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Chief nursing officer salary
Average chief nursing officer salary
$104,466
Understanding Chief Nursing Officer Salaries
The average salary for a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is approximately $104,466 annually. This figure varies significantly based on location, years of experience, and the type of healthcare facility. For example, CNOs in California and New York often earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals in these states.
Factors Influencing Salary
- Experience: CNOs with extensive experience and advanced degrees typically command higher salaries.
- Location: Salaries can vary widely; urban areas often offer more competitive pay.
- Healthcare Setting: Positions in prestigious hospitals or specialized facilities may provide better compensation packages.
As the healthcare landscape evolves, opportunities for CNOs continue to grow, making this a promising career path for those interested in leadership roles within nursing.
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Where can a Chief Nursing Officer earn more?
Chief nursing officer salary estimates from across the web
Average chief nursing officer salary by state
The highest-paying states for chief nursing officers are Oregon, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The lowest average chief nursing officer salary states are Kansas, Arkansas, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chief nursing officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $118,554 | $57.00 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $118,080 | $56.77 |
| 3 | Nevada | $116,474 | $56.00 |
| 4 | New York | $117,609 | $56.54 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $117,635 | $56.56 |
| 6 | Idaho | $103,823 | $49.91 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $116,985 | $56.24 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $108,587 | $52.21 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $111,800 | $53.75 |
| 10 | California | $114,780 | $55.18 |
| 11 | Delaware | $117,003 | $56.25 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $100,552 | $48.34 |
| 13 | Texas | $103,992 | $50.00 |
| 14 | Maine | $106,173 | $51.04 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $99,501 | $47.84 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $96,584 | $46.43 |
| 17 | Washington | $113,585 | $54.61 |
| 18 | Iowa | $97,439 | $46.85 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $102,989 | $49.51 |
| 20 | Missouri | $100,107 | $48.13 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $95,957 | $46.13 |
| 22 | Arizona | $98,026 | $47.13 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $101,092 | $48.60 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $94,220 | $45.30 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $115,891 | $55.72 |
| 26 | Indiana | $98,250 | $47.24 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $95,564 | $45.94 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $97,711 | $46.98 |
| 29 | Colorado | $93,181 | $44.80 |
| 30 | Michigan | $88,902 | $42.74 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $95,947 | $46.13 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $96,798 | $46.54 |
| 33 | Maryland | $91,156 | $43.83 |
| 34 | Alaska | $99,047 | $47.62 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $91,232 | $43.86 |
| 36 | Illinois | $92,115 | $44.29 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $90,425 | $43.47 |
| 38 | Alabama | $88,468 | $42.53 |
| 39 | Ohio | $91,305 | $43.90 |
| 40 | Kansas | $86,204 | $41.44 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $87,560 | $42.10 |
| 42 | Vermont | $92,941 | $44.68 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $86,119 | $41.40 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $87,603 | $42.12 |
| 45 | Georgia | $75,086 | $36.10 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $86,617 | $41.64 |
| 47 | Virginia | $87,604 | $42.12 |
| 48 | Utah | $88,145 | $42.38 |
| 49 | Montana | $83,315 | $40.06 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $68,578 | $32.97 |
| 51 | Florida | $74,091 | $35.62 |
Highest paying cities for chief nursing officers
The highest-paying cities for chief nursing officers are San Jose, CA, Lakewood, NJ, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $123,480 | $59.37 |
| 2 | Lakewood, NJ | $118,009 | $56.74 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $117,990 | $56.73 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $117,077 | $56.29 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $117,040 | $56.27 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $115,925 | $55.73 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $115,905 | $55.72 |
| 8 | Charleston, WV | $111,005 | $53.37 |
| 9 | El Paso, TX | $107,185 | $51.53 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $103,142 | $49.59 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $102,490 | $49.27 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $101,468 | $48.78 |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $98,646 | $47.43 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $98,431 | $47.32 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $98,335 | $47.28 |
| 16 | Des Moines, IA | $96,290 | $46.29 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $96,111 | $46.21 |
| 18 | Colorado Springs, CO | $94,046 | $45.21 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $92,475 | $44.46 |
| 20 | Brentwood, TN | $91,267 | $43.88 |
Chief nursing officer salary details
A chief nursing officer's salary ranges from $71,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $151,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chief nursing officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $151,000 | $12,583 | $73 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,000 | $10,583 | $61 |
| Average | $104,466 | $8,706 | $50 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
Highest paying chief nursing officer jobs
The highest paying types of chief nursing officers are president/chief executive officer, medical director, and executive vice president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interim Director | $104,142 | $8,678 | $50.07 | 49,433 |
| Managed Care Director | $84,817 | $7,068 | $40.78 | 93,987 |
| Practice Administrator | $78,493 | $6,541 | $37.74 | 75,986 |
| Practice Manager | $107,374 | $8,948 | $51.62 | 38,196 |
| Medical Director | $230,317 | $19,193 | $110.73 | 75,810 |
| Service Director | $114,981 | $9,582 | $55.28 | 64,277 |
Top companies hiring chief nursing officers now:
Which companies pay chief nursing officers the most?
Chief nursing officer salaries at McKinsey & Company Inc and Stanford Health Care are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief nursing officer salary at companies like Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners and Kaleida Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $173,220 | $83.28 |
| 2 | Stanford Health Care | $136,902 | $65.82 |
| 3 | Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners | $134,961 | $64.89 |
| 4 | Kaleida Health | $130,961 | $62.96 |
| 5 | West Virginia University | $118,357 | $56.90 |
| 6 | Tenet Healthcare | $117,392 | $56.44 |
| 7 | Lurie | $116,310 | $55.92 |
| 8 | Box Butte General Hospital | $115,110 | $55.34 |
| 9 | University of Maryland Medical System | $114,813 | $55.20 |
| 10 | Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare | $113,678 | $54.65 |
| 11 | County Of Los Angeles Public Library | $113,581 | $54.61 |
| 12 | PAM Health | $111,963 | $53.83 |
| 13 | Novant Health | $111,685 | $53.69 |
| 14 | Cognizant | $111,011 | $53.37 |
| 15 | Valley Presbyterian Hospital | $110,889 | $53.31 |
| 16 | Randolph Health | $110,528 | $53.14 |
| 17 | CHRISTUS Health | $110,373 | $53.06 |
| 18 | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | $108,875 | $52.34 |
| 19 | University Hospitals | $108,591 | $52.21 |
| 20 | Surgery Partners | $107,660 | $51.76 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chief nursing officer salary trends
The average chief nursing officer salary has risen by $17,912 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief nursing officer earned $86,554 annually, but today, they earn $104,466 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for chief nursing officers over the last decade.
Compare chief nursing officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chief nursing officer salary over time
Compare chief nursing officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chief nursing officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $104,000 | $50.22 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $101,000 | $48.63 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $99,900 | $48.03 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $98,500 | $47.37 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $96,700 | $46.50 | +2.1% |
Recently added chief nursing officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox Public Health | Chief Nursing Officer | Mount Vernon, OH | 06/28/2025 | $100,000 |
| Pride Health | Chief Nursing Officer | Seymour, TX | 06/28/2025 | $125,607 |
| Arizona Department of Administration | Assistant Chief Nursing Officer | Phoenix, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $114,296 |
| Prime Healthcare Services | Chief Nursing Officer | Ontario, CA | 06/27/2025 | $140,000 |
| Select Medical Corporation | Chief Nursing Officer-Inpatient Rehab | Chester, NJ | 06/26/2025 | $135,000 |
| Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation-Welkind (Chester | Chief Nursing Officer-Inpatient Rehab | Chester, NJ | 06/26/2025 | $135,000 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Nurse (Nursing Officer of The DAY) | Roseburg, OR | 06/26/2025 | $82,651 |
| Ignite Medical Resorts | Assistant Chief Nursing Officer | Katy, TX | 06/26/2025 | $80,000 |
| Rush Specialty Hospital Inpatient Rehabilitation | Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) | Chicago, IL | 06/24/2025 | $150,000 |
| Mission Regional Medical Center | Chief Nursing Officer | Ontario, CA | 06/23/2025 | $140,000 |
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