The Average Annual Salary of Nurses in Houston, Texas

Education and Licensing

• Individuals who wish to pursue a career as a registered nurse have multiple options. Universities and colleges offer four-year programs to obtain a bachelor's of science degree in nursing. Community and junior colleges offer three-year programs to obtain an associate's degree. Many nurses elect to continue their education and obtain a master's or doctorate degree.
  
  In July 2010, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston received a stimulus grant of $4.7 million from the United States Department of Labor. The grant monies helped qualified individuals seeking to improve their employment opportunities while helping to relieve the critical shortage of nurses in Texas. The Nursing Education and Placement Program pays for books, enrollment fees and tution for several different nursing programs and assists with job placement after graduation. The program hopes to assist over 300 students during the three-year period of the grant.
  
  After completion of an approved course of study, all states, the District of Columbia and United States territories require that candidates pass the NCLEX-RN examination administered by the National Council of Licensure Examination.
  
  After passing the NCLEX-RN exam, nurses who wish to practice in Texas must acquire a state license. Contact the Texas Board of Nursing for eligibility requirements, license application and verification. Texas also requires that all applicants for a nursing license are fingerprinted and fingerprints are maintained as part of the state's records.
  
  

Staff Nurse

• As of January 2011, the annual, median salary for a registered staff nurse in Houston is $66,651. The lowest 10 per cent of staff nurses earn an annual income of $55,109. The top 10 percent of Houston staff nurses, with additional experience and education, earn $$79,447. Staff nurses provide bedside patient care, maintain medical records and assist physicians with diagnostic procedures and medical tests. Staff nurses change surgical dressings, administer medications and counsel patients on post-hospital care.
  
  

Clinical Nurse Specialist

• January 2011 figures reflect that clinical nurse specialists working in Houston earned an annual median income of $89,398. The lowest 10 percent of clinical nurse specialists earned an annual income of $74,734. The top 10 percent of Houston clinical nurse specialists earned $104,417. Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are registered nurses who through additional education (master's or doctorate) have clinical expertise in a special field of nursing. A clinical nurse has experience in patient care, family education and clinical leadership.
  
  

Maternity Nurse/Certified Nurse Midwives

• Maternity nurses and certified nurse midwives are in high demand in Houston. The average median income for a Houston certified midwife is $92,866. As of January 2011, the lowest 10 percent of earners made $78,713 per year, while the highest 10 percent of wage earners received an annual income of $108,847. Maternity nurses have master's or doctorate degrees. They specialize is care of both mother and infant during the birth process.