Exploring the Future of Nursing: Top Nursing Specialties in High Demand

The field of nursing is wide, and nursing professionals have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a specialty to focus on. Each one has its own advantages and knowing them can guide you in deciding what to pursue. 

As you read this article, consider your skills and passion, and analyze which career path is right for you. 

Nursing professionals continue to be in high demand in the U.S. 

Despite the increasing number of nursing professionals graduating and getting certifications every year, the demand for more people to work in nursing is continuously growing. 

Hospitals and other healthcare settings already have had problems with short staffing for several years, and the U.S. population's changing health needs contribute to a positive job outlook for nurses. 

In fact, almost 200,000 new job openings for nursing professionals are expected to open yearly until 2032, and for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), the US Bureau of Labor Statistics believes job openings will be more than 100,000 per year. 

Nursing specialties in high demand

As more people in the U.S. are living longer, many are getting sick earlier, and chronic conditions increasingly affect the majority of the population, the need for healthcare workers to take care of them long-term is increasing. 

Chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and depression, for example, require both the basic nursing services of nursing professionals and the more complex care delivered by APRNs.  

Based on annual wage, registered nurses earn about $30,000 more than the average wage nationwide for all jobs in 2023 with APRNs earning much higher. 

Nursing professionals in these specialties are certified and skilled in caring for special populations. Here are the top nursing specialties based on salary. 

• Nurse Anesthetist
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Midwife
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Nurse Educator
• Travel Nurse
• Informatics Nurse
• Oncology Nurse
• Nurse Researcher  

In many of these specialties, additional education, practice experience and certifications are required. These include master’s or doctoral degrees in nursing for those who want to become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). For those who choose to pursue this path, there are 4 possible career pathways. 

• certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs)
• certified nurse midwives (CNMs)
• certified nurse specialists (CNSs)
• nurse practitioners (NPs).

CRNAs typically make about  $212,650, CNMs at $129,650, CNSs at $124,374 and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners at $119,801.  

These specialties typically enjoy the highest benefits and earn the highest salaries. In addition, these jobs are expected to grow to almost 40% in the next several years.  

When deciding what career path to pursue in nursing, consider that nursing is a constantly evolving field, and the best thing you can take into consideration is which career path would be the most worthwhile for you in the long run. 

Aside from salary considerations, choose a specialty that you believe will bring you the most fulfillment. 

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