Nursing Salary by Specialty
License type, education, specialty, state, experience and certifications drive how much nurses earn.
Published July 2, 2026 · 6 min read
Nursing salary varies by specialty, license type, state, employer and experience. A nurse's pay can change significantly depending on whether they work in long-term care, emergency medicine, surgery, home health, critical care, advanced practice or leadership.
Main Factors That Affect Nursing Salary
The biggest factors include:
- License type
- Education level
- Specialty
- State
- Experience
- Certifications
- Shift type
- Employer
- Union environment
- Demand for the role
RN Salary by Specialty
RN specialties that may offer stronger pay include ICU, emergency, operating room, cardiac cath lab, oncology, case management, informatics and travel nursing.
LPN Salary by Setting
LPN pay may vary based on whether the nurse works in long-term care, home health, physician offices, rehabilitation, assisted living or correctional healthcare.
APRN Salary by Specialty
Advanced practice registered nurses often have higher compensation because of additional education and clinical responsibility. The BLS reports strong projected growth for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners from 2024 to 2034.
Nursing Leadership Salaries
Nurse managers, directors of nursing and clinical administrators may earn more as they take on staffing, quality, compliance and operational responsibilities.
How to Use Salary Information
Salary content should be used as a general guide. Actual pay depends on local labor markets, benefits, overtime, shift differentials and employer policies.
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Important
This directory is for informational and discovery purposes only. Always verify professional licenses with official state boards. HealthcareApex does not provide medical advice, endorse providers, or guarantee the accuracy of self-submitted listings. Contact professionals directly to confirm availability, qualifications, and services. If you see incorrect information, claim or update your profile, or report it to us.
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