How Much Do Health Policy Nurses Make?
Several factors can influence health policy nurse salaries, including experience, workplace, education level, and geographic location. Health policy nurses can earn more than other registered nurses (RNs), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This guide will walk any prospective health policy nurse through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on how to maximize earning potential in this field.
Just the Highlights: Health Policy Nurse Salaries
Health policy nurses can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:
New York
$179,160
Trenton, NJ
$193,730
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
$231,070
How Much Do Health Policy Nurses Make?
According to the BLS, health policy nurses fall under the medical and health services managers category and make an average of $64.63 per hour in the U.S. This rate equals approximately $134,440 per year, which puts health policy nurse salaries well above average.
Health policy nurse compensation depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.
Health policy nurse average annual salary
$134,440
Health policy nurse average hourly wage
$64.63
According to the BLS, health policy nurses 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 Health Policy Nurse Salaries
All health policy nurses must first become registered nurses (RNs) by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, 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 and a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field. With either education path, nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), after which they become RNs.
After obtaining an RN license and gaining some experience as a nurse, health policy nurses may choose a higher education path, although this is not required for this specialty. Some may choose to 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 |
| ADN | $75,000 |
| BSN | $92,000 |
| MSN | $124,680 |
| DNP | $225,000 |
Source: Nursing World
How Specialty Certification Affects Health Policy Nurse Salaries
Through multiple organizations, health policy nurses may choose to pursue specialty certifications, like:
Any nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can lead to higher compensation.
Location and Health Policy Nurse Salaries
As with most professional salaries, cost-of-living differences can make employment location a major factor in pay expectations.
Top-Paying Health Policy Nurse Salaries by State
In general, the coasts pay health policy nurses the highest, while the Southeastern states pay the lowest.
| 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 Health Policy Nurse Salaries by City
The cost of living differs by state and population density. More people populate cities than rural areas, and their cost of living and salaries are typically higher. For example, if health policy nurses work for a large consulting firm in a city of millions, they will probably earn more than those who work with a small non-profit 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 Health Policy Nurse Salaries
Health policy nurse compensation can also vary based on the work environment. For many health policy nurses, pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing companies and scientific research and development services positions pay the highest.
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $111.09 | $231,070 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $109.70 | $228,170 |
| Hospitals; state local and private | $61.89 | $128,740 |
| Government | $60.38 | $125,590 |
Source: BLS
How Fast Can a Health Policy Nurse’s Salary Grow?
A health policy 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 Health Policy Nurse
Health policy 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 lead to a higher salary.
1. Earn a Higher Degree
For health policy nurses with a BSN, many pursue higher degrees, like an MSN or DNP, for even higher salaries.
2. Try a New Location
Compensation for health policy 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, health policy 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 health policy nurse’s salary to their satisfaction, a new workplace might offer higher pay.
Health Policy Nurse Salaries FAQs
1. What role offers the highest pay for health policy nurses?
The highest-paid health policy nurses are those working in Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing, who make an average of $231,070 a year, or $111.09 per hour.
2. What do health policy nurses make per hour?
Health policy nurses 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 health policy nurses 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).
4. How can health policy nurses get paid more?
Health policy nurses can earn 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 health policy nurses the highest pay?
While a BSN typically offers health policy nurses a great salary, the highest-paying degree in most nursing fields is the DNP, or Doctor of Nursing Practice.
