Highest Paying Jobs as a Nurse: Official Pay

The highest paying jobs as a nurse are advanced practice roles. In the US, nurse anesthetists had a median of $236,590 in 2025, nurse midwives $134,040 and nurse practitioners $132,300, against $97,550 for registered nurses (BLS). In the UK, full-time midwifery nurses had a median of £46,990 and nurse practitioners £46,069 in April 2025 (ONS).

Key facts

• In May 2025 the US median pay was $236,590 for nurse anesthetists, $134,040 for nurse midwives and $132,300 for nurse practitioners. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, Aug 2026)
• Employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is projected to grow 36 percent from 2025 to 2035, adding about 144,000 jobs. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, Aug 2026)
• US registered nurses had a median pay of $97,550 in May 2025; the highest paying setting was government at $110,780, followed by hospitals at $100,220. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, Aug 2026)
• US licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses had a median pay of $64,400 in May 2025. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, Aug 2026)
• In the UK, full-time midwifery nurses had a median gross annual pay of £46,990 and nurse practitioners £46,069 in April 2025 (provisional), against a UK full-time median of £39,039. (Office for National Statistics, ASHE Table 14.7a (provisional 2025), Oct 2025)
• US medical and health services managers, a common next step for experienced nurses, had a median pay of $123,860 in May 2025 and 24 percent projected growth. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, Aug 2026)

Nursing offers more ways to raise your pay than most people realise. The highest paying jobs as a nurse are advanced practice roles that need a graduate degree, but there are also well paid paths through specialisation, setting and management. Official data shows where the money is and how long it takes to get there.

This guide uses official figures only. US pay is the May 2025 median from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, published in August 2026. UK pay is the provisional April 2025 median for full-time employees from the Office for National Statistics. For context, the US median for all jobs was $50,980 and the UK full-time median was £39,039.

Highest paying jobs as a nurse in the US

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook profiles for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, and medical and health services managers.

Nurse anesthetists stand out. Their median is more than twice that of registered nurses and among the 20 highest of any US occupation. The advanced practice group as a whole is also projected to grow 36 percent from 2025 to 2035, adding about 144,000 jobs.

Where nurses earn the most

Setting matters too. For US registered nurses in May 2025, median pay by setting was:

For advanced practice nurses, outpatient care centres ($143,370) and hospitals ($142,240) paid the highest medians in May 2025. The BLS also reports that the top 10 percent of registered nurses earned more than $137,470, and the top 10 percent of advanced practice nurses earned more than $224,490.

Highest paying nursing roles in the UK

Source: Office for National Statistics, ASHE Table 14.7a, provisional April 2025, full-time employees.

UK nursing pay is more compressed than US pay, because most nurses work in a public health service with national pay bands. Moving into senior, specialist and management bands is the main way to raise pay. Health services and public health managers and directors had a UK full-time median of £61,573 in April 2025.

The main routes to higher pay

Become an advanced practice nurse

Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses. They need a registered nurse licence, clinical experience and a graduate degree, then a national certification and state licence in the US. It takes several years after your first nursing degree, but the pay rise is large.

Specialise

Critical care, emergency, operating theatre, oncology and other specialties often pay more and open the door to advanced practice. Specialist certifications show your skills and can lead to higher bands.

Choose your setting

As the data shows, government and hospital roles paid registered nurses more than care homes or schools in 2025. Night shifts, weekends and on call duty usually add extra pay too.

Move into leadership

Charge nurse, ward manager and director of nursing roles combine clinical knowledge with leadership. In the US, medical and health services managers had a median of $123,860 and are projected to grow 24 percent. Many have a nursing background plus a management qualification.

Teach

Nursing instructors at colleges and universities share their experience with new nurses. It suits nurses who enjoy teaching and want regular hours. Many teaching roles ask for a master's degree.

Nursing jobs abroad: what changes

Many nurses look at nursing jobs abroad to earn more or gain experience. Nursing is regulated in every country, so you nearly always need to register with the nursing regulator of the country where you will work. That can mean checking your qualifications, passing an exam, proving your language skills and sometimes completing supervised practice. Some countries run special visa routes for health workers because of shortages, and some employers help with fees and relocation.

Before you apply abroad, check four things: the regulator's rules for overseas nurses, the visa route, the real pay after tax and living costs, and how your experience will be counted. A higher salary in a country with high living costs may leave you with less than you expect. Official regulator and immigration pages are the safest sources.

Skills that raise your pay as a nurse

• Clinical depth in a specialty that is in demand.
• Leadership: running a shift, mentoring new nurses and handling escalations.
• Teaching: patient education and staff training.
• Documentation and systems: clean records and confidence with electronic health records.
• Calm under pressure: valued in emergency, critical care and theatres.

How to plan your next step

1. Pick your target role and read its official profile for entry rules and pay.
2. Build the experience it needs, often in critical care for nurse anesthesia or primary care for practitioner roles.
3. Check funding: many employers support study for advanced roles.
4. Plan the timeline: graduate programs take years, so start early.
5. Keep your licence and certifications current at every step.

Nursing roles in plain words

• Licensed practical or vocational nurse: gives basic care under the direction of registered nurses and doctors.
• Registered nurse: assesses patients, gives treatment, plans care and teaches patients and families.
• Specialist nurse: a registered nurse with extra training in one area, such as cancer, diabetes or critical care.
• Nurse practitioner: diagnoses and treats patients, often as their main care provider.
• Nurse midwife: cares for women during pregnancy, birth and after birth.
• Nurse anesthetist: gives anaesthesia and cares for patients before, during and after procedures.
• Nurse manager: leads a team or unit and handles staffing, quality and budgets.

A day in two well paid roles

A nurse anesthetist starts early. Before each procedure, they meet the patient, check their history and explain the plan. In the operating room they give the anaesthesia, watch the patient closely and respond fast if anything changes. After the procedure they make sure the patient wakes safely. The work needs deep knowledge, steady hands and full focus.

A nurse practitioner in a clinic sees a steady stream of patients. One has a chest infection. Another needs a check on their blood pressure plan. A third wants advice on a new symptom. For each one, the practitioner listens, examines, decides on tests or treatment and writes clear notes. It is busy, varied work with a lot of responsibility.

Is it worth the extra study?

Advanced practice roles need years of extra study and often a large cost. The pay rise is big, but so is the commitment. Think about three things. First, do you enjoy the work of the role, not only the pay? Second, can you manage the study while working, and will your employer help? Third, how long will it take to earn back the cost? For many nurses, the answer is yes. For others, specialising or moving into leadership gives a good rise with less study.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a role only for the pay without seeing the daily work first.
• Waiting too long to build the experience a graduate program needs.
• Ignoring setting: the same nurse can earn quite different pay in different places.
• Letting certifications lapse.
• Moving abroad without checking registration rules and real living costs.

Writing a CV for higher paid nursing roles

Put your licence or registration details near the top. List your specialty experience clearly, with the type of unit, the patient group and the skills you used. Add certificates such as advanced life support. Show leadership, for example running shifts or training new staff. Keep the layout simple and check every date. Employers in health care check details carefully, so your CV should be accurate and easy to read.

Interview tips

• Prepare clinical examples using a simple pattern: situation, action, result.
• Be ready to explain how you keep patients safe under pressure.
• Show how you work with doctors, therapists and families.
• Ask about support for study, shift patterns and career steps.

Example: from ward nurse to nurse practitioner

This example was written for this guide and is not about a real person. Grace worked on a medical ward for four years. She enjoyed patient teaching and long term care, so she moved to a community clinic to gain primary care experience. Her employer helped fund a part time master's program. She studied for three years while working, passed her certification and became a nurse practitioner at the same clinic. Her pay and her responsibilities both rose a lot.

Checklist before you choose your path

• I know which role I want and why.
• I have read its official profile and pay.
• I know the experience and study it needs.
• I have a plan to pay for study and keep working.
• I have talked to someone who already does the job.

Pay beyond the base salary

The official medians show base pay. In nursing, extra pay can add a lot. Night shifts, weekends and holidays often pay more. On call duty usually brings an extra rate, and overtime is common in busy hospitals. Some employers pay a bonus for hard to fill posts, for specialist certifications or for working in rural areas. Many also pay for study, exams and conference time. When you compare two jobs, ask about all of these, not only the hourly rate. A job with a slightly lower base rate but strong shift pay and study support can be worth more over a year.

How to read the official figures

A median is the middle value. Half of the nurses in a role earn more and half earn less. New nurses usually start below it, and experienced nurses often earn above it. The US figures cover nurses on wages and salaries. The UK figures cover full-time employees only, and part-time nurses are not in them. Both are national averages, so pay in a big city or a remote area can be different. Use the figures as a guide, then check real job adverts and pay scales where you want to work.

Looking after yourself on the way up

Nursing is demanding, and the path to higher pay often means study on top of shifts. Plan your time carefully and protect your rest. Ask your employer about flexible rotas while you study. Lean on colleagues who have taken the same path; most are happy to share tips. Remember that your health is what keeps your career going for the long term. A steady pace that you can keep up is better than a rush that leads to burnout.

Where to find advanced nursing jobs

Advanced and specialist nursing jobs are advertised by hospitals, clinic groups, public health services, universities and staffing agencies. Many are filled through internal moves, so tell your manager about your goals early. Professional groups for each specialty often run job boards and mentoring schemes. When you search online, use the exact titles employers use, such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, advanced nurse practitioner or nurse manager, and save alerts so new openings reach you quickly.

Entry routes into nursing

If you are not a nurse yet, there are several ways in. Some people start as a care assistant or healthcare support worker to see the work first. Others go straight into a nursing degree. In the US, many start as a licensed practical nurse with a certificate, then study to become a registered nurse while working. Each route leads to the same goal: a nursing licence, then experience, then the chance to specialise. Whichever way you start, the steps to higher pay are the same. Build strong clinical skills, choose a specialty you enjoy, and keep learning.

Nursing also offers something many careers do not: work almost anywhere. Hospitals, clinics, schools, prisons, companies, the armed forces, charities and international organisations all employ nurses. That choice means you can change setting several times during your career, raise your pay and keep the work interesting.

Whatever stage you are at, write down your next step and a date for it. It might be a certificate, a move to a new unit, an application to a graduate program or a talk with your manager about leadership. Small, clear steps add up. Nurses who plan their careers this way usually reach higher paid roles faster than those who wait for chances to appear.

Share your plan with a mentor or a senior nurse you trust. They can tell you which courses really help, which units give the best experience and when you are ready to apply for the next role. Good advice from someone who has walked the path can save you years.

Ask them also what they wish they had known earlier. Their answer is often the most useful advice of all.

Then act on it the same week.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 3 October 2026.
2. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 3 October 2026.
3. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 3 October 2026.
4. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 3 October 2026.
5. Occupation (4 digit SOC): ASHE Table 14, Office for National Statistics. Accessed 3 October 2026.

Source: Dev Global Jobs, updated 11 November 2026.