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Job outlook for clinical nurse specialists in the United States
Clinical nurse specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected clinical nurse specialist job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 195,400 new jobs for clinical nurse specialists are projected over the next decade.
Clinical nurse specialist salaries have increased 10% for clinical nurse specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 7,861 clinical nurse specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 268,303 active clinical nurse specialist job openings in the US.
The average clinical nurse specialist salary is $77,086.
Are clinical nurse specialist jobs in demand?
Clinical Nurse Specialist job and salary trends over time
Clinical Nurse Specialist jobs over time
Clinical Nurse Specialist job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,861 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 7,704 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 7,693 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 7,615 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 7,498 | 0.00% |
Average clinical nurse specialist salary over time
Clinical Nurse Specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $77,086 | $37.06 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $75,009 | $36.06 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $73,402 | $35.29 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $71,632 | $34.44 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $70,046 | $33.68 | +1.4% |
Clinical Nurse Specialist jobs by state
Most common states for clinical nurse specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 308 | 44% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 270 | 20% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 182 | 19% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 240 | 18% |
| 5 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,632 | 16% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 121 | 16% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 154 | 15% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 130 | 15% |
| 9 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 2,955 | 14% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 804 | 13% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 541 | 13% |
| 12 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 469 | 13% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 134 | 13% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,055 | 12% |
| 15 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 903 | 12% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 665 | 12% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 338 | 12% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 77 | 12% |
| 19 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,540 | 11% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,369 | 11% |
Most common cities for clinical nurse specialists
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milton | 5 | 19% | $99,552 |
| 2 | Palo Alto | 10 | 15% | $120,893 |
| 3 | Albany | 7 | 7% | $80,402 |
| 4 | Silver Spring | 5 | 7% | $72,591 |
| 5 | La Mesa | 4 | 7% | $105,600 |
| 6 | Santa Clara | 8 | 6% | $120,702 |
| 7 | Arlington Heights | 4 | 5% | $71,314 |
| 8 | Boston | 23 | 3% | $99,233 |
| 9 | Rochester | 7 | 3% | $80,232 |
| 10 | Oakland | 9 | 2% | $121,174 |
| 11 | Sioux Falls | 4 | 2% | $58,324 |
| 12 | San Francisco | 9 | 1% | $121,347 |
| 13 | Philadelphia | 8 | 1% | $87,279 |
| 14 | Baltimore | 7 | 1% | $72,859 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $69,765 |
| 16 | Atlanta | 3 | 1% | $71,103 |
| 17 | Houston | 10 | 0% | $72,305 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 10 | 0% | $111,043 |
| 19 | Phoenix | 5 | 0% | $86,336 |
| 20 | San Diego | 5 | 0% | $105,814 |
Clinical Nurse Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of clinical nurse specialist experts
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
Morgan State University
Loyola University New Orleans
Rutgers University - Camden
California State University
Missouri Western State University
Cedar Crest College
University of Minnesota
Missouri Baptist University
Dawn Riess Ph.D., RN, ACUE
Assistant ProfessorTexas A&M University - Central Texas
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
Dawn Riess Ph.D., RN, ACUE: Nursing is difficult both physically and emotionally, but it is rewarding. Entry nurses may feel overwhelmed when they first enter the nursing field. I recommend you seek out a mentor and follow up with that person often. Texas Nursing Association (TNA) offers a mentoring program, I recommend you join that organization to help support you as you enter the nursing field. You will have good and bad days when you first begin your career. Having support in the unit you work in is important and usually, the organization has an internship program. You will have a direct impact on people's lives at the worst time in their lives. If someone is stressed, they may take that out on you but do not take it personally.
There are so many different avenues for entry-level nurses. If you don't want to work in the hospital setting, you can go into community health, clinics, outpatient rehab, home health, school nursing, informatics, and more. The flexibility offered in nursing is phenomenal. Your patients may not remember your name, but they will remember how you made them feel. Your impact on patient's lives is limitless. Nurses are present from birth to death and everything in between.
Samantha Hickson
Professor of Practice, Morgan State University Department of NursingMorgan State University
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What Clinical Nurse Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Samantha Hickson: Be open to the endless possibilities and always remain look for opportunities to learn.
Learning does not end with nursing school. In fact, nursing school is only the beginning
of a career of lifelong learning. Therefore, as a new graduate nurse it is easy to quickly
feel like you do not know enough. Be willing to ask for help, learn, research, take your
time, and lean on others for support. The world of nursing has no boundaries and there
will always be something new to learn and add to your repertoire.
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN
Nurse Educator, Nclex Mentor/CoachWhat general advice would you give to a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN: A few ways to maximize earning potential as a new graduate nurse is through skillful negotiations and previous experience in healthcare, such as degree level, nurse externships, phlebotomy skills, or certifications. Many, if not all, employers appreciate that new graduates are equipped with clinical skills that are strongly recommended for the practice area. While many nurse certifications require experience, some are for entry-level, such as advanced life support (ACLS and PALS) and IV insertion. There are also some specialty practice certifications that new grads can obtain without years of experience; although they may recommend the experience at times, this is optional. All of this demonstrates the applicant's commitment to the profession and interest. Other ways are to work overtime hours, learn about clinical career ladders, or continue formal education.
Cherie Burke Ph.D.
Director of the School of Nursing, Associate ProfessorLoyola University New Orleans
College of Nursing and Health
What skills will help Clinical Nurse Specialists earn the most?
Cherie Burke Ph.D.: -Advanced education (i.e., Clinical nurse specialist, Clinical nurse educator)
-Experience with data management
-Proven leadership
What skills will help Clinical Nurse Specialists earn the most?
Dr. Catherine Stubin Ph.D.: In most facilities, the nursing salaries are fixed and non-negotiable. However, a commitment to life-long learning evidenced by earning an advanced degree for future opportunities, obtaining additional certifications to increase knowledge and skills, and participating in the institution's career ladder program are several options that will increase compensation. In addition, a positive attitude, pleasant personality, excellent communication skills, strong work ethic, and good organizational and leadership skills may help lead to promotions and/or managerial and nursing leadership positions.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Clinical Nurse Specialists?
Dr. Catherine Stubin Ph.D.: Nursing is a complex profession that requires continuous interaction with a variety of individuals in a high-stress environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased nurses' psychological distress, which could leave the U.S. with an unstable nurse workforce in years to come.
Priority consideration must be given to the psychosocial needs of nurses, as preparing nurses to persevere through adversities is essential for maintaining their physical, mental, and emotional health throughout their careers. We need skilled, caring, competent nurses who can cope with the physical and psychological demands of the nursing profession. Resilience is a core value and fundamental theme that must be addressed in the nursing workforce. Research demonstrates that there is a correlation between a healthcare professional's resilience and well-being in the workplace. Access to or engagement with social resources can activate self-care and resilient attributes, and resilience training can positively impact nurse stress, mindfulness, and resilience. Resilient nurses can better manage their response to stress and adversity, which will contribute to patient safety and promote positive patient outcomes.
Cinthya Sotelo
Director of NP Programs, FNP Option CoordinatorCalifornia State University
Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing
What skills stand out on Clinical Nurse Specialist resumes?
Cinthya Sotelo: Prior experience with patients, such as nursing assistant, EMT, etc. It is important for new graduate nurses to place the number of clinical hours on their resume to show what experiences they had during nursing school. Being bilingual will also stand out on a resume.
Dr. Jacklyn Gentry
Chair, Assistant ProfessorMissouri Western State University
Department of Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
Dr. Jacklyn Gentry: New graduate nurses are highly encouraged to take the NCLEX-RN exam as close to graduation as possible and to seek employment in an organization that offers a nurse residency program. Nurse residency programs provide the newly-licensed nurse with additional support as they transition into their first year of practice as a professional nurse. The programs are designed to support the new nurse to decrease turnover, reduce stress, improve decision-making skills, develop leadership skills, and incorporate research-based evidence into nursing practice.
Wendy Robb Ph.D.
Dean & Professor, School of Nursing, Hazel and Walter May Nursing Endowed Chair for Excellence in NursingCedar Crest College
School of Nursing
What experience really stands out on Clinical Nurse Specialist resumes?
Wendy Robb Ph.D.: The quality that I would be looking for on a resume is balance. Nurses need to protect themselves and their long-term mental health. This happens through self-care. Investment in self is one way to demonstrate self-care. Whether this is through hobbies, extra-curricular interests, volunteering and service, activities outside of nursing are an important indicator of self-care.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Nurse Specialists?
Wendy Robb Ph.D.: A resounding, YES, there will be an enduring impact on the coronavirus pandemic on new nursing graduates! Many graduates likely missed out on components of their nursing education, whether it was experiences in the simulation labs, unit restrictions in the hospitals, or specific experiences that were eliminated as a result of the pandemic. Their nursing education was changed forever and they will not make up that lost time. They will grow and develop from it in different ways building collateral knowledge from experiences that are not often taught in nursing school. But they most certainly will be inexplicably changed by their pandemic entrance into the profession of nursing!
New graduates may have been denied the traditional period of transition from expert student nurse to novice registered nurse. This phase of adaptation is complex and difficult during the best of times. New nurses who are entering the profession during a pandemic are faced with stressful conditions, feelings of unpreparedness, absent or minimalized preceptorship, and general chaos. As new nurses enter the profession they are typically consumed with becoming acclimated to the responsibilities of the role. With the pandemic, these new nurses are experiencing the constant flux of treatment protocols, fear of contamination, long hours and physical fatigue, all while managing high patient morbidity and mortality as surrogate family member and professional nurse.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Nurse Specialists?
Karen Monsen Ph.D. RN, FAMIA, FNAP, FAAN: The pandemic has launched all of society into a virtual world, where everyone must rely on information systems in new and important ways. This has already caused exponential growth in information systems and other tech innovations and applications in new fields, especially healthcare, education, and social spaces. These innovations have gone beyond proof-of-concept and have broken old patterns and conceptions of reality. They will endure and will provide a platform for further innovations in the future.
Ashley Bell MSN, RN, OCN, CNE
Assistant ProfessorMissouri Baptist University
School of Nursing
What experience really stands out on Clinical Nurse Specialist resumes?
Ashley Bell MSN, RN, OCN, CNE: Experiences that stand out on resumes include internships and externships, where students are able to operate in a capacity similar to the registered nurse role under the direction of an RN. Also, working as unlicensed assistive personnel, like patient care technicians, is a valuable experience. Involvement in professional nursing organizations is also another area that would make a new graduate stand out.