RN to MSN degree programs continue to gain in popularity throughout Texas as more nursing professionals strive for more advanced career opportunities and definitively higher salaries.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nurses, there are currently eleven statewide universities in Texas that offer RN-MSN programs. These programs are specifically designed the help RNs with diplomas or ADNs to seamlessly transition into a MSN degree program, thus eliminating the need to earn a separate baccalaureate degree. There are also more than 160 online RN-MSN degree programs available to Texas’s nursing professionals that are encumbered by hectic schedules or commuting issues.
Campus-based and online RN-MSN programs in Texas are helping nursing professionals to secure higher salary figures because they prepare students to qualify for coveted roles in advanced practice, as well as non-clinical roles in administration, research, and education.
While choosing a RN-MSN program in Texas, it is important to remember that while some options are geared to generalist RNs, most are structured around a concentrated specialization such as nursing administration, clinical nurse leadership, nursing education, patient care administration, and nursing informatics.
In 2013, RN-MSN programs in Texas helped to create a more highly skilled nursing workforce by:
- Assisting in the enrollment of 5,304 students in master’s nursing programs
- Providing opportunities for 9,108 students to graduate from baccalaureate and graduate-level nursing degree programs
- Offering preparation pathways for 3,942 students to become nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists
How MSN Degrees are Affecting Salaries for Nurses in Texas
In 2012, the Advance Healthcare Network evaluated the salary differences among nurses with varying education levels in the southern states, including Texas. Their assessment conclusively revealed that MSN-educated nurses were awarded much higher salaries than those with lesser degrees:
- Diploma: $53,860/yr.
- ADN Degree: $58,562/yr.
- BSN Degree: $61,956/yr.
- MSN Degree: $77,370/yr.
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Workforce Commission only strengthened these findings by publishing salary statistics that revealed that APRNs with MSNs in Texas earned high-end salaries in their field:
Nurse practitioners working in Texas earned the following pay averages:
- Entry-Level: $74,400/yr. or $35.78/hr.
- Mid-Career: $99,300/yr. or $47.76/hr.
- Experienced: $139,000/yr. or $66.82/hr.
Nurse anesthetists employed in Texas earned the following wage averages:
- Entry-Level: $49.48/hr.
- Mid-Career: $77.93/hr.
- Experienced: $92.15/hr.
Nurse midwives practicing in Texas earned the following pay averages:
- Entry-Level: $70,300/yr. or $33.78/hr.
- Mid-Career: $97,100/yr. or $46.68/hr.
- Experienced: $119,600/yr. or $57.50/hr.
Nurse Practitioner Salaries in Texas
Nurse practitioner salaries in Texas may be affected by a professional’s geographic location of employment. In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported nurse practitioner pay averages for the following areas in Texas:
Area name
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly 10th percentile wage
Hourly 25th percentile wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual 10th percentile wage
Annual 25th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Abilene TX
70
52.36
108920
40.01
44.87
50.68
56.06
77.21
83210
93330
105420
116610
160590
Amarillo TX
110
44.40
92350
33.03
39.26
44.09
51.21
56.52
68700
81650
91710
106520
117570
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos TX
Estimate Not Released
39.26
81660
28.88
32.58
38.62
45.76
53.39
60070
67770
80330
95180
111060
Beaumont-Port Arthur TX
70
51.56
107250
38.91
44.84
52.03
59.10
67.26
80930
93260
108220
122920
139900
Brownsville-Harlingen TX
100
52.83
109890
35.73
40.71
48.54
66.31
82.77
74330
84690
100960
137920
172160
Corpus Christi TX
130
44.66
92890
33.30
37.46
43.72
52.32
57.56
69270
77910
90940
108830
119730
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX
1980
47.54
98880
36.31
41.15
48.15
54.60
60.05
75530
85580
100160
113560
124900
Dallas-Plano-Irving TX Metropolitan Division
1300
47.02
97790
35.29
40.20
47.04
54.46
60.73
73390
83610
97850
113290
126310
El Paso TX
140
53.52
111320
36.23
41.84
49.93
69.80
83.37
75360
87020
103850
145190
173410
Fort Worth-Arlington TX Metropolitan Division
680
48.53
100950
38.05
43.81
49.64
54.77
58.82
79140
91120
103260
113930
122340
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown TX
1570
51.35
106810
38.88
43.84
50.64
57.06
71.66
80880
91190
105330
118670
149050
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood TX
190
45.79
95240
32.25
37.21
43.67
53.41
64.09
67070
77400
90830
111100
133310
Laredo TX
50
46.71
97160
33.72
38.93
43.99
56.28
67.59
70130
80970
91500
117050
140600
Longview TX
110
59.04
122800
38.52
41.96
49.23
79.88
90.00*
80130
87280
102410
166150
187199*
Lubbock TX
100
50
104000
36.94
40.92
48.05
55.90
72.74
76840
85110
99950
116270
151290
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission TX
130
50.45
104930
39.94
45.27
50.81
56.17
64.94
83070
94150
105690
116830
135070
Midland TX
30
46.46
96640
37.64
41.19
47.02
53.71
57.75
78290
85670
97800
111710
120120
San Angelo TX
40
44.43
92420
36.93
39.48
43.65
51.07
56.88
76820
82120
90790
106220
118310
San Antonio-New Braunfels TX
470
48.05
99940
37.21
40.55
45.91
52.89
57.65
77400
84340
95480
110010
119910
Sherman-Denison TX
30
51.56
107250
39.83
43.62
50.94
61.05
68.25
82850
90740
105950
126980
141960
Texarkana-Texarkana TX-AR
40
66.29
137880
36.75
41.65
57.49
83.96
90.00*
76440
86620
119570
174640
187199*
Tyler TX
90
52.86
109960
38.21
42.47
49.91
58.81
74.61
79480
88330
103820
122330
155180
Waco TX
Estimate Not Released
52.29
108770
36.25
40.02
46.42
71.19
81.99
75410
83240
96560
148070
170540
Wichita Falls TX
50
53.89
112090
38.12
42.31
48.95
55.05
69.10
79290
88000
101820
114510
143730
Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area
120
59.21
123150
39.02
43.45
50.74
61.23
90.00*
81170
90370
105540
127350
187199*
Eastern Texas nonmetropolitan area
160
48.83
101560
38.29
42.34
48.96
54.99
61.33
79640
88060
101830
114380
127570
Central Texas nonmetropolitan area
60
43.53
90540
30.77
36.05
42.70
50.51
55.93
64000
74980
88820
105060
116340
Southern Texas nonmetropolitan area
60
45.60
94850
31.65
38.33
45.48
53.92
62.53
65830
79720
94600
112150
130050
Gulf Coast Texas nonmetropolitan area
40
45.29
94210
37.57
40.73
45.77
51.61
55.95
78140
84720
95190
107340
116380
Nurse Anesthetist Salaries in Texas
Nurse anesthetists may experience different salary averages according to a region’s particular demand for their specialized skills. In 2013, the federal government released the following pay data for nurse anesthetists in specific areas of Texas:
Area name
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly 10th percentile wage
Hourly 25th percentile wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual 10th percentile wage
Annual 25th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos TX
Estimate Not Released
67.14
139660
18.91
61.68
67.29
72.91
90.00*
39340
128290
139970
151650
187199*
Brownsville-Harlingen TX
Estimate Not Released
32.79
68190
29.81
30.92
32.77
34.62
35.73
62000
64310
68160
72000
74310
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX
Estimate Not Released
80.96
168410
60.40
66.40
76.81
88.30
90.00*
125630
138100
159760
183660
187199*
Dallas-Plano-Irving TX Metropolitan Division
250
82.16
170900
62.02
67.48
77.16
89.20
90.00*
129010
140360
160500
185540
187199*
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown TX
1500
84.75
176290
59.72
66.67
79.31
90.00*
90.00*
124220
138680
164960
187199*
187199*
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood TX
110
83.97
174650
64.09
73.00
79.16
88.29
90.00*
133300
151830
164650
183650
187199*
Longview TX
70
77.23
160650
58.61
64.59
73.11
89.61
90.00*
121900
134350
152070
186390
187199*
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission TX
Estimate Not Released
76.63
159390
64.12
74.96
81.09
87.21
90.00*
133380
155920
168660
181400
187199*
Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area
30
74.19
154300
31.96
50.06
75.5
90.00*
90.00*
66480
104130
157040
187199*
187199*
Eastern Texas nonmetropolitan area
40
102.36
212900
72.24
80.76
90.00*
90.00*
90.00*
150270
167990
187199*
187199*
187199*
*These figures represent hourly wages that are at least $90.00 per hour or annual salaries that are at least $187,199. These are the maximum salaries reported by the US Bureau of Labor for Labor Statistics for Texas.
Nurse Midwife Salaries in Texas
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that nurse midwives in Texas could earn varying salary and wage amounts depending on the metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area where they worked:
Area name
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly 10th percentile wage
Hourly 25th percentile wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual 10th percentile wage
Annual 25th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX
60
55.45
115340
34.96
46.80
52.20
57.56
71.04
72710
97340
108570
119730
147760
Dallas-Plano-Irving TX Metropolitan Division
60
56.15
116790
36.04
47.33
52.52
57.72
71.46
74960
98440
109250
120070
148640
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown TX
70
45.64
94920
37.12
40.97
46.51
52.08
55.81
77220
85220
96730
108320
116090
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