Content has loaded

Clinical nurse specialist salary in United States, 2026

How much does a Clinical Nurse Specialist make in the United States?

Average base salary

$119,945
Average $119,945
Low $67,499
High $213,143

The average salary for a clinical nurse specialist is $119,945 per year in the United States. 285 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated October 4, 2026).

Clinical Nurse Specialist job openings in United States

slide 1 of 6
slide1 of 6
CNS Manager 1
Midland Independent School District3.5out of 5 stars.
Midland, TX
Full-time
7 months ago

Highest paying companies for Clinical Nurse Specialist in United States

Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.
MERCOR
 
$499,200per year
View company
Wake County Schools
 
$394,006per year
View company
UCSF Health
 
$267,700per year
View company
City and County of San Francis...
 
$240,231per year
View company
County of Santa Clara
 
$221,691per year
View company
County of Monterey, CA
 
$210,079per year
View company

Looking to Hire?

Post a Job
Post a JobFind the right candidate on Indeed

Highest paying cities for Clinical Nurse Specialists near United States

  1. San Francisco, CA
    $236,728 per year
  2. San Jose, CA
    $200,495 per year
  3. Santa Clara, CA
    $193,384 per year
  4. Anchorage, AK
    $189,825 per year
  5. Los Angeles, CA
    $169,244 per year

Where can a Clinical Nurse Specialist earn more?

Compare salaries for Clinical Nurse Specialists in different locations
vs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Clinical Nurse Specialist

The average salary for a Clinical Nurse Specialist is $119,945 per year in the United States. This figure is based on 285 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on October 4, 2026.

Clinical Nurse Specialist jobs on Indeed - find your next one today.

Clinical Nurse Specialist salaries typically range between a low of $67,499 and a high of $213,143 per year, depending on experience, location, and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Clinical Nurse Specialist include San Francisco, CA at $236,728 per year, San Jose, CA at $200,495 per year, and Santa Clara, CA at $193,384 per year.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Clinical Nurse Specialist include MERCOR ($499,200 per year) and Wake County Schools ($394,006 per year).