RN to MSN salaries

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual average wage in 2009 for registered nurses was $63,750 or $30.65 hourly. While registered nurses have seen steady pay increases, a faster way for them to advance their salaries and careers is by earning a master's of science in nursing (MSN), and some can do so easily at their convenience by taking the required courses online. The RN to MSN salary can be quite a bump up. According to a national survey of nurse practitioners, the median annual salary of a nurse practitioner in 2009 was around $85,000. That means the RN to MSN salary increase could be more than 30 percent.

RN to MSN salary: increases depend on position

The RN to MSN salary increase could be even higher depending on what job graduates land after earning their MSN. Nurses who have a master's degree in science may qualify for a number of well-paying positions. A few examples: nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nursing educator, clinical nurse specialist or nursing administrator.

According to the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, among the higher salaries for nurses with master's degrees were:

• Nurse anesthetist: $154,221
• Management/administration: senior management: $96,735
• Management/administration: $78,356
• Consultant: $76,473
• Informatics nurse: $75,242
• Clinical nurse specialist: $72,856

RN to MSN salary: teaching an option

Another possibility for nurses with master's degrees is education. The average salary for nurses engaged in instruction as their primary job in 2008 was $65,844, according to the sample survey data. According to the BLS, nurses who taught in general medical and surgical hospitals earned the highest salaries for nursing educators in 2009: $76,140.