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Clinical nurse specialist salary in United States (Updated 2026)

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

Average base salary

$118,458
Average $118,458
Low $65,910
High $212,902

The average salary for a clinical nurse specialist is $118,458 per year in the United States. 290 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated October 19, 2026).

Clinical Nurse Specialist job openings in United States

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CNS Receiving Specialist
Wake County Public School System3.7out of 5 stars.
Raleigh, NC
Full-time
2 weeks 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
Leidos
 
$291,900per 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

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Highest paying cities for Clinical Nurse Specialists near United States

  1. San Francisco, CA
    $235,378 per year
  2. San Jose, CA
    $200,530 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
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Clinical Nurse Specialist

The average salary for a Clinical Nurse Specialist is $118,458 per year in the United States. This figure is based on 290 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on October 19, 2026.

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

Clinical Nurse Specialist salaries typically range between a low of $65,910 and a high of $212,902 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 $235,378 per year, San Jose, CA at $200,530 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).