How Much Do Chief Nursing Officers Make?
Several factors can influence chief nursing officer (CNO) salaries, including experience, workplace, education level, and geographic location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), chief nursing officers fall under the category of medical and health services managers and earn more than other nursing professionals. This guide will walk any prospective CNO through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on how to maximize earning potential in this field.
Just the Highlights: Chief Nursing Officer Salaries
Chief nursing officers can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:
New York
$179,160
Trenton, NJ
$193,730
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
$145,390
How Much Do Chief Nursing Officers Make?
In the U.S., CNOs make an average of $64.63 per hour, according to the BLS. This rate equals approximately $134,440 per year, which puts chief nursing officer salaries well above average.
Chief nursing officer compensation depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.
Chief nursing officer average annual salary
$134,440
Chief nursing officer average hourly wage
$64.63
According to the BLS, chief nursing officers can make an average of $67,900 in the lower salary range, while the higher-end averages are closer to $216,750.
Source: BLS
How Education Affects Chief Nursing Officer Salaries
All chief nursing officers must first become registered nurses (RNs) by earning 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.
After obtaining an RN license and gaining some experience as a nurse, hopeful chief nursing officers must choose a higher education path. Chief nursing officers can earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which takes about two years to complete. Others graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which takes longer but may offer higher salaries.
| Degree | Annual Average Salary |
| DNP | $225,000 |
| MSN | $124,680 |
How Specialty Certification Affects Chief Nursing Officer Salaries
Chief nursing officers can earn specialty certifications through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), or the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), including:
Any nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can lead to higher compensation.
Location and Chief Nursing Officer Salaries
As with most professional salaries, cost-of-living differences can make employment location a major factor in pay expectations.
Top-Paying Chief Nursing Officer Salaries by State
In general, the coasts pay chief nursing officers the highest, while some Midwestern and Southeastern states pay the lowest.
| State | Average Salary |
| New York | $179,160 |
| Washington, D.C. | $170,710 |
| Delaware | $164,190 |
| New Jersey | $162,430 |
| Massachusetts | $158,540 |
| California | $156,140 |
| Washington | $152,880 |
| Maryland | $150,590 |
| New Hampshire | $150,090 |
| Oregon | $149,450 |
| Alaska | $148,550 |
| Wisconsin | $148,460 |
| Connecticut | $148,370 |
| Georgia | $146,700 |
| Montana | $144,990 |
| Colorado | $143,120 |
| Hawaii | $137,740 |
| Virginia | $136,370 |
| Arizona | $135,310 |
| Rhode Island | $134,620 |
| North Dakota | $132,940 |
| Illinois | $131,980 |
| South Dakota | $131,910 |
| West Virginia | $130,850 |
| New Mexico | $130,790 |
| Vermont | $130,510 |
| Minnesota | $129,350 |
| North Carolina | $127,620 |
| South Carolina | $126,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $125,860 |
| Utah | $125,550 |
| Idaho | $124,500 |
| Tennessee | $124,190 |
| Florida | $124,070 |
| Nevada | $120,770 |
| Texas | $120,200 |
| Ohio | $118,940 |
| Michigan | $118,870 |
| Maine | $118,410 |
| Missouri | $116,370 |
| Kansas | $115,480 |
| Nebraska | $115,090 |
| Oklahoma | $113,940 |
| Louisiana | $113,400 |
| Indiana | $112,690 |
| Iowa | $109,880 |
| Kentucky | $109,640 |
| Wyoming | $107,750 |
| Alabama | $99,270 |
| Arkansas | $97,250 |
| Mississippi | $95,140 |
Source: BLS
Top-Paying Chief Nursing Officer Salaries by City
The cost of living doesn’t just differ by state but by population density. Many more people populate cities than rural areas, and their cost of living and salaries are typically higher. For example, if chief nursing officers work for a large teaching hospital in a city of millions, they will likely earn more than those who work with a small outpatient clinic in a rural area.
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Trenton, NJ | $93.14 | $193,730 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $89.69 | $186,560 |
| New York-Newark, Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86.22 | $179,330 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84.92 | $176,640 |
| Napa, CA | $83.04 | $172,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $79.78 | $165,940 |
| Danbury, CT | $79.76 | $165,910 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $79.32 | $164,990 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | $78.49 | $163,250 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $77.44 | $161,070 |
Source: BLS
Workplace Type and Chief Nursing Officer Salaries
Chief nursing officer compensation can also vary based on the work environment. According to the BLS, CNOs in general medical and surgical hospitals make the most, but physician’s office positions also pay more than average.
| Top-Paying Industries for Chief Nursing Officers: |
|---|
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $69.90 | $145,390 |
| Offices of Physicians | $64.58 | $134,330 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $62.26 | $129,500 |
| Home Health Care Services | $52.55 | $109,300 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $51.21 | $106,520 |
Source: BLS
How to Increase Your Earnings as a Chief Nursing Officer
Chief nursing officers can increase their salary in many ways. As discussed above, compensation directly correlates to location, workplace type, and level of education, and these factors pave the way to a higher chief nursing officer’s salary.
1. Earn a Higher Degree
Chief nursing officers with an MSN may pursue the highest degree available for nurses, the DNP, for higher financial compensation.
2. Try a New Location
Compensation for chief nursing officers 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, chief nursing officers can prove their worth and become even more indispensable 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 chief nursing officer’s salary to their satisfaction, a new workplace might offer higher pay.
Chief Nursing Officer Salaries FAQs
1. What role offers the highest pay for chief nursing officers?
The highest-paid chief nursing officers are those working in General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, who make an average of $145,390 a year, or $69.90 per hour.
2. What do chief nursing officers make per hour?
Chief nursing officers make an average of $64.63 an hour. This can increase or decrease based on experience, location, role, and education.
3. Which state and city pay chief nursing officers the best?
According to the BLS, New York offers the highest pay for all RNs at $86.13 per hour, or $179,160 a year. Trenton, NJ, boasts the highest salaries at $93.14 per hour ($193,730 per year).
