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The most popular way for registered nurses in Maine to land better paying jobs is by earning a MSN degree. In 2014, the United States Department of Labor found that BSN registered nurses in Maine were paid an average annual salary of $63,320. By contrast, MSN nurses such as nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners were among the state’s top 30 highest-earning professions. Average annual salaries for these esteemed nursing occupations were as follows:
- Nurse anesthetists: $170,830
- Nurse midwives: $97,530
- Nurse practitioners: $94,400
In that year, Maine offered MSN nurses some of the best employment opportunities in the entire country, particularly for nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners. For instance:
- The Northeast Main nonmetropolitan area held the fourth highest concentration of nurse anesthetist jobs among all other nonmetropolitan areas in the country. The 30 nurse anesthetists practicing here earned an average annual salary of $203,660 during that year, making this region the fourth highest paying nonmetropolitan area for nurse anesthetists nationwide.
- Maine held the highest concentration of nurse practitioner jobs in the country. The 1,160 nurse practitioners working statewide received an average annual salary of $94,400. The Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area was also recognized as the third highest employer of nurse practitioners among all other nonmetropolitan areas in the country. The city offered the 310 nurse practitioners employed here an average annual salary of $98,650.
Maryland Employers Offer Top Salaries to Experienced APRNs and Other MSN-Educated Nurses
Salary information published by the United States Department in 2014 concluded that local employers throughout Maine offered MSN nurses exponentially higher salaries based on experience:
Nursing Instructors and Teachers
- Entry-level: $41,500
- Mid-career: $65,100
- Experienced: $116,800
Nurse Anesthetists
- Entry-level: $115,100
- Mid-career: $163,900
- Experienced: $187,200+
Nurse Midwives
- Entry-level: $80,300
- Mid-career: $98,300
- Experienced: $119,700
Nurse Practitioners
- Entry-level: $72,400
- Mid-career: $92,500
- Experienced: $121,300
Salaries for Nurse Anesthetists in Maine’s Major Metro Areas
Although nurse anesthetists have greater access to job opportunities in more urban areas, these metropolitan districts do not always provide the highest salaries in the state. For instance, in 2014 the United States Department of Labor determined that nurse anesthetists in the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford area netted an average annual salary of $153,060, yet those working in the Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan region received a larger average annual salary of $187,160:
An Analysis of Nurse Practitioner Salaries Throughout Maine
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor released the following data table illustrate how significantly nurse practitioner salaries can shift between regional locales in the state. For example, nurse practitioners with jobs in Bangor were given an average annual salary of $96,920, however those located in the Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area collected an average annual salary of $88,960: