How Much Do Nurse Entrepreneurs Make?
Several factors can influence nurse entrepreneur salaries, including experience, business sector, education level, and geographic location. Nurse entrepreneurs can earn a wide range of salaries, depending on their specialty. For example, a lactation consultant may earn less than a legal nurse attorney. This guide will walk any prospective nurse entrepreneur through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on maximizing earning potential in this field.
Just the Highlights: Nurse Entrepreneur Salaries
Nurse entrepreneurs can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:
California
$137,690
San Francisco, CA
$174,370
Outpatient Care Centers
$102,640
How Much Do Nurse Entrepreneurs Make?
In the U.S., it is hard to determine an average nurse entrepreneur’s salary since there are so many variables. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurse entrepreneurs should make at least the same amount as registered nurses, which puts nurse entrepreneurs’ salaries well above average.
Nurse entrepreneur compensation depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.
Nurse entrepreneur average annual salary
$94,480
Nurse entrepreneur average hourly wage
$45.42
According to the BLS, nurse entrepreneurs can make an average of $63,720 in the lower salary range, while the higher-end averages are closer to $132,680.
Source: BLS
How Education Affects Nurse Entrepreneur Salaries
All nurse entrepreneurs 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 the 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, nurse entrepreneurs with a BSN will receive higher pay than those with an ADN, and some employers require their nurses to have a BSN degree.
After obtaining an RN license and gaining some experience as a nurse, hopeful nurse entrepreneurs may choose a higher education path, although this is not required for this specialty. Nurse entrepreneurs 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 |
| ADN | $75,000 |
| BSN | $92,000 |
| MSN | $124,680 |
| DNP | $225,000 |
Source: Nursing World
How Specialty Certification Affects Nurse Entrepreneur Salaries
Nurse entrepreneurs can earn specialty certifications through several organizations, depending on their specialty. For example, the Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation offers IV therapy nurse entrepreneurs a certified registered nurse infusion (CRNI) designation, and the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants offers legal nurse consultants a Legal Nurse Consultant Certification (LNCC). Any nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can lead to higher compensation.
Location and Nurse Entrepreneur Salaries
As with most professional salaries, cost-of-living differences can make employment location a major factor in pay expectations.
Top-Paying Nurse Entrepreneur Salaries by State
The coasts generally offer nurse entrepreneurs the highest pay, while the Southeastern states offer the lowest.
| California | $137,690 |
| Hawaii | $119,710 |
| Oregon | $113,440 |
| Washington, D.C. | $111,130 |
| Washington | $111,030 |
| Alaska | $109,210 |
| Massachusetts | $108,850 |
| Massachusetts | $106,690 |
| New York | $106,620 |
| Nevada | $105,610 |
| California | $104,150 |
| Washington, D.C. | $102,686 |
| New Jersey | $101,960 |
| Connecticut | $101,840 |
| New York | $100,200 |
| Connecticut | $99,850 |
| Nevada | $97,700 |
| Rhode Island | $95,070 |
| New Jersey | $95,010 |
| Minnesota | $94,830 |
| Delaware | $94,670 |
| Oregon | $93,270 |
| New Mexico | $92,140 |
| Maryland | $92,090 |
| Colorado | $91,730 |
| Arizona | $91,430 |
| Texas | $90,210 |
| Georgia | $90,000 |
| New Hampshire | $89,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $88,960 |
| Vermont | $88,380 |
| Virginia | $88,350 |
| Rhode Island | $87,910 |
| Indiana | $87,740 |
| Illinois | $87,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,530 |
| Wisconsin | $87,220 |
| Michigan | $86,210 |
| Delaware | $85,790 |
| Alaska | $85,780 |
| Florida | $84,760 |
| Ohio | $84,430 |
| Maine | $84,340 |
| Wyoming | $83,990 |
| Utah | $83,100 |
| Idaho | $83,090 |
| Utah | $83,090 |
| Montana | $82,950 |
| Ohio | $82,840 |
| Indiana | $82,700 |
| North Carolina | $82,530 |
| Oklahoma | $82,110 |
| Montana | $81,940 |
| Washington | $81,940 |
| Wisconsin | $81,930 |
| Kentucky | $81,770 |
| Alabama | $81,530 |
| Louisiana | $81,430 |
| South Carolina | $81,390 |
| Texas | $81,270 |
| New Hampshire | $81,070 |
| Maryland | $80,990 |
| Virginia | $80,780 |
| Louisiana | $80,760 |
| Florida | $80,160 |
| Arizona | $79,780 |
| Nebraska | $79,780 |
| North Dakota | $79,190 |
| Tennessee | $78,850 |
| Colorado | $78,480 |
| Tennessee | $78,240 |
| Missouri | $77,590 |
| South Carolina | $77,590 |
| Minnesota | $77,040 |
| Michigan | $77,020 |
| Illinois | $76,620 |
| Kansas | $76,240 |
| Iowa | $76,030 |
| West Virginia | $75,990 |
| Mississippi | $75,510 |
| West Virginia | $75,200 |
| Iowa | $74,610 |
| North Dakota | $74,050 |
| Kentucky | $73,980 |
| New Mexico | $73,800 |
| Maine | $73,680 |
| Idaho | $73,320 |
| Nebraska | $73,270 |
| Arkansas | $72,900 |
| North Carolina | $71,700 |
| Alabama | $71,370 |
| Kansas | $70,770 |
| Missouri | $70,770 |
| Hawaii | $70,500 |
| South Dakota | $69,030 |
| Mississippi | $68,380 |
| Georgia | $67,230 |
| South Dakota | $66,860 |
| Oklahoma | $63,640 |
| Wyoming | $63,550 |
| Arkansas | $60,890 |
Source: BLS
Top-Paying Nurse Entrepreneur 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 nurse entrepreneurs work for a large law firm in a city of millions, they will probably earn more than those running a small solopreneur online business.
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $83.83 | $174,370 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $82.51 | $171,620 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82.11 | $170,780 |
| Napa, CA | $79.89 | $166,180 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $74.28 | $154,510 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $73.52 | $152,930 |
| Modesto, CA | $69.80 | $145,190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $67.73 | $140,880 |
| San Luis Obispo--Paso Robles--Arroyo Grande, CA | $67.58 | $140,560 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $66.55 | $138,420 |
Source: BLS
Workplace Type and Nurse Entrepreneur Salaries
Compensation for nurse entrepreneurs can also vary based on the work environment. Legal nursing consulting often pays the highest, while lactation consulting may pay the lowest.
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $49.35 | $102,640 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $46.55 | $96,830 |
| Legal Nurse Consultant | $42.15 | $87,681 |
| Home Health Care Services | $42.03 | $87,430 |
| Lactation Consultant | $41.55 | $86,430 |
| Offices of Physicians | $39.96 | $83,110 |
Source: BLS
How Fast Can a Nurse Entrepreneur’s Salary Grow?
A nurse entrepreneur’s salary can grow as fast as their market allows, depending on how much time they put into their business. They must incorporate networking and other solopreneur responsibilities and know when to delegate to others. Pay also rises with each year of experience. Many clients will pay more based on a nurse entrepreneur’s years of experience.
How to Increase Your Earnings as a Nurse Entrepreneur
Nurse entrepreneurs 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 nurse entrepreneurs with an ADN, many universities offer bridge programs to obtain a BSN, which typically increases earning potential. Nurses may also pursue higher degrees, like an MSN or DNP, for even higher salaries.
2. Try a New Location
Compensation for nurse entrepreneurs 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, nurse entrepreneurs can prove their worth and become even more valuable to their clients, allowing them to leverage their expertise for higher pay.
Nurse Entrepreneur Salaries FAQs
1. What role offers the highest pay for nurse entrepreneurs?
The highest-paid nurse entrepreneurs are those working in Outpatient Care Centers, who make an average of $102,640 a year, or $49.35 per hour.
2. What do nurse entrepreneurs make per hour?
Nurse entrepreneurs make an average of $45.42 an hour. This can increase or decrease based on experience, location, role, and education.
3. Which state and city pay nurse entrepreneurs the best?
California offers the highest pay for all RNs at $66.20 per hour, or $137,690 a year. San Francisco, CA, boasts the highest salaries at $83.83 per hour ($174,370 per year).
4. How can nurse entrepreneurs get paid more?
Nurse entrepreneurs can earn higher degrees, try a new location, or earn specialty certification, all of which could potentially increase pay.
5. Which degree gives nurse entrepreneurs the highest pay?
To become a nurse entrepreneur, 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 nurse entrepreneurs the highest pay. However, the highest-paying degree in most nursing fields is the DNP, or Doctor of Nursing Practice.
