Nursing has been on so many “great jobs” and “hardest to fill jobs” lists for so long that unless you’re in the profession, it’s easy to assume all nurses are pretty much the same.
Unless you’re a healthcare insider, we tend to think of nurses as those men and women in medical offices who take our blood pressure, temperature and other essentials. Or we think of the professionals in scrubs assisting surgeons or caring for patients in the hospital.
But that’s only a part of the picture. Like any profession, nursing has its specialties, many of which require advanced training. Some jobs even require training and experience outside the medical field.
Job search site Indeed recently compiled a list of 10 of the highest paid nursing jobs that are increasingly in demand and in many cases even harder to fill than RN positions.
Topping the list for pay are certified registered nurse anesthetists. According to Indeed, on average they earn $172,236 annually. These professionals are advanced practice registered nurses who have trained in the delivery of anesthesia, pain management and post-surgical care. They can administer anesthesia and other pain medications. They work with surgeons, anesthesiologists and related healthcare professionals.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the nation will need 52,700 nurse anesthetists by 2028, a 17% growth rate from the 45,000 positions in 2018.
A related nursing job is pain management nurse. Though not licensed to administer anesthesia, these nurses typically work in hospital cancer units working with patients to develop a plan for managing the pain caused by their illness. They average $103,377 annually.
Here are the other jobs on the Indeed list and their average pay:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist — $115,628
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner — $115,068
- Nurse Practitioner — $106,636
- Medical Surgical Nurse Manager — $102,678
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse — $101,633
- Family Nurse Practitioner — $101,361
- Nursing Home Administrator — $101,255
- Clinical Nurse Educator — $101,211
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