How Much Do Legal Nurse Consultants Make?
Several factors can influence legal nurse consultant salaries, including experience, workplace, education level, and geographic location. Legal nurse consultants (LNCs) earn about the same as any other registered nurse (RN), according to a comparison between the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and ZipRecruiter’s salary reports. This guide will walk any prospective legal nurse consultant through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on how to maximize earning potential in this field.
Just the Highlights: Legal Nurse Consultant Salaries
Legal nurse consultants can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:
Washington, D.C.
$103,991
Chapman, CA
$106,618
Legal Office
$118,674
How Much Do Legal Nurse Consultants Make?
According to ZipRecruiter, legal nurse consultants make an average of $42.15 per hour in the U.S. This rate equals approximately $87,681 per year, which puts LNC salaries well above average.
Compensation for legal nurse consultants depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.
Legal nurse consultant average annual salary
$87,681
Legal nurse consultant average hourly wage
$42.15
According to ZipRecruiter, legal nurse consultants can make an average of $50,000 in the lower salary range, while the higher-end average is closer to $126,000.
Source: ZipRecruiter
How Education Affects Legal Nurse Consultant Salaries
All legal nurse consultants 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, including a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. 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 legal nurse consultants may choose a higher education path, although this is not required for this specialty. Legal nurse consultants can 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 |
| DNP | $225,000 |
| MSN | $124,680 |
| BSN | $92,000 |
Source: Nursing World
How Specialty Certification Affects Legal Nurse Consultant Salaries
Legal nurse consultants can earn specialty certifications through the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, which offers the Legal Nurse Consultant Certification (LNCC®). Any nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can lead to higher compensation.
Location and Legal Nurse Consultant Salaries
As with most professional salaries, cost-of-living differences can make employment location a major factor in pay expectations.
Top-Paying Legal Nurse Consultant Salaries by State
In general, the coasts offer the highest pay for legal nurse consultants, while the Southeastern states offer the lowest.
| Washington, D.C. | $103,991 |
| Washington | $103,990 |
| New York | $93,624 |
| Vermont | $91,756 |
| California | $88,885 |
| New Hampshire | $88,543 |
| Illinois | $88,484 |
| Massachusetts | $86,899 |
| Maine | $86,528 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,755 |
| Idaho | $85,236 |
| Oregon | $85,029 |
| North Dakota | $84,984 |
| Texas | $84,852 |
| New Jersey | $84,611 |
| Alaska | $84,099 |
| Wisconsin | $83,538 |
| Colorado | $83,332 |
| Kentucky | $82,262 |
| Wyoming | $81,949 |
| Nevada | $81,478 |
| Indiana | $80,667 |
| Minnesota | $80,393 |
| South Dakota | $80,319 |
| New Mexico | $80,255 |
| Delaware | $79,114 |
| Arizona | $78,999 |
| Rhode Island | $78,757 |
| Hawaii | $78,390 |
| Virginia | $78,285 |
| Ohio | $78,230 |
| Montana | $77,809 |
| Connecticut | $77,029 |
| Alabama | $76,837 |
| Maryland | $76,697 |
| Iowa | $76,663 |
| Mississippi | $76,328 |
| Nebraska | $75,288 |
| Tennessee | $74,688 |
| Utah | $74,606 |
| Missouri | $74,222 |
| South Carolina | $73,459 |
| Oklahoma | $72,909 |
| North Carolina | $71,943 |
| Kansas | $71,863 |
| Georgia | $71,581 |
| Louisiana | $70,190 |
| Michigan | $69,056 |
| West Virginia | $66,229 |
| Arkansas | $65,600 |
| Florida | $63,349 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Top-Paying Legal Nurse Consultant 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 LNCs work for a large law 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 |
| Chapman, CA | $51.26 | $106,618 |
| Santa Clara, CA | $50.86 | $105,780 |
| South San Francisco, CA | $50.70 | $105,457 |
| Federal Way, WA | $50.09 | $104,177 |
| Washington, DC | $50.00 | $103,990 |
| San Francisco, CA | $49.16 | $102,243 |
| Kilauea, HI | $48.85 | $101,605 |
| Bolinas, CA | $48.65 | $101,196 |
| Summitview, WA | $48.56 | $101,013 |
| Beverly Hills, CA | $48.38 | $100,638 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Workplace Type and Legal Nurse Consultant Salaries
Legal nurse consultant compensation can also vary based on the work environment.
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Legal Office | $57.05 | $118,674 |
| Private Practice | $50.76 | $105,586 |
| Hospital Consultant | $49.72 | $103,425 |
| Clinical Nurse Consultant | $46.25 | $96,206 |
| RN Nurse Consultant | $44.12 | $91,766 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
How to Increase Your Earnings as a Legal Nurse Consultan
Legal nurse consultants 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 salary.
1. Earn a Higher Degree
For LNCs with a BSN, they may choose to pursue higher degrees, like an MSN or DNP, for even greater salaries.
2. Try a New Location
Compensation for legal nurse consultants 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, legal nurse consultants 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 legal nurse consultant’s salary to their satisfaction, a new workplace might offer higher pay.
Legal Nurse Consultant Salaries FAQs
1. What role offers the highest pay for legal nurse consultants?
The highest-paid legal nurse consultants are those working in Legal Office, who make an average of $118,674 a year, or $57.05 per hour.
2. What do legal nurse consultants make per hour?
Legal nurse consultants make an average of $42.15 an hour. This can increase or decrease based on experience, location, role, and education.
3. Which state and city pay legal nurse consultants the best?
According to ZipRecruiter, Washington, D.C. offers the highest pay for all RNs at $50.00 per hour, or $103,991 a year. Chapman, CA, boasts the highest salaries at $51.26 per hour ($106,618 per year).
4. How can legal nurse consultants get paid more?
Legal nurse consultants 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 legal nurse consultants the highest pay?
To become a legal nurse consultant, candidates must obtain a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. However, the highest-paying degree in most nursing fields is the DNP, or Doctor of Nursing Practice.
