▼18%
$108,634
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$80k
MEDIAN
$109k
90%
$141k
The average salary for a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is $108,634 in 2026
Base Salary
$80k - $141k
Bonus
$1k - $22k
Total Pay
$78k - $148k
Is Average Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s?
What Do Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
How do Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s Rate Their Jobs?
Based on 6 responses, the job of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) has received a job satisfaction rating of 3.5 out of 5. On average, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s are highly satisfied with their job.
Common Health Benefits for a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Medical
89%
Dental
86%
Vision
81%
None
11%
Gender Breakdown for Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s
Female
93.5%
Male
6.5%
This data is based on 46 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s
What is the highest pay for Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is $141k / year
What is the lowest pay for Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is $80k / year
How can Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) that oversees more junior Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)s, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.