Nursing

Types of Nurses and Their Salaries

Written by: University of Tulsa • Jan 15, 2025

A Smiling Nurse Standing in a Hospital Corridor

Types of Nurses and Their Salaries

Nursing is a multifaceted profession, encompassing a range of career opportunities with different hours, work environments, and pay rates. Learning more about the different types of nurses and salaries, such as registered nurses (RNs), is important in choosing the right nursing degree and career path.

An RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree can be a good way for practicing RNs who want to expand their scope of practice, specialize in a particular field, or earn a higher salary.

What Is an RN to BSN Program?

An RN to BSN program is a baccalaureate degree program specifically designed for licensed RNs, whether they have an Oklahoma nursing license or are licensed in another state. Unlike traditional four-year bachelor’s degrees, these programs give students credit for their previous coursework and experience. Simply obtaining a bachelor’s degree can open the door to numerous career options and pave the way to a significantly higher salary.

Compared with a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a BSN is typically a four-year program with a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes leadership, public health, informatics, and nursing fundamentals. RN to BSN programs allow RNs who already have an ADN to earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as 12 months.

The 2023 New Graduate Employment Data report by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing found that the preference for baccalaureate-educated nurses continues to climb. The association asked 643 nursing schools if employers in their region had a preference for hiring nurses with bachelor’s degrees. According to their responses, 25% said employers in their areas required their nurses to have a BSN, and almost 70% indicated a strong preference for BSN-educated RNs.

Career Benefits for RN to BSN Graduates

According to the New Graduate Employment Data report, 84% of BSN students had meaningful job offers at graduation. Within four to six months of graduation, 96% of BSN graduates were offered jobs.

Furthermore, according to Payscale, ADN graduates working in any field earned a median annual salary of about $78,000 as of September 2024. BSN graduates working across all fields earned much more, at about $96,000 as of October 2024.

Aside from this, in October 2024, an American Association of Colleges of Nursing fact sheet showed that hospitals with an 80% BSN-educated nursing staff had a 24.6% lower chance of inpatient mortality than those with only a 30% BSN-educated nursing staff. The demand for nurses educated at the BSN level continues to rise, and many careers are only available after achieving this milestone.

Types of Nurses and Salary Information

RNs work in many fields and specializations after earning their RN to BSN degrees. Below are some different types of nurses and salaries to consider.

Registered Nurse

RN is the most common career outcome for RN to BSN graduates. These individuals work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, prisons, and schools. They perform a wide range of duties and have many responsibilities, including the following:

Working with doctors and other members of health care teams to provide care for acute and chronic illnesses or injuries
Monitoring patients’ vital signs
Keeping accurate patient records
Administering medications according to doctors’ orders

RNs earned a median annual salary of about $86,070 as of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Those working in a government setting earned significantly more, at about $99,840, and those working in schools earned less, at about $71,550.

Home Care Nurse

Home care nurses work with critically ill individuals, people with disabilities or impairments, or older patients in their homes. Unlike many other types of nurses, home care nurses may be required to travel to visit clients as needed. As RNs, they provide a wide range of health-related services, including the following:

Caring for wounds
Administering medications
Managing patients’ diseases and injuries
Educating and counseling patients and their families
Providing referrals to other health care providers and community resources

According to Payscale, home care nurses earn a median annual salary of about $75,520 as of September 2024, with some earning upward of $99,000 — especially after a decade or more of experience.

Hospice Nurse

Hospice nurses are one of the many specialized types of nurses, and their salaries reflect their roles. These individuals care for patients who are at the end of their lives, usually with six months or less left to live. They provide them with any necessary medical care and serve as the lead point of contact for patients, their families, and their caregivers. The tasks a hospice nurse may execute regularly include the following:

Collaborating with families and health care teams to provide holistic palliative care and comfort to end-of-life patients
Preparing care plans and adjusting them as needed to suit patients’ current state of health and comfort
Providing medications and other treatments as ordered by patients’ physicians
Keeping detailed records and informing physicians and family members about changes
Supporting the families and friends of loved ones with timely advice that protects patients’ dignity and rights

The median annual salary for hospice nurses was about $74,300 as of November 2024, according to Payscale, with more experienced nurses earning as much as $90,000.

Travel Nurse

With nursing shortages impacting metropolitan and rural areas alike, the demand for travel nurses is on the rise. These individuals are RNs who fill temporary positions in desperate need of skilled professionals, and in many cases, they travel across the country — or even around the world — to provide care. Their duties and responsibilities are the same as those of a typical RN.

Because they spend so much time away from their families, and because long-term employment is never truly guaranteed, this is one of the types of nurses with salaries that are higher than average. According to Payscale, the median annual pay was about $84,070 as of October 2024, but more experienced travel nurses can earn upward of $116,000.

Legal Nurse Consultant

Nurses who have an interest in the law and how it applies to health care may consider becoming legal nurse consultants. An RN to BSN is an excellent starting point for this role, and while formal legal education isn’t required, many employers prefer to hire credentialed consultants. The Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) credential offered by the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) is the gold standard among employers.

Legal nurse consultants perform numerous job duties and responsibilities, including the following:

Thoroughly analyzing and reviewing patients’ medical records
Identifying and analyzing the medical issues in complex cases
Preparing summaries of events to be presented to legal teams, judges, or juries
Providing expert testimony in court
Keeping up to date with the latest developments in health and law

According to Payscale, the median annual salary for legal nurse consultants was about $90,169 as of December 2024, with top-rated consultants earning as much as $141,000.

Critical Care Unit or Intensive Care Unit Nurse

RNs who work in critical care units (CCUs) and intensive care units (ICUs) tend to patients who have injuries or illnesses that threaten their lives. They perform many of the same duties as a typical RN, with a few exceptions:

Responding to emergency situations as needed
Transporting critical patients from other departments, such as the emergency room or a hospital room, to the CCU/ICU safely
Making fast-paced critical decisions about patients’ health
Offering comfort to patients, their families, and their loved ones
Carefully monitoring patients and their vitals for the slightest changes, which can indicate serious issues

Though not required, most ICU and CCU nurses eventually obtain the Critical Care RN (CCRN) credential offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The median annual salary for ICU nurses was about $81,520 as of November 2024, according to Payscale, with some more experienced individuals earning upward of $119,000.

Pediatric Nurse

Pediatrics is one of the more specialized types of nurses and salaries. Pediatric nurses care for children from birth through adolescence, sometimes even into young adulthood. They may work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and schools, as well as other settings that cater to sick or injured children. Their daily duties include the following:

Promoting good health among children and teens
Continuing to develop their knowledge of child development throughout their careers
Administering doctor-prescribed medications to children
Tending to wounds or other needs
Conducting well-child visits alongside doctors or nurse practitioners

The median annual salary for pediatric nurses was about $70,900 as of November 2024, according to Payscale. Those working in prestigious hospitals or with decades of experience can earn much more — sometimes upward of $97,000.

Oncology Nurse

Oncology nurses work with individuals dealing with cancer at any stage of life, from childhood through the senior years. They’re highly skilled and knowledgeable about the impact cancer can have on patients and their families, making them invaluable resources. Their daily responsibilities and tasks include the following:

Working with patients’ primary physicians and other caregivers to create treatment plans
Preventing, diagnosing, treating, and managing cancer
Educating patients and their families about treatment options and their potential impact
Providing palliative care when necessary
Helping patients and families make the most of the resources in their communities

Oncology nurses earned a median annual salary of about $83,950 as of November 2024, according to Payscale. Some of the highest-paid oncology nurses earn upward of $117,000.

Psychiatric Nurse

Psychiatric nurses, or psychiatric mental health nurses (PMHNs), specialize in providing care to individuals who have various mental health or psychiatric conditions. Their specialized training gives them the knowledge they need to observe, treat, and help people experiencing acute psychiatric episodes or chronic, sometimes lifelong, mental illness. The tasks they perform regularly include the following:

Screening and evaluating patients upon intake
Providing mental health education to communities
Managing patients’ cases in ways that promote good overall health
Administering medications as prescribed
Helping patients reach their goals through self-care and empowerment

The median annual salary for psychiatric nurses was about $75,620 as of October 2024, according to Payscale. Those with more experience or who worked in private facilities earned significantly more, at around $104,000.

Telemetry Nurse

Telemetry nurses specialize in carefully monitoring their patients’ vital signs — particularly their heart rhythms. They use medical devices, such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), in the office, but modern technology also allows some patients to use cardiac equipment at home, making health care easier and more affordable. A telemetry nurse’s daily tasks include the following:

Communicating and working with a team of health care professionals to ensure appropriate, efficient, and effective care
Using special equipment, including remotely, to identify irregular heart rhythms that could cause serious problems
Educating patients and their caregivers about how to respond to adverse events like irregular rhythms
Providing bedside care in some situations, such as administering medications and offering support

Telemetry nurses earned a median annual salary of about $70,000 as of October 2024, according to Payscale. More experienced telemetry nurses earned upward of $104,000.

Labor and Delivery Nurse

Labor and delivery nurses are specialized types of nurses with salaries that can fluctuate based on location and experience. They provide care to expectant mothers through labor and to newborns immediately after birth. Though labor and delivery nurses have highly fulfilling jobs, the role can be quite demanding. Their daily tasks include the following:

Monitoring mothers’ and fetuses’ vital signs throughout the various stages of labor
Providing emotional support throughout the labor and delivery process
Assisting with the delivery and providing aftercare
Providing new parents and caregivers with infant care instructions
Working with a large team of professionals to ensure a safe, comfortable delivery

The median annual salary for a labor and delivery nurse was about $73,750 as of October 2024, according to Payscale, with some more experienced individuals earning upward of $112,000.

Operating Room or Surgical Nurse

Surgical nurses, sometimes called operating room nurses, assist surgeons and others during various surgical procedures. The job is quite specialized, and some positions require additional credentials beyond a valid RN license.

Pre-Op RN: Pre-op nurses assess patients before surgery, prepare the instruments and operating room, educate patients before a procedure, and administer medications. No additional credentials are required to work as a pre-op RN.
Intra-Op RN: Intra-op RNs serve as assistants during what can be complex operations. They manage surgical instruments and ensure that the “field” (the surgical area) remains sterile while monitoring patients’ vitals. These individuals are required to have a Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) credential, offered by the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI).
Post-Op or PACU RN: Post-op or post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) RNs care for patients as they emerge from anesthesia, manage their pain and other symptoms, and assess their recovery prior to discharge. These individuals must obtain Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) credentialing, offered by the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification (ABPANC).

Operating room and surgical nurses earned a median annual salary of about $72,680 across all three specializations as of October 2024, according to Payscale. Experienced nurses or those who work in highly prestigious hospitals and metropolitan areas can earn upward of $104,000.

Nurse Salaries in Texas

According to ZipRecruiter, RNs in Texas make a median annual salary of $81,860 as of December 2024. Following are the median annual salaries for different types of nurses in the state of Texas, per data from ZipRecruiter.

Home Care Nurse: $94,770
Hospice Nurse: $81,230
Travel Nurse: $94,220
Legal Nurse Consultant: $81,690
ICU Nurse: $79,380
Pediatric Nurse: $71,130
Oncology Nurse: $84,870
Psychiatric Nurse: $80,740
Telemetry Nurse: $81,100
Labor and Delivery Nurse: $89,830
Operating Room or Surgical Nurse: $88,110

Nurse Salaries in Missouri

According to ZipRecruiter, RNs in Texas make a median annual salary of $82,420 as of December 2024. Following are the median annual salaries for different types of nurses in Missouri, per ZipRecruiter data.

Home Care Nurse: $95,410
Hospice Nurse: $81,780
Travel Nurse: $94,860
Legal Nurse Consultant: $82,250
ICU Nurse: $79,920
Pediatric Nurse: $71,610
Oncology Nurse: $85,450
Psychiatric Nurse: $81,290
Telemetry Nurse: $81,650
Labor and Delivery Nurse: $90,440
Operating Room or Surgical Nurse: $88,710

Choose the Nursing Career of Your Dreams With an RN to BSN Degree

Licensed RNs in Oklahoma and around the nation who are interested in furthering their careers in specialized roles should consider the benefits of an RN to BSN degree program. From children’s hospitals to cancer wards and from labor and delivery units to the ICU, skilled, professional RNs are the backbone of the health care system.

The online RN to BSN degree program at The University of Tulsa is the first step toward a high-impact career in nursing. Find out how you can earn your bachelor’s degree in a flexible remote setting.

Recommended Readings

Clinic vs. Hospital Nursing: Which Should You Choose?

Local Travel Nursing: Benefits and Definition

Why a BSN Is Important in Nursing

Sources:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Baccalaureate-Prepared Nurses Are Essential to Quality Healthcare

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, New Graduate Employment Data

American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, Education and Certification in Legal Nurse Consulting

American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification

Competency & Credentialing Institute, Certified Perioperative Nurse

Indeed, “21 Types of Nurses (With Salaries, Duties and FAQs)”

Payscale, Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Degree