Clinical Nurse Specialists
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.
Clinical Nurse Specialists 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 role reports a median annual salary of $93,600 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $61,250 and $132,680 and is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.30 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Speaking, Critical Thinking.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Psychology
- Biology
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Chemistry
Frequently asked questions
What does Clinical Nurse Specialists 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.
How much does Clinical Nurse Specialists earn?
The median annual salary for Clinical Nurse Specialists in the US is $93,600. The middle 80% of workers earn between $61,250 and $132,680 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $70,310 and $106,530.
What is the job outlook for Clinical Nurse Specialists?
The role is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 3,391,000 workers.
How do I become clinical nurse specialists?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Clinical Nurse Specialists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Coordination. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Clinical Nurse Specialists?
Our AI-durability model gives Clinical Nurse Specialists a score of 0.30 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Clinical Nurse Specialists has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.
Is Clinical Nurse Specialists right for you?
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