Career and salary advice, please

[Qka]

I am a new nurse, just started to work at a large hospital. I started with a minimum salary since I am a fresh nurse. What are the ways to get salary increase? Are ICU nurses being paid more than acute care nurses? Will getting additional certificates help to increase my salary? What else, besides getting nursing experience will help?

My second part is about career. I really enjoy bed side nursing and like my work. But I plan to go back to school to get higher education one day. I have a little child now, so these plans are not immediate but are in the near future.I have my ADN in nursing and BSN in another field. I want to get a MSN (NP). Since I have a BS in another field, it will take less time to get my NP degree than to get BSN first and then do my NP degree. What are salaries, job market for NP? I am not sure if tuition expenses (if I dont get a scholarship) and time will pay off once I get my NP degree...

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!