How much does a chief nursing officer earn? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook does not publish a separate wage estimate for chief nursing officers. Its closest broad occupational category is Medical and Health Services Managers, which reported a median annual wage of $123,860 in May 2025. That category covers many kinds of healthcare managers, so this figure is context for the broader field—not a CNO-specific median, salary range, or offer recommendation.
What the broad BLS benchmark does—and does not—show
In May 2025, the median annual wage for Medical and Health Services Managers was $123,860. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $73,390 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $224,340. BLS reports these figures for the full occupation, not CNOs alone. They should not be presented as the expected pay for a chief nursing officer.
The same broad occupational category had median annual wages of $136,130 in government (excluding state and local education and hospitals); $133,580 in hospitals; $116,060 in outpatient care centers; $105,770 in offices of physicians; and $100,520 in nursing and residential care facilities. These are industry figures for Medical and Health Services Managers, not CNO-specific pay rates.
What affects a CNO role’s scope?
The CNO title can sit within different organizational structures. Before comparing compensation, clarify which nursing services the role oversees, the number and type of facilities, reporting relationship, decision authority, and span of responsibility. Those details help employers describe the role accurately and help candidates evaluate whether an opportunity fits their experience.
How to evaluate a CNO compensation package
For a specific position, compare the scope of the role and the full written offer. Consider:
- Facility or health-system size, service lines, and number of locations
- Reporting relationship, decision authority, and span of responsibility
- Geographic market and work arrangement
- Base salary separately from any written incentive, retirement, relocation, or benefit terms
- Required licensure, education, and leadership experience in the employer’s job description
Do not compare a base-salary figure from one source with another source’s estimated total compensation. Salary websites may use different samples, job-title definitions, dates, and calculation methods. If an estimate is not tied to a disclosed source, date, geography, and measure, treat it as directional rather than a verified market rate.
Career outlook: a broader occupation measure
BLS projects employment for Medical and Health Services Managers to grow 24 percent from 2025 to 2035. This is a projection for the broad occupation, not a CNO-specific forecast. It does not establish openings for a particular specialty, employer, or location.
Education and qualifications
BLS says Medical and Health Services Managers typically need a bachelor’s degree, while requirements vary by facility and function; related administrative or clinical experience is also typical. This broad guidance is not a universal CNO qualification standard. Candidates should follow the requirements in each employer’s posting, and employers should state required licensure, degrees, reporting lines, and scope clearly.
FAQs about CNO salary and offers
What is the average CNO salary in the United States?
BLS does not publish a separate CNO median in the cited occupational series. Its May 2025 median of $123,860 is for the broader Medical and Health Services Managers occupation and should not be used as a CNO-specific average.
Does the $123,860 figure represent a typical CNO offer?
No. It combines many healthcare-management roles. A specific CNO offer should be evaluated using the employer’s role scope, location, requirements, and written compensation terms.
What should employers include when hiring a CNO?
State the role’s decision authority, reporting relationship, organizational scope, key responsibilities, required credentials, location, and compensation structure. Clear expectations help candidates assess the opportunity and help employers compare candidates against the work the role must lead.
Is the projected 24 percent growth rate specific to CNO jobs?
No. It is BLS’s 2025–2035 projection for the broader Medical and Health Services Managers occupation, not a CNO-specific forecast.
Hire permanent nursing leadership
HealthStaffingGroup supports employers with permanent healthcare-leadership hiring and executive search. If you are defining a chief nursing officer or other nurse-executive role, request a hiring consultation to discuss the role’s scope, reporting relationship, and required experience.
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Medical and Health Services Managers,” May 2025 wage and 2025–2035 projection data: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm
