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Clinical nurse specialist salary in United States

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

Average base salary

$119,980
Average $119,980
Low $67,027
High $214,768

The average salary for a clinical nurse specialist is $119,980 per year in the United States. 273 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated September 20, 2026).

Clinical Nurse Specialist job openings in United States

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(CNS/CNE) Cardiovascular - Nur...
UC San Diego Health4.1out of 5 stars.
San Diego, CA
$65.42 - $128.16 an hour
1 day 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

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Highest paying cities for Clinical Nurse Specialists near United States

  1. San Francisco, CA
    $236,728 per year
  2. San Jose, CA
    $212,382 per year
  3. Santa Clara, CA
    $193,384 per year
  4. Anchorage, AK
    $189,825 per year
  5. Los Angeles, CA
    $169,844 per year

Where can a Clinical Nurse Specialist earn more?

Compare salaries for Clinical Nurse Specialists in different locations
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Clinical Nurse Specialist

The average salary for a Clinical Nurse Specialist is $119,980 per year in the United States. This figure is based on 273 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on September 20, 2026.

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

Clinical Nurse Specialist salaries typically range between a low of $67,027 and a high of $214,768 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 $212,382 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).