There are many sectors of nursing that have specialized roles. A nurse case manager is an administrative nurse who provides counseling and planning services for patients and caregivers. Some nurse case managers work with public health officials to protect communities and promote general well-being in certain areas.
Being a nurse case manager requires organization, excellent written and verbal communication, and a desire to work closely with patients in the future.
If you pursue a career as a nurse case manager, you can make an average median salary of $64,936, according to the latest data from Zippia.com. According to our findings, the actual median salary in the United States is $59,493.98. We got this figure by collecting the average salary in each state, then finding the median (mid-point) for all earnings.
What does a nurse case manager do?
Case management is an important part of nursing that involves coordinating patients’ care and providing long-term plans for their health and wellness.
Nurse case managers work directly with patients and members of their care team. They develop personalized care plans for patients who are elderly, in long-term care, or who have chronic illnesses. Some nurse case managers work with psychiatric patients or in addiction recovery.
Some responsibilities of a nurse case manager include:
Create and manage patients’ individualized care plans.
Work directly with patients who have serious or chronic conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and psychiatric disorders.
Work with caregivers to ensure patients’ needs are always met.
Schedule appointments and perform routine follow-ups.
Advocate for patients’ health by communicating their needs with family members, caregivers, and other medical professionals.
Help educate caregivers on the complex needs of patients, and provide information on a variety of serious injuries or chronic illnesses.
If you like the idea of working with patients’ long-term and supporting their ongoing health, this is a fantastic career opportunity. Nurses who manage their patients’ care plans are integral parts of their healthcare team.
Besides providing direct care in healthcare facilities, nurse case managers work with physicians, social workers, and other caregivers. Their primary focus is to ensure that their patients have access to all the resources and care they need.
Recommended Reading - What is a Nurse Case Manager in the USA?
How much does a nurse case manager make a year?
Nurse case managers earn between $46,926 to $93,313 annually. Your average salary will vary by state, education, and experience.
How much does a nurse case manager make an hour?
Hourly wages for nurse case managers range from $22.56 to $44.86 in the United States.
Nurse case manager salary by state
Nurse case managers can earn more or less than the median national average depending on where they live.
Compare your state’s mean (average) wage with the national average salary of $59,493.
State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Compared To National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | $25.65 | $53,359.00 | -10% |
Alaska | $36.92 | $76,803.00 | 29% |
Arizona | $31.21 | $64,922.00 | 9% |
Arkansas | $24.07 | $50,075.00 | -16% |
California | $44.86 | $93,313.00 | 57% |
Colorado | $25.81 | $53,692.00 | -10% |
Connecticut | $33.51 | $69,697.00 | 17% |
Delaware | $29.57 | $61,497.00 | 3% |
District of Columbia | $35.95 | $74,775.00 | 26% |
Florida | $29.64 | $61,657.00 | 4% |
Georgia | $27.99 | $58,216.00 | -2% |
Hawaii | $38.53 | $80,145.00 | 35% |
Idaho | $31.34 | $65,186.00 | 10% |
Illinois | $27.20 | $56,581.00 | -5% |
Indiana | $24.21 | $50,366.00 | -15% |
Iowa | $22.96 | $47,764.00 | -20% |
Kansas | $23.24 | $48,349.00 | -19% |
Kentucky | $25.63 | $53,314.00 | -10% |
Louisiana | $24.23 | $50,399.00 | -15% |
Maine | $24.61 | $51,196.00 | -14% |
Maryland | $30.75 | $63,965.00 | 8% |
Massachusetts | $29.99 | $62,374.00 | 5% |
Michigan | $28.81 | $59,923.00 | 1% |
Minnesota | $25.14 | $52,287.00 | -12% |
Mississippi | $26.15 | $54,396.00 | -9% |
Missouri | $26.22 | $54,540.00 | -8% |
Montana | $28.05 | $58,350.00 | -2% |
Nebraska | $22.56 | $46,926.00 | -21% |
Nevada | $36.39 | $75,687.00 | 27% |
New Hampshire | $26.40 | $54,922.00 | -8% |
New Jersey | $29.33 | $61,002.00 | 3% |
New Mexico | $27.83 | $57,887.00 | -3% |
New York | $33.92 | $70,553.00 | 19% |
North Carolina | $29.59 | $61,545.00 | 3% |
North Dakota | $27.54 | $57,292.00 | -4% |
Ohio | $23.97 | $49,853.00 | -16% |
Oklahoma | $25.38 | $52,782.00 | -11% |
Oregon | $35.82 | $74,499.00 | 25% |
Pennsylvania | $31.48 | $65,473.00 | 10% |
Rhode Island | $28.87 | $60,059.00 | 1% |
South Carolina | $24.89 | $51,781.00 | -13% |
South Dakota | $22.76 | $47,337.00 | -20% |
Tennessee | $24.25 | $50,447.00 | -15% |
Texas | $27.80 | $57,825.00 | -3% |
Utah | $26.47 | $55,057.00 | -7% |
Vermont | $23.06 | $47,968.00 | -19% |
Virginia | $30.82 | $64,096.00 | 8% |
Washington | $35.56 | $73,960.00 | 24% |
West Virginia | $26.49 | $55,089.00 | -7% |
Wisconsin | $29.03 | $60,381.00 | 1% |
Wyoming | $26.26 | $54,631.00 | -8% |
National Average | $28.60 | $59,493.98 |
|
Factors that affect how much a nurse case manager cakes
Nurse case managers earn differently according to several factors. These are several of the most influential factors that affect your salary:
1) Education and experience levels
Nurse case managers must hold a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), and many decide to pursue a master’s degree as well. Holding a graduate degree can provide you with even more job opportunities.
An interesting element of nurse case manager degrees is that they are not limited strictly to nursing. After completing a BSN program, you could get a master’s degree in health administration or health management.
You could also earn a certification in clinical case management care coordination (CCM/CC). The CCM/CC certificate helps you learn about the unique challenges patients face in the American healthcare system, different insurance plans and reimbursement options and the management of chronic diseases and conditions.
Most nurse case managers have at least five years’ nursing experience, but entry-level positions also candidates with two to three years’ experience.
2) Location and workplace
Nurse case managers work in hospitals and outpatient care facilities. Some work for the government or public health organizations. Besides salaries varying by state, you also find that pay differs between employers.
Case management takes place in hospitals and private practices; some nurses even help patients in long-term rehabilitation clinics and nursing homes.
One of the significant aspects of this career is that you can choose what types of patients you enjoy working with and find specific environments tailored to helping them. For example, if you enjoy working with the older population, then working in geriatrics might be a good choice for you.
One of the great aspects of this career is that you can choose what types of patients you enjoy working with and find specific environments tailored to helping them. For example, if you enjoy working with the older population, then working in Geriatrics might be a good choice for you.
3) Nurse case management certification
A registered nurse case manager can bolster their credentials with board certification. The American Nurses Credentialing Center certifies nurse case managers with the CMGT-BC (Case Management Nurse – Board Certified).
To earn the CMGT-BC, you must have a valid RN license, 2,000 hours of clinical case management experience, and at least two years’ work experience as a registered nurse.
Board certification can also increase your job opportunities and your base salary.
How quickly can you become a nurse case manager and start earning?
You will need at least six years of education and experience to become a qualified nurse case manager. If you pursue a master’s degree and/or board certification, this takes an additional two to three years of schooling and clinical experience.
Recommended Reading - How to become a nurse case manager in the USA?
Nurse case manager salary vs other nursing professions
If you’re wondering what careers you can have in clinical management, there are several options. Here is how a nurse case manager's earnings compare to other similar roles. See how each one reflects the median national salary for all nursing positions — $67,662.51.
Average nurse case manager salary: $59,493.98 per year
Registered Nurse: $76,944.90 per year
Nurse Administrator: $76,104.25 per year
Charge Nurse: $73,298.27 per year
Nurse case manager salary FAQ
Am I being paid fairly as a nurse case manager?
The best way to determine fair pay as a nurse case manager is to consider how many hours you work and your compensation package compared to your state’s average salary. If you have less experience (under 3 years), then you may have a lower salary initially. However, if you are being paid below the average, bring this information up with your employer.
Are nurse case managers mostly paid hourly or annually?
Nurse case managers can get paid hourly or annually. Most nurse case managers are salaried, but some healthcare facilities will offer hourly wages instead.
Do nurse case managers get paid overtime?
Yes, all nurses, including nurse case managers, should receive overtime. Many nurse case managers work a 9-to-5 job, so working beyond 40 hours a week can entitle you to overtime pay.
Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act are entitled to one-and-a-half times their regular pay for any hours worked over the standard workweek of 40 hours. This includes working on the weekends and over the holidays.
Do nurse case managers get paid more privately or in hospitals?
Nurse case manager salaries can vary, and there isn’t currently any data that reflects where they earn the most. That being said, you might find opportunities vary by sector, such as public hospitals, private clinics, and nursing homes.
Compare different work locations to see how their pay differs in your area.
What state pays nurse case managers the most per hour?
Nurse case managers earn 57% more in California, where the average median salary is $93,313.
See what states pay nurse case managers the most in the table below:
State | Median Hourly Wage | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
California | $44.86 | $93,313 |
Hawaii | $38.53 | $80,145 |
Alaska | $36.92 | $76,803 |
Nevada | $36.39 | $75,687 |
District of Columbia | $35.95 | $74,775 |
Can you live off of a nurse case manager’s salary in the USA?
Find out how much a nurse case managers salary can afford based on your state’s cost-of-living index. This measurement determines how expensive a state is, or how affordable it is, by how much it exceeds or falls below the norm index of 100.
States like Hawaii, New York, and California are more expensive, so living comfortably as a nurse case manager can be more difficult here. However, metropolitan areas can also sometimes have higher salaries. Keep in mind that the median annual salary in each state will be relative to its cost-of-living index.
States with a cost of living that dramatically exceeds their median nursing salaries will be the most expensive to live in.
View the cost of living index to learn more
Position | State | costIndex |
| Position | State | Median Avg Nursing Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hawaii | 193.3 |
| 1 | California | $84,997.78 |
2 | New York | 148.2 |
| 2 | Washington | $80,067.11 |
3 | California | 142.2 |
| 3 | Oregon | $79,598.00 |
4 | Massachusetts | 135 |
| 4 | Alaska | $77,079.00 |
5 | Oregon | 130.1 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $76,783.89 |
6 | Alaska | 127.1 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $75,788.44 |
7 | Maryland | 124 |
| 7 | New York | $75,587.89 |
8 | Connecticut | 121.6 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $75,395.67 |
9 | Rhode Island | 117.2 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $72,408.78 |
10 | Vermont | 117 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $72,072.78 |
11 | New Jersey | 115.2 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $70,314.33 |
12 | Maine | 115 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $69,891.22 |
13 | Washington | 111.6 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $69,718.67 |
14 | New Hampshire | 109.9 |
| 14 | Nevada | $69,611.00 |
15 | Delaware | 107.9 |
| 15 | Maryland | $69,379.89 |
16 | Nevada | 106.3 |
| 16 | Michigan | $69,267.89 |
17 | Colorado | 105.3 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $68,994.22 |
18 | Arizona | 103.2 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $68,947.00 |
19 | Pennsylvania | 102.5 |
| 19 | Vermont | $68,873.00 |
20 | Idaho | 102.1 |
| 20 | Maine | $67,826.33 |
21 | Virginia | 101.8 |
| 21 | Arizona | $67,388.56 |
22 | South Dakota | 101 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $67,343.78 |
23 | Montana | 100.7 |
| 23 | Delaware | $67,080.67 |
24 | Florida | 100.3 |
| 24 | Colorado | $66,904.67 |
25 | Minnesota | 100 |
| 25 | Illinois | $66,509.56 |
26 | Utah | 99 |
| 26 | Utah | $66,147.78 |
27 | North Dakota | 98.2 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $65,823.22 |
28 | Wisconsin | 96.4 |
| 28 | Texas | $64,157.00 |
29 | North Carolina | 95.7 |
| 29 | Ohio | $64,145.00 |
30 | Illinois | 94.3 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $62,866.33 |
31 | Wyoming | 94.3 |
| 31 | Idaho | $62,811.56 |
32 | Nebraska | 93.7 |
| 32 | Iowa | $62,781.56 |
33 | South Carolina | 93.6 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $62,711.56 |
34 | Kentucky | 93.1 |
| 34 | Indiana | $62,346.56 |
35 | Louisiana | 93 |
| 35 | Montana | $62,307.22 |
36 | Texas | 92.1 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $61,509.67 |
37 | Michigan | 91.3 |
| 37 | Georgia | $61,484.67 |
38 | Ohio | 91.3 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $61,016.78 |
39 | New Mexico | 91 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $60,965.22 |
40 | Arkansas | 90.9 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $60,443.89 |
41 | Indiana | 90.6 |
| 41 | Missouri | $60,281.67 |
42 | West Virginia | 90.5 |
| 42 | Kansas | $59,949.00 |
43 | Iowa | 89.9 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $59,887.56 |
44 | Missouri | 89.8 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $59,798.11 |
45 | Tennessee | 89 |
| 45 | Florida | $59,653.67 |
46 | Georgia | 88.8 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $58,544.11 |
47 | Alabama | 87.9 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $58,357.33 |
48 | Oklahoma | 87.9 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $58,290.56 |
49 | Kansas | 86.5 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $57,799.00 |
50 | Mississippi | 83.3 |
| 50 | Virginia | $57,044.25 |
A note about our data. We use the median of the data gathered from The BLS at data.bls.gov and other salary data sources such as Salary.com, Indeed.com and Zippia.com. We believe that this is the best average to follow, rather than the mean or mode. The mean will find the average of all salaries in each state; the mode will favor the most frequently reported salaries. However, the median will find the middle. All data in this report will favor the middle salary from all ranges, which means 50% will fall below and 50% will be above the salary data reported below. On another note, we have removed data from Puerto Rico, Guam, and The Virgin Islands from the data we have sourced as we have focused on the 50 US States plus The District Of Colombia.
