As we mentioned earlier, there are four types of APRNs. Let’s explore each one a bit more.
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners are one of the most popular and highly desired APRN degrees. Nurse practitioner duties include prescribing medications, examining patients, ordering diagnostic tests, diagnosing illnesses, and providing treatment.
Salary: According to the BLS, as of May 2023, nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $126,260, more than double the average annual salary for all other occupations.
Certified Nurse Midwife
A CNM provides healthcare to women throughout the entire course of their lives. They assist in delivering babies, manage emergency situations during labor, repair lacerations, and may provide surgical assistance to physicians during cesarean births. Also includes family planning, gynecological checkups, basic nutrition counseling, patient education, and basic prenatal care.
Salary: The mean average certified nurse-midwife salary is $129,650, according to the BLS.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialists are slightly different than other APRNs. The degree focuses on research, teaching, and advancing the nursing practice. A CNS will assist with evidence-based practice projects, teach patients and their families, conduct research as a primary investigator, teach in the community, and help provide transitional care.
Salary: The median salary for Clinical Nurse Specialists is $87,359, as of September 2023, according to ZipRecruiter. Clinical Nurse Specialist salaries currently range between $62,500 to $101,500, with some making upwards of $126,000 annually across the United States.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who administer anesthesia and other medications. They also monitor patients who are receiving and later recovering from anesthesia. CRNAs are also responsible for ensuring the patient is pain-free after a procedure, so a significant part of their job is following up with patients after surgery and prescribing pain medication.
Salary: According to the most recent BLS report, the median average nurse anesthetist salary is $212,650.