The highest-paid psychiatric nurses are typically Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs), especially those in outpatient settings or specialized fields like pain management, with top salaries often exceeding $140,000-$150,000 annually, particularly in high-cost-of-living states like California or New York, and with significant experience or in leadership roles like Director of Nursing.
Top 65 Highest Paying States for Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in the U.S. We've identified 15 states where the typical salary for a Psychiatric Nurse job is above the national average. Topping the list is Washington, with District of Columbia and New York close behind in second and third.
Many psychiatrists advance in their field by focusing on a sub-category, such as addiction, emergency, geriatric, pediatric, forensic, pain, rehabilitation, perinatal, or learning disability psychiatry. Typically, child, geriatric, and pediatric psychiatrists make the most money.
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.
The highest paid nurse is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Professionals in this field earn as low as USD 101,000 and as high as USD 174,000, with an average salary of USD 124,00.
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.
Jobs paying $500k+ in Australia are primarily in highly specialized fields like Medical Specialists (surgeons, anaesthetists), Senior Finance/Executive Roles (CFO, Head of Treasury, Investment Directors), and high-end Sales & Construction Management (Elite Stockbrokers, Senior Project Managers/Estimators in complex sectors). While roles like Neurosurgeon and Ophthalmologist average well over $500k, achieving this in other sectors often involves performance-based bonuses or leading major projects, with opportunities listed on job boards like SEEK and Jora.
Specialisation. Specialised areas of nursing such as mental health, critical care and perioperative nursing often command higher salaries due to the advanced skills, experience and training required.
Yes, $130k is a very good salary in Australia, placing you well above the median income and in the top earnings bracket, but whether it's "comfortable" depends heavily on your location (high-cost cities like Sydney/Melbourne vs. regional areas) and lifestyle, as high rents can still strain finances, though it generally allows for a solid middle-class life with budgeting.
300k salary jobs
We must preserve our skill, unique among physicians, in psychotherapeutic approaches, even as we manage psychiatric illness. We must also adapt and become more tech-savvy, as digital data, mobile and computer-based treatments, electronic medical records, and AI algorithms take on increasing prominence in our field.
In addition to being in demand, psychiatrist positions are by far the highest-paying jobs for psychology majors. When you work where a majority of psychiatrists are employed — within an outpatient care center or within a physician's office — the BLS reports 2022 mean salaries of $299,470 or $280,600, respectively.
You should expect to be in school for six to eight years from start to finish. For example, a BSN program will take about four years. A BSN to MSN will take about another two years, and a BSN to a DNP will take three to four years.
Move into an Administrative or Leadership Role
Another way to earn more money as a psychiatric NP is to move into an administrative role. Nurse practitioners have a lot to offer from an executive position because they have direct patient care experience and additional knowledge to bring to the job.
As a mental health nurse, you'll be paid on the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system, typically starting at band 5. You'll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
Top Highest-Paid Nursing Jobs in 2026
Jobs paying $150k+ in Australia span various sectors, including Tech (Senior Business Analysts, IT roles), Healthcare (Podiatrists, Clinical Managers), Construction & Trades (Construction Managers, Electricians, Site Supervisors, Drillers), Finance (Finance Managers, Financial Planners, Accountants), Sales, and Leadership (HR Directors, Operations Managers, School Principals, Government Directors). High-demand areas often involve senior or specialized roles in Engineering, Mining, Digital Marketing, and Management, with opportunities both with and without degrees.
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.
Jobs paying $200k+ in Australia are common in specialized fields like Medicine (Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Specialists), Technology (Data Scientists, Cloud Engineers), Engineering, Executive Management (C-Suite, Directors), Law, and high-end Sales, with significant opportunities also in the Mining sector, alongside specialized roles in Finance, Construction Management, and Healthcare Administration, often requiring significant experience or niche skills.
The #1 highest-paying job is consistently in the medical field, with Surgeons and Anesthesiologists often topping lists globally and in countries like Australia, earning over $400,000 AUD on average due to extensive training and high-pressure responsibilities, though roles like Financial Dealers, CEOs, and specialized Engineers also rank high.
To be in Australia's top 1% of individual taxpayers, you generally need an annual income of around $375,000 to $390,000, though figures vary slightly by source and year, with higher thresholds for households (around $530,000). For context, the median individual income is much lower (around $55,000), and while top earners often include surgeons and anaesthetists, reaching the top 1% of net worth requires significantly more wealth, often exceeding $7 million.
The 10 Best States to Work and Start a Family for Nurses
Every nursing job has its own stressors, but occupational nursing is often considered the least stressful nursing specialty.