Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are consistently reported as the nursing role that makes the most money in 2025, with average salaries a little above $220,000 per year in the U.S.

Fast answer: top-earning nurse roles

  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) – Around $214,000–$223,000 per year; these advanced practice nurses provide anesthesia care before, during, and after surgery and are widely cited as the highest paid nurses.
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Often in the $150,000+ range thanks to high demand for mental health services.
  • Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner – Typically in the high $130,000s.
  • Nurse Midwife / Nurse Practitioner / Clinical Nurse Specialist – Commonly in the $125,000–$135,000 range depending on specialty and region.
  • High-acuity RN roles (like CVOR, ICU, NICU, pain management, informatics) can reach or exceed $120,000–$150,000, especially with overtime or travel assignments.

In short, CRNA is the top earner among nurses right now, and advanced practice specialties (especially anesthesia, psych, ortho, acute care) dominate the upper end of nursing pay scales.

Why CRNAs earn the most

  • They take on anesthesia responsibilities that overlap with those of physician anesthesiologists in many settings, including managing airways, vital signs, and pain control during surgery.
  • The role requires a graduate degree (typically a DNP or DNAP) and several years of prior RN/ICU experience, which narrows the supply of qualified providers and pushes salaries up.
  • CRNAs are especially well paid in rural hospitals and independent practice settings where they may be the primary anesthesia providers.

Other high-paying nursing paths

  • Advanced practice nurse practitioners
    • Psych-Mental Health NP, Geriatric NP, Cardiology NP, Pediatric NP, and Family NP are repeatedly listed among the best-paid NP roles, generally in the low-to-mid $130,000s and above.
  • Leadership and admin
    • Nurse managers and administrators can earn around $130,000+ depending on organization size and region.
  • Specialized RNs (no NP degree)
    • Cardiovascular OR (CVOR) nurses, pain management nurses, critical care (ICU/NICU) nurses, and informatics nurses can see averages around $120,000–$150,000, especially in high-cost-of-living areas or with travel/PRN work.

What actually boosts nurse pay

  • Higher education and licensure : Moving from RN to APRN (e.g., NP, CRNA, CNS, CNM) is one of the most reliable ways to jump salary brackets.
  • High-acuity or specialized settings: OR, ICU, CVOR, anesthesia, and pain management roles pay more because they involve higher risk, advanced skills, and intense workloads.
  • Location and contract type: Travel contracts, strike work, and jobs in high-cost urban areas often pay significantly more than local staff positions.
  • Experience and negotiation: Experienced nurses who negotiate base pay, differentials, and bonuses typically earn more than peers who accept the first offer.

Mini FAQ style wrap-up

  • What type of nurse makes the most money overall?
    CRNA, by a wide margin among nursing roles.
  • Can an RN (without NP/CRNA) make six figures?
    Yes—specialties like CVOR, ICU/NICU, informatics, and travel nursing often reach or exceed $100,000, especially with overtime or differentials.
  • Is becoming a CRNA the only way to earn a lot?
    No, but it is the top of the pay scale; advanced practice NPs, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and certain high-acuity RNs can also earn very high salaries.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.