The richest type of nursing, particularly in Australia and the US, typically involves advanced practice roles like Nurse Practitioner (NP), who can diagnose and prescribe, or specialized surgical roles like Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), with leadership positions like Director of Nursing (DON) also earning very high salaries due to their management responsibilities. High-demand fields like Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) and specialized perioperative nursing also offer excellent earning potential.
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.
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.
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.
What is the highest-paid nurse? Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists! This highly skilled profession involves preparing and administering anesthesia to patients in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other qualified healthcare professionals.
The four primary fields of nursing, especially in the UK system where this distinction is formalized, are Adult Nursing, Children's Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, and Learning Disability Nursing, each requiring specific registration and training to care for distinct patient populations and needs. While specialties exist globally, these four cover the core areas of focus for registered nurses, focusing on different life stages and health challenges.
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.
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.
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 $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.
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.
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.
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 15 Best Paying Jobs In The World 2026 (Inc Salaries)
Examples of low-stress nursing positions include school nurse, nurse researcher, case management nurse, and more. Work-life balance benefits—such as no night shifts, weekends, or holidays—are a major factor in what makes these jobs less stressful compared to hospital bedside roles.
The 10 Best States to Work and Start a Family for Nurses
Registered nurses make a good wage. According to the most recent numbers from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for registered nurses is $93,600.
Bachelor's in Nursing (BSN)
The average salary for an RN with a BSN will typically trend higher than salaries for RNs without a bachelor's degree. Earning a BSN vs. an ADN/ASN also opens the door to advanced educational opportunities and career growth down the road.
What Is a BSN? BSN is an undergraduate degree which stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Completing a BSN program is one way to start your career in nursing and obtain your RN license. While technically all BSN graduates are RNs—at least if they take the RN licensure exam and practice nursing—all RNs aren't BSNs.
Career Growth
Nearly 28% of employers require new RNs to have their BSN, while 72% “strongly prefer” it, according to a survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). A bachelor's degree can also open doors to new opportunities, like roles in administration and research.
See below for 14 of the most in-demand nursing specialties, for many of which nurses can work day or night shifts or pursue certifications.
Key takeaways
The country that pays the highest salary for nurses is Switzerland with an average annual income of US$94,869 (£71,196/€83,033).