You think all nurses earn the same? Well, think again because the salary of the nurses varies depending on different factors such as specialty, experience, location, state, etc. Nursing is a career path that combines skill, passion, and opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives. In 2025, certain nursing fields are standing out for their competitive salaries. In this blog, we will discuss the top 10 nursing specialties that are paying the highest in 2025.
Top 10 nursing specialties with high pay in 2025
Here is the list of the top 10 nursing specialties that are paying the highest in 2025.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
A CRNA is a specialized registered nurse who administers anesthesia and provides care before, during, and after surgery. Other duties include monitoring vital signs, managing pain, and ensuring patient safety during surgery.
Salary: The salary of a CRNA in 2025 is $223,210 per year
Travel nurse
Travel nurses are registered nurses who work on contracts for typically 13 weeks, but it can vary according to demand. They visit different states to fill in the gaps where there is a shortage of staff, especially during emergencies or disasters.
Salary: Hourly pay is more than that of staff nurses because of the nature of their job. Moreover, the travel nurses also make money through bonuses, housing stipends, etc. Different travel nurse specialties have different pay, but the average travel nurse salary is $92,366 per year
Oncology nurse
Another high-paying specialty in nursing is oncology nursing. Oncology nurses take care of cancer patients and help manage their symptoms and provide emotional support. The role of an oncology nurse is to administer chemotherapy, monitor patients, and provide education to the patient and their families about the treatments and procedures.
Salary: Oncology nurses make $85,936 per year
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
Specialized nurse who helps to diagnose, treat, and manage bone, joint, and muscle issues. They assess and treat orthopedic injuries.
Salary: The salary of an orthopedic nurse practitioner is $139,781 per year
Pain Management Nurse
Pain management nurses help patients manage acute or chronic pain. The main role of pain management nurses is to assess pain level, administer medications or therapies, and develop care plans.
Salary: A Pain management nurse’s salary per year is $125,412.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Pediatric nurse practitioners provide care for infants, children, and adolescents. They conduct checkups, diagnose illnesses, and prescribe medications.
Salary: This is again one of the highly paid specializations in nursing, making an average $135,161 per year.
Cardiology Nurse Practitioner (CNP)
CNPs are advanced nurse practitioners who diagnose and treat patients with heart conditions. Their role is to conduct heart assessments, interpret EKGs, administer heart medications, and educate patients on their treatments and procedures.
Salary: The average salary of a cardiology nurse practitioner is $133,954 per year.
Nurse Educator
Another high-paying specialty is nurse educator. They are specialized nurses who teach and train future nurses by developing curricula, evaluating their clinical performance, and staying updated on healthcare advancements.
Salary: The average annual nurse educator salary is $87,090.
Operating room nurse (Perioperative Nurse)
Operating room nurses or perioperative nurses take care of patients before, after, and during surgery. They prepare and educate patients about the surgery, assist the surgeons during the surgery to make sure that the process is smooth, and provide postoperative care to the patient.
Salary: Operating room nurses or perioperative nurses make an average of $84,266 per year.
Neonatal nurse, NICU nurse
Neonatal nurses are specialized nurses who take care of premature or critically ill newborn babies. They monitor their vital signs, provide feeding support, assist with life-saving interventions, and so much more.
Salary: The salary of a neonatal nurse is $79,253 per year.
Which nursing specialties are highest in demand in 2025?
Some of the highly demanding nursing specialties in 2025 are:
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)
- Critical Care and ICU Nurses
- Emergency Room (ER) Nurses
- Travel Nurses
Which nursing specialty is the hardest?
Based on these factors, patient acuity, physical and mental stress, long working hours, and more responsibility, the following are considered the hardest nursing specialties.
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurses / Critical Care Nurses
- Emergency Room (ER) Nurses
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)
Which nursing specialty is the easiest and least stressful?
The nursing specialties with fewer work hours, predictable schedules, less stress of life-death situations, and low emotional intensity are considered to be easy nursing jobs. Some of the less stressful jobs in the nursing specialty are as follows:
- School nurse
- Public health nurse
- Case management nurse
What are the top nursing specialties for travel nurses?
Some of the top travel nursing specialties are as follows:
- ICU / Critical Care Nurse
- Emergency Room (ER) Nurse
- Operating Room (OR) / Perioperative Nurse
SkillGigs is an AI platform that allows travel nurses to get matched jobs. Join SkillGigs mow and get the top travel nursing assignments that pay more.
What is the salary of a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist)?
CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) are the highest-paying nursing specialty. They make an average of $223,210 per year.
Which states pay the highest for nursing specialties?
These states pay the highest annual salaries
- California: $161,540 – $173,190
- Nevada: $148,670
- Washington: $145,400
- New Jersey: $145,030
- Texas: $125,000 – $145,000
Which nursing specialty lets you work 9 to 5 instead of shifts?
We know that nurses work in shifts and for 8 to 12 hours a day. But some of the nurse specialties have 9 5 jobs, which are as follows:
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Case Manager
- Telehealth / Remote Nurse
- Legal Nurse Consultant
- Nurse Informaticist
Conclusion
Nursing is a specialty with a lot of opportunities, and the salaries vary according to specialty, location, experience, demand, etc. Some of the high-paying nurse specialties are CRNAs, NICU nurses, emergency room nurses, etc. The average annual salary of CRNAs is $223,210 per year. Choosing the right nursing specialty for you is not only going to increase your income but will also help you in your professional growth. If you are a nurse with at least 1 to 2 years of experience, then join SkillGigs now and become a travel nurse with us. We give you high-paying travel contracts, so download our app today or sign up so you don’t miss the top travel nursing opportunities. Happy Travel Nursing!
