The highest paying nursing jobs in 2026.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) tops the list at $129.00/hr median, about $268,320 a year.
We ranked every nursing title with enough data by its median hourly pay, using active US job postings that list a pay range. Advanced practice roles like nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners lead, but several bedside RN specialties pay well into six figures. Click any role for its pay range, top-paying states, and employers.
Highest paying nursing jobs, ranked by pay.
| # | Role | vs. #1 | Median /hr | Median /yr | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Advanced Practice Provider · Nurse Anesthesia | $129.00 | $268,320 | 319 | |
| 2 | High Risk OB Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Women's Health Nurse | $88.49 | $184,059 | 72 | |
| 3 | Mental Health Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Behavioral Health Nurse | $85.00 | $176,800 | 382 | |
| 4 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Advanced Practice Provider · Clinical | $82.00 | $170,560 | 32 | |
| 5 | LDRP Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Women's Health Nurse | $80.68 | $167,814 | 920 | |
| 6 | Labor & Delivery Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Women's Health Nurse | $79.42 | $165,194 | 21,228 | |
| 7 | First Assist Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $78.15 | $162,552 | 832 | |
| 8 | EP Lab Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Cardiac Nurse | $77.47 | $161,127 | 118 | |
| 9 | Director of Nursing (DON) Nursing Leadership · Nursing Leadership | $77.45 | $161,086 | 312 | |
| 10 | Cath Lab Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Cardiac Nurse | $77.00 | $160,160 | 15,511 | |
| 11 | Pediatric ICU Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Critical Care Nurse | $77.00 | $160,160 | 3,243 | |
| 12 | Electrophysiology Lab Nurse (EP Nurse) Registered Nurse (RN) · Cardiac Nurse | $77.00 | $160,160 | 1,185 | |
| 13 | OB/GYN Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Women's Health Nurse | $76.61 | $159,349 | 281 | |
| 14 | Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Advanced Practice Provider · Nurse Practitioner | $76.43 | $158,974 | 35 | |
| 15 | Scrub Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $75.60 | $157,248 | 297 | |
| 16 | Operating Room (OR) Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $75.15 | $156,312 | 6,269 | |
| 17 | Interventional Radiology Nurse (IR RN) Registered Nurse (RN) · Radiology Nurse | $75.13 | $156,270 | 3,375 | |
| 18 | Float ICU Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Critical Care Nurse | $75.00 | $156,000 | 340 | |
| 19 | Cardiovascular ICU Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Critical Care Nurse | $73.79 | $153,483 | 267 | |
| 20 | Circulating Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $73.68 | $153,244 | 310 | |
| 21 | Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Advanced Practice Provider · Clinical | $73.50 | $152,880 | 33 | |
| 22 | Case Management Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Clinical | $73.15 | $152,152 | 1,889 | |
| 23 | Cardiovascular OR Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Cardiac Nurse | $73.00 | $151,840 | 658 | |
| 24 | GI Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $72.90 | $151,632 | 46 | |
| 25 | Case Manager Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Administrative Nurse | $72.28 | $150,342 | 2,187 | |
| 26 | Urgent Care Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Emergency Nurse | $72.19 | $150,145 | 100 | |
| 27 | Cardiology Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Cardiac Nurse | $71.55 | $148,824 | 135 | |
| 28 | Family Nurse Practitioner Advanced Practice Provider · Clinical | $71.50 | $148,720 | 421 | |
| 29 | Endoscopy Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $71.39 | $148,491 | 1,370 | |
| 30 | Infection Prevention Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Non-Clinical | $71.00 | $147,680 | 115 | |
| 31 | Endoscopy/Procedure RN Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $70.65 | $146,952 | 190 | |
| 32 | GI Lab Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $70.62 | $146,879 | 80 | |
| 33 | Palliative Care Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Clinical | $70.43 | $146,494 | 659 | |
| 34 | Oncology Nurse Navigator Public Health Professional · Navigation | $69.83 | $145,236 | 74 | |
| 35 | CVICU Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Critical Care Nurse | $69.79 | $145,163 | 2,935 | |
| 36 | Burn ICU Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Critical Care Nurse | $69.58 | $144,726 | 97 | |
| 37 | Family Practice Nurse Practitioner Advanced Practice Provider · Nurse Practitioner | $69.50 | $144,560 | 207 | |
| 38 | Pre-Op Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Perioperative Nurse | $69.37 | $144,279 | 328 | |
| 39 | Wound Care Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Outpatient Nurse | $69.14 | $143,811 | 796 | |
| 40 | Nursery Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Women's Health Nurse | $69.03 | $143,572 | 154 | |
| 41 | Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Nursing Leadership · Nursing Leadership | $68.85 | $143,198 | 58 | |
| 42 | Coronary Care Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Cardiac Nurse | $68.39 | $142,251 | 247 | |
| 43 | Cardiac Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Cardiac Nurse | $67.06 | $139,485 | 1,211 | |
| 44 | Neonatal ICU Nurse (NICU) Registered Nurse (RN) · Critical Care Nurse | $67.00 | $139,360 | 1,379 | |
| 45 | IV Therapy Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Infusion Nurse | $66.17 | $137,634 | 134 | |
| 46 | Pediatrics ED Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Emergency Nurse | $66.00 | $137,280 | 588 | |
| 47 | Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Advanced Practice Provider · Nurse Practitioner | $66.00 | $137,280 | 65 | |
| 48 | Women's Health Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Women's Health Nurse | $65.69 | $136,625 | 1,454 | |
| 49 | ICU Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Critical Care Nurse | $64.00 | $133,120 | 15,972 | |
| 50 | Critical Care Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) · Critical Care Nurse | $64.00 | $133,120 | 1,193 |
The top earner in each kind of nursing.
What nurses ask about the best-paying roles.
What is the highest paying nursing job in 2026?
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is the highest paying nursing job in our data, with a median of $129.00/hr (about $268,320 a year) across 319 active postings. It is followed by High Risk OB Nurse ($88.49/hr), Mental Health Nurse ($85.00/hr), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner ($82.00/hr).
What is the highest paying RN specialty?
Among registered nurse titles that don't require an advanced practice degree, High Risk OB Nurse pays the most, at a median of $88.49/hr (about $184,059 a year).
How much do the top 10 highest paying nursing jobs pay?
The ten best-paid nursing roles have median pay between $77.00/hr and $129.00/hr, or roughly $160,160 to $268,320 a year for full-time work.
How are these nursing pay rankings calculated?
Each role is ranked by its median hourly pay across active US job postings that list a pay range, over a rolling 180-day window. Only nursing titles with at least 30 postings are included, and yearly figures assume full-time hours.
Looking for a specific role? Browse every nursing salary by role, state, and city.