Most Lucrative Specialities/Higher Degree's

Published

Okay so from what I have heard, CRNA's make the highest in nursing, around $175-225,000..

What other specialties, and higher degree's lead towards a lucrative career in nursing?

BTW my number from above is based off of NYS, so keeping in that area might be best to keep the numbers linear & proportionate.

(and for the record, I think nursing in general is a lucrative career so I am expecting that reaction from people! This thread is out of curiosity! )

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ED, PACU.

The most lucrative will be whatever area brings you the greatest personal satisfaction. You can't put a dollar value on that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Upper hospital management above the unit manager level.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.

I believe the $175,000-$225,000 pay scale estimate for CRNAS is high, at least in the state I live.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

Unquestionably, as previous stated your peace of mind is more valuable than the monetary compensation. Having said that, It depends in which state your located at for cost of living, private facility etc. In addtion, there's another high pay nursing position which is VP Chief Nursing Officer ( CNO ) $ 175,000 however, is one of the most turnover positions in nursing, for many reasons,two of them are uncooperative CEO's & Physicians. In conclusion, money is not everything but it calms the nerve's :yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

CNO.

MINIMUM $250 K.

And you get to look good and everyone is scared of you.

I find the last one the funniest (my aunt is a CNO and she likes to make people jump....)...but she is cool...she only does it as a joke to her staff who know her.

She has LOTS of PERKS....

She's so down to earth at home and often laughs at her status at work, but she knows she has to play a game to get things done.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Life is so much more than a paycheck.

I want to put in a plug for education. Granted not all faculty are earning 6-figures (though many are). But being an educator means no pagers/beepers, no nights, no weekends, no holidays and great vacation (1 month at Christmas and 3 months in the summer).

Plus you are expanding nursing knowledge and educating the next generation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.

I was just doing a survey of the nursing jobs in CA govt after reading a thread here. Some of the prison nurse salary ranges are up to $9000+ a month base pay. I imagine that's a dangerous, thankless job. Ever seen those gang war documentaries? I can't even imagine what that does to your taxes.

Point is, you can find the money in nursing if you want to do a job that many people wouldn't.

Most of those jobs listed above are going to take a lot of education and the luck or skill of standing out in group of intimidatingly smart/savvy applicants. My dream is to help start up a heart failure clinic that uses ventricular assist device as destination therapy so I'm slowly crawling towards a doctorate. (ever so slowly.) The money I have already spent on my education is mind numbing and I utilized CC and a lower cost university prior to getting up into my Master's program. CRNA school has a hefty price tag and you can't work (or can barely work) through the whole 2 + years.

I know you said you're just curious but I hope anyone going into nursing isn't just doing it for the money. My highest paid job was my most miserable and I wouldn't go back to doing it unless there were no other choice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-Op.

LOL. I know about 4 cnos and not one of the makes over $150k. Thats with bonuses. I would hate to be stuck in those meetings all day, no thanks. Fields of a working RN that can easily break 100k are cath lab, surgery, icu, rnfa and then going to NP. CRNA is top dog on pay scales of nursing career paths.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion