Yes, you can absolutely make a good living as a nurse, with salaries varying significantly by location, experience, specialization (like Nurse Practitioner or CRNA), and whether you do overtime or work in higher-paying areas, with many nurses earning comfortable, above-average incomes and even six figures, especially with advanced roles or in high-demand regions.
The average salary for an enrolled nurse in Australia is around $70,000, and $88,000 for a registered nurse – but it will vary from state to state and city to city. Most of all, it varies by experience.
The highest-paid nurses are Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), who administer anesthesia and earn significantly more than other nursing roles, often exceeding $200,000 annually. Other top earners include Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), and specialized roles like Pain Management Nurses, often requiring advanced degrees (Master's or Doctorate) and certifications.
As we have previously detailed, an entry-level Registered Nurse can expect to earn around $1084.10 per week, which is enough for a single person to easily cover living costs and leave a little leftover for savings. Obviously, as you progress through your career, things will become more comfortable.
High-paying nursing jobs
Nurses often work long hours performing tasks that are both physically and emotionally demanding. What's more, the work nurses perform can have important and even life-or-death consequences for patients, significantly adding to workplace stress.
The highest-paid nurses are Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), who administer anesthesia and earn significantly more than other nursing roles, often exceeding $200,000 annually. Other top earners include Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), and specialized roles like Pain Management Nurses, often requiring advanced degrees (Master's or Doctorate) and certifications.
Top 10 Happiest Nursing Jobs
There are both pros and cons of nursing. Some advantages of being a nurse include the ability to help others, career versatility, employment growth and salary potential, while some of the potential drawbacks include exposure to germs and patient deaths.
According to Roach (1993), who developed the Five Cs (Compassion, Competence, Confidence, Conscience and Commitment), knowledge, skills and experience make caring unique.
Research with patients and patient outcomes has shown that nurses with a BSN have better patient outcomes on average. So, in a competitive healthcare market that must maximize patient outcomes, BSN has become the preferred degree for most hiring efforts.
The lowest-paid nurses are typically entry-level Enrolled Nurses (ENs) or Nursing Assistants/Assistants in Nursing (AINs), especially those in training or early career stages, with wages varying by country and state but generally starting significantly lower than Registered Nurses (RNs), sometimes below $30/hour or equivalent in local currency, as they perform more basic, supervised patient care.
Pharmacology: Pharmacology, or the study of medication, can seem scary because of the sheer scope of the course. “It becomes one of the hardest classes for nursing students due to the depth and amount of knowledge needed,” says Megan Lynch, RN and instructor at Pima Community College.
Here are the most popular nursing specialties that are expected to grow rapidly in coming years:
Expect Heavy Academic Workloads
Coursework in graduate nursing programs is rigorous, with subjects like advanced pharmacology, health assessment, pathophysiology, and clinical decision-making. These are not theoretical. Each topic is tied directly to what you'll be expected to apply in labs, simulations, and clinicals.
Here are some possible nursing weaknesses examples:
ANA Nursing Resources Hub
Acute Care Nurse
Trauma nursing is one of the most demanding and stressful roles a nurse can assume. RNs and APRNs on trauma units work under overwhelming pressure with patients in critical conditions.
Nurses often enjoy the flexibility of their job, including the ability to tailor their work week. This allows them to better balance their work and personal lives while also accommodating their individual preferences and needs.
Norway, a Scandinavian country known as the land of Fjords, has one of the highest standards of living in the world as well as job satisfaction for nurses.
You have opportunities to increase your nurse salary, from advancing your nursing degree to changing jobs to finding a nursing side hustle.
What Skills Do You Need to Be a Nurse?
List of Lower-Stress Nursing Jobs