INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (2024)

Whether you want to assist surgeons during procedures in a hospital or work with patients in their homes, there are nursing careers available at nearly every educational levelthat come with a variety of salaries, locations and responsibilities.

Nursing is the largest profession in healthcare, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), with the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) estimate that there were nearly 3million registered nursing jobs in 2020. The field is projected to grow by 9% through 2030, BLS reported, adding more than 276,000 positions with opportunities to pursue more than 100 specialties ranging from school or camp nurse to cardiac care.

What Are the Different Types of Nurses and Their Salaries?

So many options can leave new and seasoned nurses wondering which specialty is right for them. To help, we’ve compiled a list of the 16 types of nurses employers are looking to hire, including information on salary, growth potential and required nursing degrees.

INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (1)

1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

  • 2021 Median Salary: $30,290
  • Projected Job Growth by 2030: 8%
  • Education Required: State-approved education program, on-the-job training
  • Location: Nursing care facilities, hospitals and long-term care facilities
  • Responsibilities: Monitor vital signs, bathe and dress patients and assist with their repositioning and walking

INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (2)

2. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

  • 2021 Median Salary: $48,070
  • Projected Job Growth by 2030: 9%
  • Education Required: Certificate/Diploma in an approved educational program often found in technical schools and community colleges
  • Location: Nursing care facilities, hospitals, physician offices, home health care
  • Responsibilities: Change bandages, monitor blood pressure, collect blood and urine samples and address patient concerns to RNs and doctors

3. Registered Nurse (RN)INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (3)

  • 2021 Median Salary: $77,600
  • Projected Job Growth by 2030: 9%
  • Education Required: Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • Location: Hospitals, ambulatory care services, nursing care facilities
  • Responsibilities: Assess patients, administer medications and treatments, assist in diagnostic testing and provide emotional support and health education to patients and their families


INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (4)

4. Surgical Assistant Registered Nurse

  • 2021 Average Salary: $101,700
  • Education Required: ADN, BSN preferred
  • Location: Hospitals
  • Responsibilities: Assist surgeons during procedures and care for patients before, during and after surgery


INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (5)

5. Home Care Registered Nurse

  • 2021 Average Salary: $53,000
  • Education Required: ADN, BSN
  • Location: Patient homes
  • Responsibilities: Prepare equipment, change dressings, administer medication and monitor conditions

INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (6)

6. Emergency Room Registered Nurse

  • 2021 Average Salary: $79,300
  • Education Required: ADN, BSN
  • Location: Emergency rooms
  • Responsibilities: Perform triage upon patient arrival, determine order of treatment, conduct examinations, record patient histories, monitor patient progress and consult with supervising physicians

7. Labor and Delivery NurseINFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (7)

  • 2021 Average Salary: $76,400
  • Education Required: ADN, BSN
  • Location: Hospitals, private care facilities
  • Responsibilities: Assist mothers through labor and delivery, perform cognitive tests on newborn babies, help parents select a plan of care and assist in the post-delivery care of both mother and child

8. Clinical Nurse SupervisorINFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (8)

  • 2021 Average Salary: $76,145
  • Education Required: ADN, BSN, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
  • Location: Hospitals, long-term care facilities
  • Responsibilities: Supervise nursing staff, schedule hours, hand out patient assignments, complete performance evaluations

9. Nurse Case ManagerINFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (9)

  • 2021 Average Salary: $66,155
  • Education Required: BSN
  • Location: Hospital, nursing home, industrial environment
  • Responsibilities: Work with patients, medical staff and insurance providers to find the most cost effective care plan, monitor progress, evaluate care and suggest alternative treatments

10. Critical Care Registered NurseINFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (10)

  • 2021 Average Salary: $79,800
  • Education Required: BSN
  • Location: Intensive Care Units, specialty hospitals
  • Responsibilities: Provide complex care to those with serious illnesses or injuries

11. Oncology Registered NurseINFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (11)

  • 2021 Average Salary: $79,320
  • Education Required: BSN
  • Responsibilities: Provide care for patients undergoing treatment for cancer or patients who are at risk for developing cancer, administer medication and closely monitor patient conditions

INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (12)

12. Health Informatics Nurse Specialist

  • 2021 Average Salary: $93,390
  • Education Required: BSN, master's in health informatics, health care management or quality management preferred
  • Location: Information Systems department of healthcare organizations
  • Responsibilities: Maintain medical hardware and software, train medical staff and ensure that electronic documentation meets accreditation and review organization standards

INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (13)13. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

  • 2021 Median Salary: $123,780
  • Projected Job Growth by 2030: 45%
  • Education Required: MSN
  • Location: Physician offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers
  • Responsibilities: Diagnose patients, manage treatments, order tests and prescribe medications

INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (14)

14. Clinical Nurse Specialist

  • 2021 Average Salary: $111,982
  • Education Required: MSN
  • Responsibilities: Improve patient care plans by working with social workers, doctors, nurse specialists and pharmacists, and occasionally provide bedside care to patients

15. Nurse PractitionerINFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (15)

  • 2021 Median Salary: $120,680
  • Projected Job Growth by 2030: 52%
  • Education Required: MSN or a master’s degree in a specialty role
  • Location: Physician offices, hospitals
  • Responsibilities: Examine patients, diagnose health problems, analyze test results and administer medicine and treatments

16. Nurse EducatorINFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (16)

  • 2021 Average Salary: $103,448
  • Education Required: MSN, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
  • Location: Academic settings, clinics, hospitals
  • Responsibilities: Develop continuing education programs, facilitate training, provide educational resources to staff and design educational initiatives to improve patient care

How Many Types of Nurses Are There?

If you’re still not sure what kind of career you want to pursue as a nurse, don’t worry. This list is just a small sample of the hundreds of types of nursing jobs you can pursue in your nursing career.

Nurses are the most employed professional in healthcare and are in the occupation with the sixth-highest projected change in employment in the U.S. according to the BLS occupational outlook.

BLS found that:

  • 1.75 million RNs work in hospitals
  • 199,130 work in physician’s offices
  • 173,790 work in home health care services
  • 131,320 work in skilled nursing facilities
  • 147,720 work in outpatient care centers

INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (17)

Advance Your Career in Nursing

Earning your bachelor's in nursingor master's in nursingprovides you with an undeniable advantage in your nursing career.

Although it isn’t required for a registered nurse to have a BSN degree, according to the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, about 42% of nurses said the baccalaureate degree was their first nursing license. A BSN is slightly different than an RNas it helps prepare you for the increased complexity of care, advances in technology and a shift from acute care settings to community-based care. Many RN specialty certifications require a BSN as a minimum education requirement.

And, earning your BSN or MSN can help you at the outset of your career. According to the AACN, 40.6% of employers now require new hires to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and 77.4% express a strong preference for BSN program graduates.

Additionally, a 2021 AACN survey found that 76% of BSN students and 75% of MSN students had job offers at the time of graduation. Four to six months after the completion of their programs, the survey found employment to be 93% among entry-level BSN and 94% MSN graduates.

Start Your Career in Nursing

Few careers have as much potential to positively impact people’s lives as nursing. According to the AACN, nurses are the primary providers of patient care in hospitals, deliver the majority of long-term care in the country and have a huge impact on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes.

Although COVID-19 challenged nurses in many ways, a 2020 American Nurse Association survey found that, despite the pandemic, 85% of respondents would become a nurse again if they had to do it over.

“People who want to work in the service of others, who want to aid in healing the whole person make excellent nurses,” said Southern New Hampshire University online BSN graduate Julie Antis '17.

Nursing is a career that allows you to create the life you want. While some nursing jobs follow a standard five-day workweek, many registered nurses work nights, weekends and even holidays, offering flexibility to fit your life. And, nurses are in demandall across the country, which means you can opt for a change of scenery without damaging your career.

A degree can change your life. Find the SNHU online nursing programthat can best help you meet your goals.

Rebecca LeBoeuf ’18 is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Types of Nurses Including Job Descriptions and Salary (2024)

FAQs

Which type of nurse has the highest salary? ›

The 10 Highest Paid Nursing Jobs in 2022
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist – $202,000.
  • Nursing Administrator – $120,000.
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse – $120,000.
  • General Nurse Practitioner – $118,000.
  • Critical Care Nurse – $118,000.
  • Certified Nurse Midwife – $114,000.
  • Informatics Nurse – $102,000.
5 Sept 2022

How many types are there in nursing? ›

16 Types of Nurses with Job Descriptions and Salary | SNHU.

What are 10 roles of a nurse? ›

Nurses care for injuries, administer medications, conduct frequent medical examinations, record detailed medical histories, monitor heart rate and blood pressure, perform diagnostic tests, operate medical equipment, draw blood, and admit/discharge patients according to physician orders.

What type of nurse gets paid the least? ›

Licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) are some of the lowest-paid nursing roles, but that is due to the fact that the educational requirements are less than most other types of nurses.

Which type of nursing is best? ›

1. Certified registered nurse anesthetist. Nurse anesthetists are in one of the most well-respected fields in nursing, and it requires years of education, training, and experience to become one. These nurses provide anesthesia to patients, typically in a surgical, dental, or ER/OR scenario.

Which country pays highest salary for nurses? ›

15 Highest Paying Countries in need of Nurses
  • Canada. Average Annual Nursing Salary: $71,590. ...
  • Switzerland. Average Annual Nursing Salary: $85,927. ...
  • Australia. Average Annual Nursing Salary: $75,000. ...
  • Ireland. Average Annual Nursing Salary: $42,000. ...
  • United States. Average Annual Nursing Salary: $75,300. ...
  • Chile. ...
  • New Zealand. ...
  • Germany.
22 Jan 2022

What is the most common type of nurse? ›

Registered Nurses

A registered nurse (RN) is the most common type of nurse.

What is the highest nurse called? ›

Understanding the Hierarchy of Nursing. Chief Nursing Officer (CNO): The CNO, sometimes referred to as the chief nursing executive (CNE), is at the top of the pyramid. This position usually works under the CEO of the hospital or agency and has administrative and supervisory roles.

What's the highest level of nurse? ›

The highest level of nursing education is the doctoral level. Positions that require doctoral nursing degrees include certain types of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), as well as leadership positions such as chief nursing officer or director of nursing.

What are the six 6 roles of a nurse? ›

Make a set of flash cards that lists and defines the six roles that nurses must play in patient care (caregiver, decision maker, communicator, manager of care, patient advocate, and teacher).

What are the 5 key roles of nurses? ›

Key Responsibilities
  • Perform physical exams and health histories before making critical decisions.
  • Provide health promotion, counseling and education.
  • Administer medications and other personalized interventions.
  • Coordinate care, in collaboration with a wide array of health care professionals.

What are the 6 roles of nurses in research? ›

The Role of the Clinical Research Nurse
  • Clinical Research Nurses: In their own words.
  • Building Local Research.
  • Change Research Cultures.
  • Supporting Surgical Trials.
  • Developing Nurses.
  • Informed Consent.
  • Training.
  • Research Management.
17 May 2019

What's the starting salary for a nurse? ›

According to Salary.com, the average nurse starting salary in the United States is $65,775, or $31.62 per hour. The salary range typically falls between $59,002 and $75,196.

What type of nurses are most in demand? ›

BSN-prepared nurses are the most sought-after RNs in the job market and can advance to leadership and management roles more quickly than the ASN nurse.

What is the easiest type of nursing? ›

Easiest Nursing Jobs Availabile
  • Clinic Nurse. ...
  • Traveling Nurse. ...
  • School Nurse. ...
  • Summer Camp Nurse. Average Annual Salary: N/A. ...
  • Nurse Administrator. Average Annual Salary: $68,000. ...
  • Public Health Nurse. Average Annual Salary: $56,000. ...
  • Researcher Nurse. Average Annual Salary: $62,000. ...
  • Home Health Nurse. Average Annual Salary: $64,000.
31 Aug 2022

What are the 4 field of nursing? ›

The focus is on these four major nursing areas: nursing practice, administration, education, and research.

Can a nurse become a doctor? ›

Can a nurse become a doctor? An RN can absolutely become a doctor. They can become an MD or DO by earning a Bachelor's and applying to medical school just like any other student. Or, an RN could become a doctor of nursing (DNP), which is an educational degree and does not grant any clinical authority.

What type of nurses are most in demand? ›

BSN-prepared nurses are the most sought-after RNs in the job market and can advance to leadership and management roles more quickly than the ASN nurse.

Which is better for nurses UK or US? ›

US nurses generally have a lot more autonomy than UK nurses. There is no separate licensing body for nurse practitioners. Pay in the UK (as mentioned above) is dreadfully low. Starting salary for a band 5 nurse is approximately $28,000.

What jobs are nurses the happiest? ›

Happiest Nursing Jobs
  • School Nurse. Nurses in schools are available to help care for students who are presenting with an illness or who require assistance with medication administration for a previously diagnosed condition. ...
  • Labor and Delivery Nurse. ...
  • Case Management Nurse. ...
  • Nurse Educator. ...
  • Parish Nurse. ...
  • Travel Nurse.
26 Aug 2022

How can a nurse make a lot of money? ›

HOW TO MAKE SIX FIGURES AS A NURSE?
  1. Become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) ...
  2. Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) ...
  3. Become a Nurse Midwife. ...
  4. Advance in Nurse Leadership. ...
  5. Begin travel nursing assignment. ...
  6. Change Nursing specialties. ...
  7. Relocate to a higher paying state. ...
  8. Make sacrifices.

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