners specialized in the field of mental health. With this level of expertise, they qualify for a median annual salary of $109,460.
Duties and responsibilities
A psychiatric nurse practitioner's primary responsibility is to evaluate and diagnose patients suffering from mental illnesses, disorders, and other problems. Other duties include:
Managing the patients’ psychopharmacological treatment.
Providing psychotherapy of different types.
Caring for and counseling clients with chronic psychiatric conditions.
11. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – $109,200
Pediatric nurse practitioners are another type of advanced practice registered nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing degree. These medical specialists have an annual salary of $109,200, which makes it a financially rewarding profession.
Duties and responsibilities
Diagnosing and treating common childhood ailments like allergy, ear, respiratory infections, and skin problems like acne.
Performing routine pediatric health care, such as well-child checkups, developmental screenings, and in-depth physical examinations such as vision, hearing, and dental examinations.
Prescribing pharmaceuticals, medical products, and therapies.
In the long run, when choosing your career pathway, out of other indicators such as more job opportunities, continuous learning, job security, more independence, specialized duties, and personal fulfillment, it is essential to take the job’s salary as well. It would be best if you decided which one is also financially fulfilling for you. The professions listed above can be an excellent opportunity for the next big step up in your nursing career.