Over 2.5 million nurses are practicing nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), making nursing the largest workforce within the healthcare industry. There are so many different types and levels of nurses; it can be overwhelming to decide which nursing field to choose.
If compensation and job security are at the top of your list of deciding factors, this list may help you narrow the field of options for you. Below are the top three nursing fields, based on annual salary, and industry demand. Because they are the highest paid, these nursing roles also require the most education and training as compared to some other types of nurses. This list also includes clinically practicing nurses, and does not include roles, which primarily consist of management or supervisory responsibilities.
All of the below are advanced practice nurses, meaning they are highly specialized and educated at a graduate level.