The BLS reports median salaries for each role below. Your actual pay will vary with location, workplace, and experience.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Median annual salary: $39,530
CNAs provide basic care, helping patients dress, eat, and move. Most work in nursing care facilities, retirement communities, or assisted living.
Education: certificate or diploma. Takes 4 to 12 weeks. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% through 2034, about as fast as average.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) / Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
Median annual salary: $62,340
LPNs and LVNs work under physicians and RNs. They take vital signs, collect samples, give medication, and keep patients comfortable. The two titles mean the same job: Texas and California use LVN, every other state uses LPN.
Education: certificate and license. Takes about a year. Projected to grow 2.6% through 2034.
Registered Nurse (RN)
Median annual salary: $93,600
RNs provide and coordinate patient care in hospitals, clinics, and nursing care facilities, and can specialize in fields like pediatrics, oncology, or emergency care.
Education: an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, plus the RN license. Most employers prefer a BSN. An ADN takes 2 years, a BSN takes 4. Projected to grow 4.9% through 2034.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Median annual salary: $135,320
A CNS is an advanced practice registered nurse with both clinical and leadership responsibilities, often working at a high level to set policy that improves patient care. CNSs can specialize, for example in pediatrics. The BLS counts them among RNs serving as healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners.
Education: a Master of Science in Nursing. Takes about 2 years if you already hold a BSN. The RN category that includes CNSs is projected to grow 4.9% through 2034.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Median annual salary: $128,790
A CNM is an advanced practice registered nurse who cares for women before, during, and after pregnancy, and also provides gynecological exams and family planning. They may serve as a primary maternity care provider.
Education: an MSN with a midwifery specialty. Takes about 2 years if you already hold a BSN. Demand is projected to grow about 11% through 2034, faster than average.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Median annual salary: $129,210
NPs are advanced practice registered nurses who work with specific populations such as children, older adults, or women. Common specialties include family, adult, and women's health. NPs often serve as primary care providers and can prescribe medication in many states.
Education: an MSN. Takes about 2 years if you already hold a BSN. If you hold an associate degree, an RN-to-MSN bridge program is built for you. NP employment is projected to grow roughly 40% through 2034, among the fastest of any occupation.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Median annual salary: $212,650
A CRNA is an advanced practice registered nurse who administers anesthesia before medical procedures. The $212,650 figure reflected May 2023 data; the BLS May 2024 release puts nurse anesthetist pay at about $223,210.
Education: a Doctor of Nursing Practice and national certification. As of 2025, entry into the field requires a doctoral degree. A doctorate takes 3 to 5 years. Employment is projected to grow 8.6% through 2034, faster than average.
Salary source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions
Which nursing role pays the most? Certified registered nurse anesthetists earn the most, about $223,210 a year in the BLS May 2024 release, roughly five times the median for a certified nursing assistant. The tradeoff is education: a CRNA needs a doctoral degree that can take six years or more.
Do you need a four-year degree to become a nurse? No. You can practice as an RN with a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing, though most employers prefer a BSN. LPNs and CNAs need even less: about a year of training for an LPN and 4 to 12 weeks for a CNA.
What is the difference between an LPN and an LVN? None. The two titles describe the same job and license. Texas and California use "licensed vocational nurse," and every other state uses "licensed practical nurse." Both earned a median of $62,340 in May 2024.
How much more does a BSN earn than an ADN? Both can hold the RN license and the BLS reports a single RN median of $93,600, but BSN holders typically take on more responsibility, qualify for more roles, and earn more over a career. Many employers now prefer or require a BSN for new hires.
Which advanced practice role is growing fastest? Nurse practitioner. NP employment is projected to grow roughly 40% through 2034, among the fastest of any occupation, with a median wage of $129,210 in May 2024.
Do these salaries vary by state? Yes. The figures here are national medians from the BLS. Actual pay shifts with location, cost of living, workplace, and experience, so check your state's Board of Nursing and local listings for a realistic range.