10 Highest Paying Nurse Specialties for 2021

From a young age, many of us know exactly what we want to do in life. If you’re the type of person who is always looking out for others and you want to make a positive impact in society, a career in nursing may be best suited to you.

Nursing is known as one of the most reliable career choices you can pick, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic where nurses are in more demand than ever before. If you’re after a role that provides stability and financial security, here are ten of the highest paying nursing specialties to consider going into this year.

Neonatal Nurse

The primary duty of a neonatal nurse is to care for newborn babies who are born sick or premature. As a neonatal nurse, you will be expected to attend births, measure and weigh infants, as well as care for and monitor their health directly after birth. Neonatal nurses are also responsible for educating parents about how best to care for their child, such as how to breastfeed.

Neonatal nurses are in huge demand, so if you want to pursue this kind of career, not only will you have no trouble finding work, but you can also expect to earn upwards of $125,000 per year. However, this will depend on how much experience you have. The starting salary for a neonatal nurse may be slightly less, but once you embark on the mandatory training and obtain new skills, you will be eligible for a raise.

Oncology Nurse

For individuals born in 1960 and after, it’s estimated that 1 in 2 of us will get cancer. Should you or a loved one get the disease, you will be in the hands and care of an oncology nurse. The primary duty of an oncology nurse is to support their patient through the stress and anxiety of diagnosis and treatment, as well as liaising with their families. Unfortunately, depending on the type of cancer, oncology nurses must also prepare patients who are facing mortality.

To succeed in this position, you must have empathy, compassion and be an excellent communicator when engaging with patients. Oncology nurses are also in high demand and can expect to receive an annual salary of approximately $114,000 per year. As you develop your skills and gain experience, your earning potential can increase over time. And for those who want to go into leadership roles, there is the opportunity to apply for management positions in oncology.

Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner

Orthopedic nurse practitioners work alongside physical therapists and physicians to help patients recover from surgery, rehabilitate from injuries, as well as teach them what action to take to manage pain that affects their musculoskeletal system. Whether it’s bone disease or arthritis, an orthopedic nurse practitioner will have the skills and knowledge to care for patients and provide quality, long-lasting care to speed up the recovery process.

While there is a surge in demand for orthopedic nurse practitioners in large cities, there is a need for the role in rural areas too. Once you obtain experience and develop your skillset, orthopedic nurse practitioners can earn over $115,000 each year.

Certified Nurse Anesthetists

Certified nurse anesthetists undergo rigorous training that equips them with the knowledge and expertise to deliver anesthesia throughout the surgery. If this role sounds right for you, you must earn your RN (registered nurse) credentials first, alongside training that qualifies you to work with anesthesia. As a CRNA, you will be expected to analyze the patient throughout the surgery until they wake and have the expertise to administer medication safely.

This role is in demand, particularly in rural parts of the country where it may be hard to find an anesthesiologist. Also, the complexity and highly skilled nature of this role mean you can receive an attractive salary of around $182,000 per year.

Nurse Midwife

Nurse midwives are responsible for working with pregnant women, delivering babies, and providing sufficient prenatal and postpartum care. While many women fly through pregnancy with ease, others require more help and support, so it’s your job to be on hand to help patients from start to finish. Many women will want to give birth in a hospital setting, whereas others may prefer to bring their baby into the world at home. No matter the environment, you will be given the necessary training to ensure patients are given the best care possible throughout pregnancy and labor.

As long as you have the right qualifications and experience behind you, nurse midwives can earn well over $100,000 annually. As the number of births is increasing each year in the United States, there will always be high demand for nurse-midwives.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Family nurse practitioners focus on providing care and support to all members of a family, regardless of their age. Whether it’s a baby, infant, young adult, or senior, you will have the expertise, experience, and patience to help patients from all walks of life and backgrounds. Family nurse practitioners can work in a variety of environments, including urgent care centers, primary care practices, hospitals, as well as nursing homes.

No matter what setting suits you best, FNPs can earn roughly $112,000 per year. Over the next few years, the demand for FNPs will steadily increase, meaning this is the perfect role for those who are looking for job security. Once you obtain your post masters FNP, you will have the qualifications and experience needed to apply for FNP positions.

Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric nurses are in charge of providing medical and health care for children from birth right up until their late teens. As a pediatric nurse, you must use your knowledge and experience to provide excellent care to the patient while communicating with their family to address any concerns, problems, or fears they may have. To succeed as a pediatric nurse, you must understand that children will respond in a different manner to adults as they won’t have the maturity and life experience to fully understand the situation. This means you must have excellent communication skills, be able to calm patients down who are scared and anxious, as well as remain patient. If you want to be even more qualified as a pediatric nurse, you should consider getting a PALS certification online. It will definitely help your career and it is an awesome addition to your resume.

Pediatric nurses can find work in practically any kind of facility, so whether you want to work in a hospital or operate in the community, you can expect to earn roughly $108,000 per year. Like with most nursing specialties, the more experience you gain, the more money you can make from this role.

Nurse Administrator

Nurse administrators tend to work at an executive level and are responsible for overseeing all departments in a hospital or a network of hospitals. In a nutshell, nurse administrators supervise other nurses to make sure that patients are receiving high-quality care. In a typical day-to-day of a nurse administrator, you may recruit, hire, and train new nurses, as well as examine their performance and ensure they’re receiving the best education to keep their credentials in check.

On average, nurse administrators earn approximately $95,000 annually. When starting out in this role, your yearly salary will be significantly less. However, once you have more years operating in this field, your earning potential will increase as a result. Nurse administrators are in high demand across the United States, meaning you should find a position with ease (providing you have the credentials and skills in place).

Informatics Nurse

For nurses who want to work in the IT sector of healthcare, becoming an informatics nurse may be the perfect role for you. As an informatics nurse, you will bring your medical knowledge and terminology into the IT world, with typical responsibilities including overseeing the switch from paper to digital records, developing EHR interfaces, analyzing HER data, and working with government agencies and policies to make sure laws and regulations support healthcare technology.

If you would like to work as an informatics nurse, you should expect an annual pay of roughly $91,000 per year. Unlike many of the nursing roles listed, the demand for an informatics nurse is lower unless the candidate resides in a metropolitan area or large city.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Clinical nurse specialists not only provide direct care to patients, but they usually work in management positions. Whether you work in a specialty area like orthopedics or pediatrics, a clinical nurse practitioner will work to educate their team and patients. If you undergo additional training, you will also be qualified to prescribe medication.

Clinical nurse specialists can make up to $110,000 a year on average. This role is in high demand across the United States, so if you enjoy spending time with patients, can handle working well under pressure, and like the idea of creating policies and procedures, you may want to consider a role in clinical nursing.

No matter what kind of nursing role interests you most, you must obtain the correct credentials and qualifications before applying for any of the positions listed above. A career in nursing can not only provide you with financial security, but it’ll allow you to make a difference in patients’ lives and potentially change the nursing world for the better.