What Can You Do With an MSN?

Nursing

What Can You Do With an MSN?

Written by: University of Tulsa • Jan 22, 2024

A nurse educator teaches students in a classroom.

The nursing profession provides countless opportunities to shape patient outcomes, support medical personnel, and enact positive change within the health care landscape. While some of these opportunities are available to anyone with a nursing license and an undergraduate degree, others require a more advanced education.

As such, many nurses build upon their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Doing so helps cultivate a more sophisticated skill set, opens the door to a more competitive salary range, and potentially leads to positions of greater leadership and authority. The bottom line: If you’re wondering what you can do with an MSN, the answer is quite a lot.

What’s an MSN?

Before enrolling in an advanced degree program, knowing a little more about what that program entails is helpful. An MSN is a postgraduate degree, meaning it is primarily for those who’ve already earned their undergraduate nursing degree and want to continue with more advanced training. Having an MSN signifies a higher level of clinical expertise, as well as nursing leadership competencies.

Some nurses pursue an MSN to boost their salary potential or so they can transition into leadership roles, such as chief nursing officer or unit manager in nursing. Others use it as a stepping stone to a doctoral degree, perhaps with the intention of teaching or joining a hospital’s executive team. An MSN can also serve as a pathway to a specialized field of care, such as anesthesia or midwifery.

What’s the MSN Salary Range?

One of the most common reasons to seek an advanced nursing degree is to increase earning potential. Nurses with an MSN can command higher salaries than those with a BSN on average.

Payscale data from September 2025 shows that nurses with a BSN earned a median annual salary of approximately $99,000, while those with an MSN earned about $109,000.

Several factors can affect salary ranges, above and beyond education level. Other important variables include geographic location, specializations, additional certifications, and years of experience.

What Can You Do With an MSN? 4 Career Options

Earning an MSN can open pathways toward several exciting, rewarding, and prestigious nursing positions, including roles that aren’t available to those with undergraduate nursing credentials. Consider just a few of the most noteworthy careers you can pursue with an MSN.

1. Nurse Educator

Nursing students require instruction not only in the classroom but also in clinical care settings, allowing them to hone their skills in real-world patient interactions. The role of a nurse educator is to design and implement training courses for nursing students, while also serving in mentorship roles.

Often, nurse educators work alongside their students in clinical settings, ensuring a safe environment for nurses and patients alike. For those interested in developing the next generation of nursing professionals, this role may be highly rewarding. The BLS reports a median annual wage of approximately $79,940 for nurse educators as of May 2024.

A BSN is generally the minimum requirement for aspiring nurse educators, though many institutions prefer or require MSN preparation. Experience as a preceptor and earning professional certifications can further enhance your eligibility for teaching positions.

2. Unit Manager

Unit managers provide direct supervision and direction for nurses within a specific team or unit; this may be the entire unit of pediatric nurses or nurses who work in the intensive care unit (ICU), for example. Unit managers may also have a role in recruiting, hiring, and training new nurses. Payscale reports a median annual salary of approximately $66,590 for unit managers as of December 2025.

While some nurses can advance to a unit manager position with a combination of a BSN and multiple years of experience, earning an MSN can prove highly valuable, helping you separate yourself from the competition.

3. Director of Nursing

A director of nursing oversees nursing operations at the department or facility level, managing staff, developing a budget, and ensuring policies and clinical practices are followed. They help implement departmental and organizational goals, coordinate patient care, and liaise between the nursing staff and senior leadership. According to Payscale, directors of nursing earned a median annual salary of about $104,260 as of October 2025.

Most directors of nursing hold an advanced degree and have several years of clinical practice and supervisory experience. Additional leadership training and certification may enhance your advancement potential.

4. Chief Nursing Officer

A chief nursing officer (CNO) is the most senior nursing role within an organization. This executive-level position oversees all nursing activity within a hospital, health system, or large practice. The CNO’s responsibilities span staffing, regulatory compliance, strategic planning, and maintaining high standards of clinical care. Payscale reports a median annual salary of approximately $152,550 for CNOs as of September 2025.

Becoming a CNO generally entails a combination of advanced education, such as an MSN and/or a doctoral degree, along with several years of progressive leadership experience. Earning professional certification can help you add to your management and administrative expertise.

Start an MSN Education Today

You can do a lot with an MSN, and there are many advantages to earning one. It can help you enhance your expertise, increase your earning potential, and open doors to new career pathways. Beyond career growth, advanced nursing education can empower you to make a more meaningful impact within the profession, through both direct patient care and high-level leadership.

If you want to move into one of the roles above or another nurse leadership position, consider The University of Tulsa’s online MSN program. With three specialty tracks in Leadership and Innovation, Education and Elevation, and Public Health Global Vision, you can advance into many different areas of the nursing field.

If you’re interested in becoming an advanced practice nurse, such as a nurse practitioner, TU also offers an online DNP program.

Whether you’re looking to become a nurse educator, director of nursing, chief nursing officer, or nurse practitioner, our advanced programs can help you develop the skills you need to move forward with confidence.

Explore TU’s nursing programs today to find out how they can lay the foundation for long-lasting professional success.

Recommended Readings

How an MSN Can Improve Nurse Retention

Your Guide to Nursing Leadership Certifications

How an MSN Can Increase Autonomy in Nursing

Sources:

American Nurses Association, “How to Become a Director of Nursing”

American Nurses Association, “Shaping Future Healthcare: The Path to Becoming a Nurse Educator”

American Nurses Association, “What Is a Chief Nursing Officer/Chief Nurse Executive?”

Indeed, “Chief Nursing Officer vs. Director of Nursing: An Overview”

Indeed, “What Is a Unit Manager? Responsibilities and Skills”

Payscale, Average Director, Nursing Salary