Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS) Salary
Median annual base pay is $92,000 across 26 reported Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS) salaries.
Updated 17 March 2026
Salary Distribution (By Percentile)
| P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $72,000 | $78,000 | $92,000 | $105,000 | $115,000 |
Salary by Experience
| Experience | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | $75,000 | 8 |
| 3-5 yrs | $90,000 | 8 |
| 6-10 yrs | $105,000 | 7 |
Salary by Level
| Level | Common titles | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior / Early Career | Clinical Nurse Specialist · CNS · Psychiatric CNS | $85,000 | 19 |
| Senior | Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist · Clinical Instructor · Senior Psychiatric CNS | — | 3 |
Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS) salaries by state
Common questions
How much does a Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS) make?
The median Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS) salary is $92,000 per year, based on 26 reported salaries.
How much do Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS)s with 6-10 yrs of experience make?
$105,000 per year at the median — $13,000 above the Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS) median.
How much does a Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS) at the Junior / Early Career level make?
$85,000 per year at the median — $7,000 below the Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS) median.