21 Highest Paying BSN Jobs in 2026: How Can a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Impact Your Earnings?

Nursing is undeniably a tremendously fulfilling career. You play a direct role in helping people and saving lives – it doesn’t get more meaningful than that. It is also a field brimming with options and possibilities – from informatics to working with children, you can choose the career track that best suits your interests and passions. 

A great way to ensure you take advantage of all the benefits of a nursing career is to advance your studies and get a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. That will give you access to a broader pool of career opportunities. Just as importantly, earning your BSN is also the path to higher pay. Of course, salary depends on your education level, years of experience, where you live, and other factors. But if thoughts like “How much do BSN nurses make?” and “Will getting a Bachelor’s degree impact my earnings?” have crossed your mind, it’s worth exploring the financial gains that come hand in hand with that RN BSN title. 

Read on to discover how much money you can make as a BSN nurse. We have compiled data to answer any questions you might have – from starting salaries for BSN nurses to the average salaries in every state. But why stop there? Find out what the highest-paying nursing jobs are for RNs with bachelor’s degrees and what other benefits you can enjoy as a BSN nurse. 

What Is the Starting Salary of a BSN Nurse?

When deciding whether or not to pursue a BSN education, the decisive factor may be your earning potential – and we’re not talking about how much you can earn after ten or twenty years of experience (although that’s just as important). From a pragmatic perspective, you undoubtedly want to know what paycheck you can expect to cash in, even in the first years of your career as a BSN-trained registered nurse. 

According to data from ZipRecruiter, one of the most popular online job boards, the average starting salary for Entry Level BSN nurses as of January 2026 is $80,321. That comes to $38.62 an hour. Comparatively, the median salary of an Entry Level BSN nurse is up to $71,500 per year, with the complete range of values ranging from $36,000 to $136,000, depending on location, employer, experience, and specialty. 

To put this in perspective, the average base salary for all entry-level positions in the United States is  $43,262 per year. Therefore, starting a job as a BSN RN puts your estimated paycheck at $37,059 above the national average. Remember that entry-level salaries vary widely based on factors such as location, employer, and previous experience. If you already have prior experience working as a registered nurse, you’ll likely be compensated better than a registered nurse fresh out of school.

Are you already a Registered Nurse? Give your paycheck a boost by enrolling in Nightingale College’s RN-to-BSN program!

What Is the Average Salary for BSN Nurses? 

Looking at entry-level salaries is essential because it offers a baseline for your future earning potential. It’s easier to determine what you can expect to earn in the long run when you have a general idea of how much you will make when you first enter the BSN role. But you don’t have to make assumptions about BSN salaries, in general. In this section, you will find all the average salaries for BSN nurses. 

According to the latest data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a registered nurse is $98,430. However, it’s no secret that nurses who have pursued a more advanced degree, such as a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, have a higher earning potential. Since the BLS does not provide official data on differences in RN and BSN salaries, based on observations from the BSN Nursing portal, registered nurses with a BSN usually earn in the top 25th percentile of their field. Thus, we can assume the average estimated salary for BSN nurses across the US to be $107,960.

Below, you will find a list of annual and hourly salaries for BSN RNs in all US States and Territories, so that you get a clearer picture of how much you can potentially earn based on your location. Data is provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Read our dedicated BSN salary guide to discover more information about the average pay of nursing roles that require a Bachelor’s.

And, if you are ready, take your career and paycheck one step further. Enroll in our hybrid BSN program today and improve your education and your chances for a higher salary!

What Are the States Where BSN Nurses Have the Highest Wages?

Naturally, location plays an essential role in the value of monetary rewards you can expect for your services. If you go ahead and pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, you will have the chance to earn the highest wages in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington. In California, the salary of a BSN RN is $172,200 per year. Hawaii is also on the list of the highest-paying states for BSN-trained nurses. Here, you can expect to take home up to $139,310 annually. Massachusetts offers wages of around $132,980, making it another excellent state for RNs with a BSN. However, you must keep in mind that while these states offer the highest mean salaries, they also have a high cost of living.

Here is a list of the top 10 highest-paying US states for BSN nurses:

Puerto Rico ($44,850), South Dakota ($80,490), and Alabama ($82,170) fall at the other end of the spectrum, offering the lowest wages for BSN graduates.

Below is a list of the 10 states and territories with the lowest BSN salaries:

Find out more about the nurse salary by state for various roles and degrees.

What Are Some of the Best-Paid BSN Jobs?

The Medscape RN/LPN Compensation Report highlights the difference in pay between nurses who hold a Bachelor’s degree and those who do not. Therefore, the study shows that the median income of surveyed BSN nurses was around $88,000 per year, while RNs with an Associate’s Degree earned an average of $82,000 per year. Let’s dive into some of the best nursing jobs available for BSN holders and see how well-compensated they are.

1. Cardiac Care Unit Nurse – $152,404

Cardiac care unit nurses work closely with cardiologists, providing care to patients with a range of heart conditions. They are directly involved in diagnosing, treating, and controlling conditions that affect the complex cardiac system. In addition, they can be involved in a patient’s cardiac rehabilitation process by guiding them toward lifestyle changes that help prevent disease aggravation. Cardiac care unit nurses earn around $152,404 per year[1].

Find out more about the cardiac nurse role, including its associated responsibilities, salary expectations, and implications for your career and daily workday.

2. Neonatal Nurse – $127,391

Neonatal nurses are registered nurses who specialize in caring for newborn infants, particularly those who are premature, critically ill, or have other medical conditions that require specialized care. These RNs work in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), where they provide around-the-clock supervision to newborns needing medical attention.

Neonatal nurses currently earn $127,391 per year in the US[2].

Find out more about the neonatal nurse role and discover the salaries of neonatal nurses by state.

3. Legal Nurse Consultant – $126,227

The primary responsibility of a legal nurse consultant is to provide invaluable consultation and expertise to attorneys regarding medical matters, such as the delivery of nursing and other healthcare services or the nature and cause of specific injuries. Legal nurse consultants need a solid educational and experiential foundation, but the fact that their mean wage is around $126,227[3] makes the effort worthwhile.

Learn more about how to become a legal nurse consultant from our career guide.

4. Utilization Review Nurse – $118,759

A utilization review (UR) nurse is responsible for evaluating patient care and ensuring it adheres to medically necessary, appropriate, and cost-effective guidelines. UR nurses act as points of contact between patients, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and other stakeholders, approving or denying services, managing resources, and facilitating smooth patient transitions in accordance with guidelines.

Utilization review nurses earn, on average, $118,759 per year[4].

5. ICU Registered Nurse – $118,725

ICU nurses, or intensive care unit nurses, care for patients who are usually in critical condition and require highly structured, regulated settings. Their patients might be intubated and ventilated, or require potentially life-saving medication drips that must be administered with clockwork regularity. ICU nurses also work more structured shifts and enjoy a more disciplined work life. Their average salary is around $118,725 per year[5].

Discover the earning potential ICU RNs have in every state. 

6. Surgical Nurse – $117,052

Surgical nurses are the health professionals who assist surgeons both during routine and more complex surgical procedures. As a surgical nurse, your responsibilities range from prepping the patient for surgery, monitoring the patient’s vitals, handing instruments to the surgeon during surgery, and ensuring post-surgical care meets the highest standards. In this position, you will earn around $117,052 a year[6].

7. Critical Care Nurse – $105,857

As a critical care nurse, you will treat patients suffering from severe, even life-threatening illnesses. The job can get rather stressful, so critical care nurses must always be alert even after long hours of intensive work. According to the AACN, critical care nurses make up about 37% of RNs working in hospitals. This is among the highest-paying nursing jobs, with CCNs earning around $105,857 per year[7].

8. Clinical Research Nurse – $105,740

A clinical research nurse (CRN), or sometimes just a research nurse, is an RN who manages clinical research and trials, ensuring participant safety, protocol compliance, and accurate data collection for medical research studies.

CRNs act as liaisons between principal investigators, participants, and research regulatory bodies in order to administer experimental treatments, monitor patient outcomes, and document results.

For this central role, they earn, on average, $105,740 per year[8].

Read more about the role of research nurses.

9. Nurse Navigator – $104,822

A nurse navigator is a registered nurse who acts as a specialized guide and advocate for patients, streamlining care provision and guiding them through their healthcare journey. They usually coordinate appointments, educate patients, help with pain and stress management and reduction, and provide emotional support when needed. 

The long list of responsibilities of a nurse navigator is counterbalanced by great earning potential – $104,822 per year[9].

Read more about the nurse navigator role.

10. Travel Nurse – $101,132

Travel nursing is nursing with a twist: you can provide medical assistance nationwide (or abroad). As a travel RN, you can choose the location and the specialty you want to pursue during your assignment. Partly because of the added unpredictability of the job, travel nurses typically earn more than regular RNs, over $101,000 per year[10].

Our complete guide can help you learn more about the travel nurse career. If you are wondering how much travel nurses earn nationwide, read our guide to travel RN salaries. Furthermore, read our guide to the highest-paying travel nursing jobs to maximize your earnings in this role.

11. Organ Transplant Coordinator – $99,592

Organ transplant coordinators (OTCs) are responsible for the critical task of managing the entire organ transplantation process, serving as the central point of contact between the donors, recipient families, and surgical teams. OTCs will handle patient evaluations, education, matching, organ transplant logistics, as well as post-transplantation follow-up care.

Organ transplant coordinators currently earn $99,592 per year across the US[11].

12. Nurse Case Manager – $98,869

Case management nurses are responsible for long-term care plans for their patients, so they generally work with patients who require ongoing medical attention, such as geriatric, HIV, or cancer patients. Nurse case managers earn nearly $99,000 per year[12]. 

Learn more about the nurse care manager career, including the process of becoming one and what to expect from the role. You can also explore nurse manager salaries nationwide.

13. Informatics Nurse – $98,409

If technology interests you, but you don’t want to sacrifice your love for nursing, you should pick a career that combines both of your passions. As a nurse informaticist, you are the bridge between hospital and IT staff, with responsibilities that include analyzing data to improve patient care and evaluating and supporting healthcare technology, both software and hardware. All in all, the use of technology is critical for any health institution, so informatics nurses are generously remunerated – they can expect to make over $98,000 annually[13]. 

Find out everything you need to know about a career in nursing informatics – from how you can become an NI to how much you can expect to earn.

14. Operating Room Nurse (Perioperative Nurse) – $94,573

OR nurses work with patients right before they undergo surgery. They can also manage communication with the patients’ families. As part of the surgery team, perioperative nurses assist the surgeon and ensure the procedure is performed in a secure, sterile, ready-to-go environment. Nurses who enjoy direct patient care can pursue this specialization and earn more than $94,500 annually[14]. 

Learn more about the perioperative nurse role and why you may want to choose it.

15. Pediatric Nurse – $92,753

The job description of a pediatric nurse ranges from working with toddlers to treating teenagers. As a pediatric nurse, you must educate the parents on how to provide the best care for their children and ensure they grow healthy and unharmed. Pediatrics is a very gratifying career for nurses, especially if you love children. The median salary for pediatric nurses is over $92,700 per year[15].

Learn more about the pediatric nurse role, including how to become one and what the role entails. Additionally, explore pediatric nurse salaries by state to see how your earnings vary by location.

16. Oncology Nurse – $91,094

Caring for people diagnosed with cancer is a sensitive area of practice. Oncology nurses help patients deal with the cruelty of the disease, their main goal being to help cancer patients become cancer survivors. The annual salary of a BSN-trained oncology nurse is over $91,000[16].

Learn more about the oncology nurse role, including related responsibilities, estimated salaries across the US, and more.

17. Pharmaceutical Nurse – $88,916

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing opens many doors for jobs in the pharmaceutical industry. You could pursue a career as a sales representative or become a technical writer, writing articles for publications focused on the pharma industry. You can even pursue a career as a trainer/educator, offering guidance for the pharmaceutical sector on how to use new drugs, therapies, or machines. The pharmaceutical industry is a lucrative field, making for one of the highest-paid specializations for nurses – on average, RNs who work in this industry make around $89,000 a year[17].

18. Hospice Nurse – $87,186

As a hospice nurse, you will care for patients at the end of their lives. This specialization isn’t focused as much on curing a patient but rather on helping ensure their quality of life during their remaining days. In addition to helping the patient live with the least amount of pain possible, hospice nurses provide the emotional support that is tremendously needed both by the patient and their family. Typically, they work at the patient’s home or in a hospice center and, on average, earn over $87,000 a year [18].

Learn more about the hospice nurse career from our complete overview.

19. Emergency Room Nurse – $86,737

ER nurses are responsible for treating patients who come to a hospital's emergency department. One of the main characteristics of this job is its unpredictability: rushing through the doors of the ER will be people with various symptoms, from having had a heart attack to being shot or having been in a terrible accident. Emergency room nurses have mean wages in the ballpark of $87,000[19].

Find out what your earning potential is working as an ER nurse in all 50 states. 

20. Dialysis Nurse – $86,452

Dialysis nurses’ primary focus is treating patients with kidney failure and helping them return their kidneys to a functioning state. Although dialysis nurses’ salaries vary based on several factors, such as institution size or experience level, they typically earn over $86,000 per year[20]. 

21. Occupational Health Nurse – $86,380

Occupational health nurses (OHNs) are RNs who specialize in preventing, assessing, and treating work-related injuries, illnesses, and conditions, as well as promoting employee wellness in a variety of industries and economic sectors. The responsibilities of an OHN range from identifying workplace hazards and ensuring regulatory compliance to conducting screenings and providing care to enhance employee health and productivity.

The current estimate for occupational health nurses is over $86,000 per year[21].

Read more about occupational health nurse roles.

Data on average salaries for each nursing specialization were gathered from the job aggregator Indeed. Average salary values may change over time. 

Do you already work as an RN and want to advance your career? Enroll in our online RN-to-BSN program and reap the rewards of a higher paycheck in as few as 12 months!

Why Should You Pursue a BSN?

Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing goes beyond higher pay. As numerous studies show, BSN-trained nurses are linked to better patient outcomes, fewer medical errors, and lower mortality rates. 

Earning your BSN might also become an industry standard. According to the Nursing Workforce Fact Sheet published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 71.7% of the registered nurse workforce hold a BSN or higher as their highest level of nursing education. Additionally, 51.5% of entry-level nurses began their careers with a BSN or higher.  

Therefore, earning a BSN degree is an important stepping stone to a more fulfilling career that offers higher pay, better benefits, more flexibility, and more opportunities. But advancing your education is a serious commitment that requires time, money, and energy, so, in the end, it’s up to you to decide if this is the right next step for you and your career.

Find out more about how long it takes to get your BSN degree based on your current education level and how getting your BSN degree will help you advance your nursing career. 

Enroll in a BSN program today and increase your chances of securing a high-paying nursing job.