Clinical Nurse Specialists
SOC code 29-1141 · O*NET-SOC 29-1141.04 · Extensive preparation needed · Healthcare
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth and numerous job openings for this occupation
Clinical nurse specialists are advanced practice nurses who combine expert bedside practice with teaching, consulting and quality improvement across a unit or health system. The role requires a graduate degree and advanced certification, and it sits at the top of the nursing pay structure.
Clinical Nurse Specialists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$97,550
a year
Hourly
$46.90
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$101,420
$48.76 per hour
Middle 50%
$80,330 – $112,350
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$68,940 – $137,470
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
3,379,720
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Registered Nurses”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $68,940
- $33.14/hr
- 25th percentile
- $80,330
- $38.62/hr
- Median percentile
- $97,550
- $46.90/hr
- 75th percentile
- $112,350
- $54.02/hr
- 90th percentile
- $137,470
- $66.09/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+5%
Growing faster than average
3,391,000
jobs in 2024
3,557,100
projected for 2034
About 166,100 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a clinical nurse specialist do?
Direct nursing staff in the provision of patient care in a clinical practice setting, such as a hospital, hospice, clinic, or home. Ensure adherence to established clinical policies, protocols, regulations, and standards.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Provide specialized direct and indirect care to inpatients and outpatients within a designated specialty, such as obstetrics, neurology, oncology, or neonatal care.
- Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
- Develop, implement, or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty area, such as pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics.
- Maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or infection control standards.
- Instruct nursing staff in areas such as the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of disability, illness, management, technology, or resources.
- Develop and maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or patient care standards, based on evidence-based practice guidelines or expert opinion.
- Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice or organizational systems.
How to become a clinical nurse specialist
Most people in this role hold master's degree — 86% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Master's Degree86%
- Post-Master's Certificate5%
- First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.5%
- Doctoral Degree5%
Common questions
How much does a clinical nurse specialist earn?
The national median is $97,550 a year. The full range runs from $68,940 at the 10th percentile to $137,470 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a clinical nurse specialist without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is clinical nurse specialist in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 5% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Speaking4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Learning4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Writing3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry4.8/5
- Education and Training4.4/5
- Psychology4.3/5
- English Language4.3/5
- Biology4.0/5
- Therapy and Counseling4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.7/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making.