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Job outlook for chief nursing officers in the United States
Chief nursing officer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected chief nursing officer job growth rate is 28% from 2018-2028.
About 136,200 new jobs for chief nursing officers are projected over the next decade.
Chief nursing officer salaries have increased 8% for chief nursing officers in the last 5 years.
There are over 41,447 chief nursing officers currently employed in the United States.
There are 107,336 active chief nursing officer job openings in the US.
The average chief nursing officer salary is $104,466.
Are chief nursing officer jobs in demand?
Chief nursing officer job and salary trends over time
Chief nursing officer jobs over time
Chief nursing officer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41,447 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 38,199 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 37,474 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 35,364 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 32,926 | 0.01% |
Average chief nursing officer salary over time
Chief nursing officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $104,466 | $50.22 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $101,160 | $48.63 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $99,908 | $48.03 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $98,525 | $47.37 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $96,712 | $46.50 | +2.2% |
Chief nursing officer jobs by state
Most common states for chief nursing officers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 517 | 30% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 263 | 30% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 207 | 30% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,706 | 28% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 868 | 28% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 520 | 27% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,464 | 26% |
| 8 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 549 | 26% |
| 9 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 740 | 25% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,423 | 23% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,942 | 22% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 891 | 22% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,426 | 21% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 742 | 21% |
| 15 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,534 | 20% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,096 | 20% |
| 17 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,911 | 19% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,355 | 19% |
| 19 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,132 | 19% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 205 | 19% |
Most common cities for chief nursing officers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | York | 3 | 7% | $87,276 |
| 2 | Georgetown | 2 | 6% | $88,583 |
| 3 | Lancaster | 3 | 5% | $87,520 |
| 4 | Braintree Town | 2 | 5% | $117,476 |
| 5 | Little Elm | 2 | 5% | $104,283 |
| 6 | Bowie | 2 | 3% | $91,223 |
| 7 | Round Rock | 3 | 2% | $104,122 |
| 8 | Allen | 2 | 2% | $104,139 |
| 9 | Columbia | 2 | 1% | $98,646 |
| 10 | Houston | 3 | 0% | $103,056 |
| 11 | Albuquerque | 2 | 0% | $96,592 |
| 12 | Baltimore | 2 | 0% | $91,268 |
| 13 | Denver | 2 | 0% | $92,998 |
Chief Nursing Officer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chief nursing officer experts
Rutgers University - Camden
Saginaw Valley State University
Idaho State University
California State University
Cedar Crest College
The University of Texas at Austin
University of Minnesota
Missouri Baptist University
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN
Nurse Educator, Nclex Mentor/CoachWhat general advice would you give to a Chief Nursing Officer?
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN: A few ways to maximize earning potential as a new graduate nurse is through skillful negotiations and previous experience in healthcare, such as degree level, nurse externships, phlebotomy skills, or certifications. Many, if not all, employers appreciate that new graduates are equipped with clinical skills that are strongly recommended for the practice area. While many nurse certifications require experience, some are for entry-level, such as advanced life support (ACLS and PALS) and IV insertion. There are also some specialty practice certifications that new grads can obtain without years of experience; although they may recommend the experience at times, this is optional. All of this demonstrates the applicant's commitment to the profession and interest. Other ways are to work overtime hours, learn about clinical career ladders, or continue formal education.
What soft skills should all Chief Nursing Officers possess?
Dr. Catherine Stubin Ph.D.: Nursing is a complex profession that requires continuous interaction with a variety of individuals in a high-stress environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased nurses' psychological distress, which could leave the U.S. with an unstable nurse workforce in years to come.
Priority consideration must be given to the psychosocial needs of nurses, as preparing nurses to persevere through adversities is essential for maintaining their physical, mental, and emotional health throughout their careers. We need skilled, caring, competent nurses who can cope with the physical and psychological demands of the nursing profession. Resilience is a core value and fundamental theme that must be addressed in the nursing workforce. Research demonstrates that there is a correlation between a healthcare professional's resilience and well-being in the workplace. Access to or engagement with social resources can activate self-care and resilient attributes, and resilience training can positively impact nurse stress, mindfulness, and resilience. Resilient nurses can better manage their response to stress and adversity, which will contribute to patient safety and promote positive patient outcomes.
What skills will help Chief Nursing Officers earn the most?
Dr. Catherine Stubin Ph.D.: In most facilities, the nursing salaries are fixed and non-negotiable. However, a commitment to life-long learning evidenced by earning an advanced degree for future opportunities, obtaining additional certifications to increase knowledge and skills, and participating in the institution's career ladder program are several options that will increase compensation. In addition, a positive attitude, pleasant personality, excellent communication skills, strong work ethic, and good organizational and leadership skills may help lead to promotions and/or managerial and nursing leadership positions.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Chief Nursing Officer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Karen Brown-Fackler: Nurses are in even greater demand than they were before. Job security, pay, and variety of positions have never been better.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Chief Nursing Officers to find work opportunities?
Susan Belliston Ph.D.: Good places in the U.S. to find work in healthcare:
Rural facilities often find it hard to fill positions for Registered Nurses. Nurses in rural areas will have the opportunity to treat many different types of patients, from a laboring mother to a multiple-trauma patient or a dying elder. The skills required of a rural nurse are very broad, so the experience gained is also broad.
Facilities in the center of major cities also often find it difficult to staff registered nurse positions. Medical or surgical nursing is a great place to establish a solid foundation for nursing skills. However, facilities with nursing shortages may be willing to hire new graduates for emergency departments, operating rooms, or intensive care units.
Underserved populations have an ongoing need for health service providers. This may include the elderly, such as those in long term care facilities. It may also include Native American health services. Veteran services, particularly those in rural areas, need skilled health providers.
Cinthya Sotelo
Director of NP Programs, FNP Option CoordinatorCalifornia State University
Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Chief Nursing Officer job market given the pandemic?
Cinthya Sotelo: I believe that there will be an increased demand for nurses in the workforce. We don't know where this pandemic is going to lead us or how it is going to affect us all in the future. Nurses will continue to be needed to take care of patients who are ill with chronic conditions as well as more acute conditions, including Covid-19.
Wendy Robb Ph.D.
Dean & Professor, School of Nursing, Hazel and Walter May Nursing Endowed Chair for Excellence in NursingCedar Crest College
School of Nursing
What experience really stands out on Chief Nursing Officer resumes?
Wendy Robb Ph.D.: The quality that I would be looking for on a resume is balance. Nurses need to protect themselves and their long-term mental health. This happens through self-care. Investment in self is one way to demonstrate self-care. Whether this is through hobbies, extra-curricular interests, volunteering and service, activities outside of nursing are an important indicator of self-care.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chief Nursing Officers?
Wendy Robb Ph.D.: A resounding, YES, there will be an enduring impact on the coronavirus pandemic on new nursing graduates! Many graduates likely missed out on components of their nursing education, whether it was experiences in the simulation labs, unit restrictions in the hospitals, or specific experiences that were eliminated as a result of the pandemic. Their nursing education was changed forever and they will not make up that lost time. They will grow and develop from it in different ways building collateral knowledge from experiences that are not often taught in nursing school. But they most certainly will be inexplicably changed by their pandemic entrance into the profession of nursing!
New graduates may have been denied the traditional period of transition from expert student nurse to novice registered nurse. This phase of adaptation is complex and difficult during the best of times. New nurses who are entering the profession during a pandemic are faced with stressful conditions, feelings of unpreparedness, absent or minimalized preceptorship, and general chaos. As new nurses enter the profession they are typically consumed with becoming acclimated to the responsibilities of the role. With the pandemic, these new nurses are experiencing the constant flux of treatment protocols, fear of contamination, long hours and physical fatigue, all while managing high patient morbidity and mortality as surrogate family member and professional nurse.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Chief Nursing Officer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Cara Young Ph.D.: Not a job market expert, but I believe the trend will be for increased hiring of family nurse practitioners to work within urgent care settings doing telemedicine for acute/episodic care. The companies that have been able to pivot to telemed platforms quickly have more patients than they know what to do with and are scrambling to find qualified providers.
What experience really stands out on Chief Nursing Officer resumes?
Karen Monsen Ph.D. RN, FAMIA, FNAP, FAAN: Hands-on experience means more than training, even though the training is essential. Volunteer to create, from the ground up, something that is innovative or practical. Participate in teams that develop or enhance a tech solution. Provide links to your successful projects. Show that you can do what you're trained to do.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chief Nursing Officers?
Karen Monsen Ph.D. RN, FAMIA, FNAP, FAAN: The pandemic has launched all of society into a virtual world, where everyone must rely on information systems in new and important ways. This has already caused exponential growth in information systems and other tech innovations and applications in new fields, especially healthcare, education, and social spaces. These innovations have gone beyond proof-of-concept and have broken old patterns and conceptions of reality. They will endure and will provide a platform for further innovations in the future.
Ashley Bell MSN, RN, OCN, CNE
Assistant ProfessorMissouri Baptist University
School of Nursing
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chief Nursing Officers?
Ashley Bell MSN, RN, OCN, CNE: Yes, there will be an enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on graduates. We have already seen that our students have reported abbreviated or virtual orientations. The first year of nursing has historically been a time when we see the burnout of young nurses. However, the stressors have tremendously increased due to the pandemic and strain that it has placed on the healthcare system as a whole. Graduates are reporting increased patient loads and a lack of adequate support services to aid in orientation to the competent nurse role. Despite these very real challenges, our graduates have shown extreme resiliency and perseverance, even in these tough times.
What type of skills will young Chief Nursing Officers need?
Ashley Bell MSN, RN, OCN, CNE: In addition to critical thinking and clinical judgment skills, students should have skills sets in resiliency and emotional intelligence.
What experience really stands out on Chief Nursing Officer resumes?
Ashley Bell MSN, RN, OCN, CNE: Experiences that stand out on resumes include internships and externships, where students are able to operate in a capacity similar to the registered nurse role under the direction of an RN. Also, working as unlicensed assistive personnel, like patient care technicians, is a valuable experience. Involvement in professional nursing organizations is also another area that would make a new graduate stand out.