8 Popular MSN Degree Specializations

There’s a reason NP ranked as the fastest-growing healthcare job in 2024. Strong demand and high salaries mean it’s a good time to become an NP. Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are the most common NP specialization.

In fact, nearly 70% of NPs are FNPs, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). FNPs are primary care providers who can perform diagnostic tests, diagnose medical conditions, and prescribe medication in certain states.

NPs earn a median pay of $129,210, according to May 2024 BLS data. The BLS also projects that NP positions could grow 46% from 2023-2024, one of the fastest-growing jobs in the nation.

Nursing schools need qualified faculty. An American Association of Colleges of Nursing report found U.S. nursing schools had to turn away more than 65,000 applicants in 2023 because of faculty shortages and similar constraints. That’s one reason nurse educators rank among the most popular MSN specialties.

With an MSN in nursing education, you can also work in hospitals, where you’ll train staff and implement patient care resources. Nurse educators earn a median pay of $86,000, according to April 2025 data from Payscale.

Because the shortage is so acute, nurse educators also benefit from several federal and state programs to support their education, including grants and scholarships.

Demand for mental health providers continues to grow. More than one in three Americans lives in a mental health professional shortage area, according to August 2024 data from the National Center for Health

Workforce Analysis.

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) can help meet that need. With a similar prescribing authority as psychiatrists, PMHNPs increase access to mental health care in underserved areas, including through telehealth services.

PMHNPs are among the highest-paid NP specializations. The total pay for PMHNPs ranged $97,000-$156,000, according to April 2025 data from Payscale.

If you’re interested in taking on administrative responsibilities, an MSN specialty as a nurse administrator could be a good fit.

Nurse administrators schedule staff, create budgets, and advocate for nurses at the executive level. While they don’t provide bedside care, they do help healthcare facilities operate as smoothly and effectively as possible.

Nurse administrators also report strong demand and high salaries. Medical and health services managers, a category that includes nurse administrations, earn a median pay of $117,960, according to May 2024 BLS data. These roles also benefit from 29% projected job growth from 2023-2033, which is significantly faster than the average growth for all jobs.

Nurse-midwives specialize in gynecological and prenatal care. They deliver babies and serve as primary maternity care providers. You can become a nurse-midwife with a specialized MSN program.

What makes nurse-midwifery a popular specialization? Nurse-midwives earn a median pay of $128,790 per year, according to May 2024 BLS data. That makes them one of the highest-paid MSN specialties. However, the job growth projection for nurse-midwives of 7% from 2023-2033 ranks below some other MSN specializations.

NPs who specialize in treating adult and aging patients make up around 15% of all NPs, according to 2024 AANP data. These adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNPs) specialize in primary and acute care, helping to meet the growing healthcare needs of America’s aging population.

Like other NP specialties, AGNPs benefit from strong projected job growth and above-average salaries. The median pay for AGNPs is $108,900, according to April 2025 Payscale data, with total pay ranging from $89,000-$130,000.

Healthcare organizations increasingly rely on informatics to improve patient outcomes and boost efficiency. Nurses who specialize in informatics apply tech knowledge to healthcare data. Depending on their role, they may develop clinical information systems, collaborate with physicians, and create nursing data reports.

With a nursing informatics degree, you can become a nursing informatics specialist. This career path reports a median pay of $91,300, according to January 2024 data from Payscale.

If you want to improve nursing care while still working directly with patients, consider becoming a CNS.

CNSs work in clinical departments, such as oncology, psychiatric-mental health, and pediatrics. In these departments, they teach evidence-based techniques to nurses. They also analyze patient outcomes from a medical and patient satisfaction perspective to improve departmental policies.

CNSs earn a median salary of $104,400, according to February 2025 data from Payscale.