Different Types of Nursing Degrees and Salaries

Nursing

Different Types of Nursing Degrees and Salaries

Written by: Wilson College • Jul 16, 2026

A Smiling Nurse Stands in Front of a Group of Nurses and Medical Professionals in a Hospital Hallway.

The nursing field offers significant opportunities to advance as nurses gain additional education. The American Nurses Association (ANA) notes that acquiring further education can:

Expand a nurse’s career options
Increase a nurse’s earning potential
Improve a nurse’s job satisfaction

Nurses can earn a wide range of academic degrees. For example, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) by enrolling in a LPN to BSN degree program . A nurse who already has a BSN can earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree to become a nurse practitioner (NP).

How to Choose a Nursing Degree

When deciding which nursing degree to pursue, it can be helpful to reflect on a few considerations:

Priorities and time frame: Individuals who want to enter the job market relatively soon might prefer to complete a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) rather than a BSN, which typically takes four years to complete.
Budget: Some aspiring nurses may prefer an ADN, which generally costs less than a BSN.
Preferred education format: The flexibility and convenience of an online degree program may help nursing students balance their commitments.
Desired employers: Some employers may prefer or require nurses with a BSN. Therefore, nurses who aspire to work for those employers should learn about their preferred degree requirements.
Long-term career goals: Nurses who want to pursue advanced roles that require an MSN may want to consider a BSN. The employment outlook for NPs is strong, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If a nurse’s ultimate goal is to become an NP, earning a BSN may be preferable to an ADN.

3 Types of Nursing Degrees and Salaries

Examining specific kinds of nursing degrees and salaries, as well as the careers they can lead to, can give aspiring nurses helpful insight into launching a nursing career.

Associate Degree in Nursing

An ADN degree program offers students the expertise they need to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers. After passing this exam, students can apply to their state nursing board for licensure as a registered nurse (RN).

Typically lasting two years for full-time students, ADN programs provide knowledge and skills in subjects such as chemistry, anatomy, and biology. Students in ADN programs also take courses in specific types of nursing, such as:

Medical-surgical nursing
Community health nursing
Mental health nursing
Pediatric nursing

ADN Salary

Individuals with an ADN earned a median annual salary of about $81,000 as of December 2025, according to the compensation website Payscale.

Careers With an ADN

Earning an ADN, passing the NCLEX-RN, and obtaining required licensure can allow individuals to work as RNs. RNs perform responsibilities such as assessing health, offering treatments to address health issues, and monitoring health conditions. Their responsibilities also include educating patients about their health.

RNs with an ADN can work in various careers, including as:

Acute care nurses, who treat patients with serious medical issues requiring intensive treatment in hospital settings
Ambulatory care nurses, who work in outpatient settings and doctors’ offices, treating patients who don’t require hospitalization but need healthcare services such as exams, treatment for chronic illness, or minor healthcare procedures

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

As with earning an ADN, completing a BSN program prepares nurses to take the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for state licensure as an RN.

Full-time students typically complete BSN programs in four years. BSN coursework is similar to that in ADN programs, including chemistry, anatomy, biology, and medical-surgical nursing. However,, because BSN programs are more comprehensive, students also complete courses in subjects such as:

Nursing leadership
Nursing ethics
Healthcare informatics
Healthcare research

BSN Salary

Nurses with a BSN earned a median annual salary of about $99,000 as of November 2025, according to Payscale.

Careers With a BSN

RNs with a BSN can work in careers similar to those available to RNs with an ADN. However, those with a BSN can also work in careers that typically require a four-year degree, including as:

Informatics nurses, who work at the intersection of healthcare and technology, managing automated systems for healthcare organizations or helping healthcare organizations implement electronic health record (EHR) systems
Clinical research nurses, who provide care to individuals participating in clinical research projects and clinical trials

Master of Science in Nursing

Nurses can seek advanced roles in healthcare and earn more with an MSN .

Full-time students can typically complete an MSN in about two years. They gain graduate-level expertise through courses in subjects such as healthcare regulation and evidence-based practice. MSN programs also allow students to pursue tracks of study their professional goals.

A student who pursues an MSN with a focus on leadership may take courses in subjects such as change management, leadership practices, and healthcare finance.
A student who pursues an MSN with a focus on education may take courses in subjects such as nursing education and curriculum, teaching practices, and advanced pharmacology.

MSN Salary

Individuals with an MSN earned a median annual salary of about $109,000 as of September 2025, according to Payscale.

Careers With an MSN

Advanced roles that individuals with an MSN can enter include:

Chief nursing officers, who oversee a healthcare organization’s nursing practice, as well as work with stakeholders such as nursing staff, healthcare organization leaders, community members, and the public
Nurse educators, who teach the next generation of nurses by providing instruction to students in nursing schools and clinical settings

Understanding Nursing Degrees and Salaries Can Help Aspiring Nurses Plan Their Education

Learning about nursing degrees and salaries can help identify the best educational program for entering your preferred nursing career. Depending on the nursing degrees earned, individuals can choose a degree program that can help them advance on the nursing career path.

Explore the nursing degree programs that Wilson College Online offers to learn how these programs can help you reach your career goals. Wilson College Online offers:

LPN to BSN : This program is tailored to working LPNs who want to earn a BSN.
MSN : This program allows students to specialize by pursuing one of two tracks: Education or Leadership and Management.
RN to BSN : This program is designed for RNs who want to earn a BSN.
RN to MSN : This program is designed for RNs with a diploma or an ADN and at least three years of experience who want to earn an MSN.