How Much Do Case Management Nurses Make?

Several factors can influence case management nurse salaries, including experience, workplace, education level, and geographic location. Case management nurses can earn more than other registered nurses (RN), according to ZipRecruiter’s salary reports. This guide will walk any prospective case management nurse through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on how to maximize earning potential in this field.

Just the Highlights: Case Management Nurse Salaries

Case management nurses can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:

How Much Do Case Management Nurses Make?

In the U.S., case management nurses make an average of $47.53 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter. This rate equals approximately $98,869 per year, which puts case management nurse salaries well above average.

Case management nurse compensation depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.

Some case management nurses work 8 or 12-hour shifts, and during “normal working hours,” they earn their base salary. Any hours worked in the evening, night, or weekend come with an hourly pay increase. Hospitals may also offer extra shifts with bonuses attached.

According to ZipRecruiter, case management nurses can make an average of $73,500 in the lower salary range, while the higher-end averages are closer to $151,000.

How Education Affects Case Management Nurse Salaries

All case management nurses must first become registered nurses (RNs) by earning a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which takes four years. Some nursing programs can be completed in as little as 12 months through an accelerated option, which requires previously earned prerequisites. With either education path, nurses must pass their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), after which they become RNs.

When nurses graduate with an ADN and pass the NCLEX, they receive an RN designation, similar to a nurse who achieves a BSN. However, case management nurses with a BSN will receive higher pay than those with an ADN, and some employers require their nurses to have a BSN degree.

How Specialty Certification Affects Case Management Nurse Salaries

Case management nurses can earn specialty certifications through a few different organizations, including:

• The American Nurses Credentialing Center, which offers the Nursing Case Management Certification (CMGT-BC)
• The American Case Management Association, which offers the Accredited Case Management Credential (ACM)
• The Commission for Case Manager Certification, which offers the Certified Case Manager credential

Any nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can lead to higher compensation.

Location and Case Management Nurse Salaries

As with most professional salaries, cost-of-living differences can make employment location a major factor in pay expectations.

Top-Paying Case Management Nurse Salaries by State

The coasts generally offer the highest pay for case management nurses, while the Southeastern states offer the lowest.

Top-Paying Case Management Nurse Salaries by City

The cost of living doesn’t just differ by state but by population density. More people populate cities than rural areas, and their cost of living and salaries are typically higher. For example, if case management nurses work for a large teaching hospital in a city of millions, they will probably earn more than those who work in a small private office in a rural area.

Workplace Type and Case Management Nurse Salaries

Case management nurse compensation can also vary based on the work environment. For many case management nurses, hospital and telephonic case management nurse jobs pay the highest.

How Fast Can a Case Management Nurse’s Salary Grow?

A case management nurse’s salary can grow fast, depending on professional development. In certain workplaces, management offers incentives to get certifications, lead or take part in committees, and get on a management track.

Pay also rises with each year of experience. Most medical facilities offer new hires an hourly rate based on years of experience. So, even if a nurse changes positions or facilities, their pay should remain the same if the facilities are comparable.

How to Increase Your Earnings as a Case Management Nurse

Case management nurses can increase their salary in many ways. As discussed above, compensation directly correlates to location, workplace type, and level of education, and these factors can lead to a higher salary.

1. Earn a Higher Degree

For case management nurses with an ADN, many universities offer bridge programs to obtain a BSN, which typically increases earning potential.

2. Try a New Location

Compensation for case management nurses often depends on location, and a move to a new city can come with a higher salary. Keep in mind, though, that with a higher salary may also come a higher cost of living.

3. Earn Certification

By earning a specialty certification, case management nurses can prove their worth and become even more valuable to their employers, allowing them to leverage their expertise for higher pay.

4. Transfer to a New Work Setting

If a current work setting cannot increase a case management nurse’s salary to their satisfaction, a new workplace might offer higher pay.

Case Management Nurse Salaries FAQs

   1. What role offers the highest pay for case management nurses?

The highest-paid case management nurses are those working in Hospitals, who make an average of $98,869 a year, or $47.53 per hour.

   2. What do case management nurses make per hour?

Case management nurses make an average of $47.53 an hour. This can increase or decrease based on experience, location, role, and education.

   3. Which state and city pay case management nurses the best?

According to ZipRecruiter, New Jersey offers the highest pay for all RNs at $50.53 per hour, or $105,104 a year. San Jose, CA, boasts the highest salaries at $60.93 per hour ($126,731 per year).

   4. How can case management nurses get paid more?

Case management nurses can obtain higher degrees, try a new location, earn specialty certification, or transfer to a new work environment, all of which could potentially increase pay.

   5. Which degree gives case management nurses the highest pay?

To become a case management nurse, candidates must earn a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Of the two, a BSN typically offers the highest pay for case management nurses.