How Much Do Nurse Executives Make?
Several factors can influence nurse executive salaries, including experience, workplace, education level, and geographic location. Nurse executives can earn more than other registered nurses (RNs), which is already more than the average U.S. salary, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This guide will walk any prospective nurse executive through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on maximizing earning potential in this field.
Just the Highlights: Nurse Executive Salaries
Nurse executives 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 Nurse Executives Make?
In the U.S., nurse executives make an average of $64.63 per hour, according to the BLS. This rate equals approximately $134,440 per year, putting nurse executive salaries above average.
Nurse executive compensation depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.
Nurse executive average annual salary
$134,440
Nurse executive average hourly wage
$64.63
According to the BLS, nurse executives 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 Nurse Executive Salaries
All nurse executives 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 the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), after which they become RNs.
After obtaining an RN license and gaining some experience as a nurse, hopeful nurse executives may choose a higher education path, although this is not required for this specialty. Nurse executives 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 Nurse Executive Salaries
Nurse executives can earn specialty certifications through a few different organizations, including:
Any nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can lead to higher compensation.
Location and Nurse Executive Salaries
As with most professional salaries, cost-of-living differences can make employment location a major factor in pay expectations.
Top-Paying Nurse Executive Salaries by State
The coasts generally offer nurse executives the highest pay, while the Southeastern states offer 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 Nurse Executive 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 nurse executives work for a large teaching hospital 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 Nurse Executive Salaries
Nurse executive compensation can also vary based on the work environment. For many nurse executives, private industry positions, such as with pharmaceutical companies, pay the highest.
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $111.09 | $231,070 |
| 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 Nurse Executive
Nurse executives 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 nurse executives with a BSN, many universities offer bridge programs to obtain an MSN, which typically increases earning potential. Nurse executives may also pursue a DNP for even higher salaries.
2. Try a New Location
Compensation for nurse executives 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 executives 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 nurse executive’s salary to their satisfaction, a new workplace might offer higher pay.
Nurse Executive Salaries FAQs
1. What role offers the highest pay for nurse executives?
The highest-paid nurse executives 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 nurse executives make per hour?
Nurse executives 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 nurse executives 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 nurse executives get paid more?
Nurse executives 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 nurse executives the highest pay?
To become a nurse executive, candidates must earn 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.
