Jobs Similar to Clinical Nurse Specialists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to clinical nurse specialists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Hospitalists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners.
Clinical Nurse Specialists: $97,550 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Clinical Nurse Specialists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HospitalistsSame group | 85% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Nurse MidwivesSame group | 85% | $134,040 | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Nurse PractitionersSame group | 84% | $132,300 | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Physician AssistantsSame group | 82% | $135,880 | Graduate degree |
| 5 | PsychiatristsSame group | 82% | $281,870 | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Pediatricians, GeneralSame group | 82% | $210,040 | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 82% | $80,250 | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Advanced Practice Psychiatric NursesSame group | 82% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Dietitians and NutritionistsSame group | 82% | $76,400 | Graduate degree |
| 10 | PharmacistsSame group | 82% | $140,910 | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 82% | $335,550 | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsSame group | 81% | $292,910 | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Preventive Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 81% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Family Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 81% | $244,180 | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Genetic Counselors | 81% | $100,040 | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Community Health Workers | 81% | $51,850 | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Health Education Specialists | 81% | $64,070 | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Clinical Neuropsychologists | 81% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Patient Representatives | 80% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 20 | Critical Care NursesSame group | 80% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Hospitalists
85% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Nurse Midwives
85% similar · $134,040 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Nurse Practitioners
84% similar · $132,300 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Physician Assistants
82% similar · $135,880 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Psychiatrists
82% similar · $281,870 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Pediatricians, General
82% similar · $210,040 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
82% similar · $80,250 · Graduate degree
- 8Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
82% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Dietitians and Nutritionists
82% similar · $76,400 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Pharmacists
82% similar · $140,910 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Emergency Medicine Physicians
82% similar · $335,550 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Obstetricians and Gynecologists
81% similar · $292,910 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Preventive Medicine Physicians
81% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Family Medicine Physicians
81% similar · $244,180 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Genetic Counselors
81% similar · $100,040 · Graduate degree
- 16Community Health Workers
81% similar · $51,850 · Bachelor's degree
- 17Health Education Specialists
81% similar · $64,070 · Bachelor's degree
- 18Clinical Neuropsychologists
81% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 19Patient Representatives
80% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 20Critical Care Nurses
80% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for clinical nurse specialists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where clinical nurse specialists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (92)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (91)
- Genetic Counselors (91)
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (89)
- Neuropsychologists (86)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (84)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (84)
- Midwives (84)
- Healthcare Social Workers (83)
- Epidemiologists (82)
Questions about jobs like clinical nurse specialists
What jobs are most similar to clinical nurse specialists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Hospitalists (85% similar), Nurse Midwives (85% similar), Nurse Practitioners (84% similar), Physician Assistants (82% similar) and Psychiatrists (82% similar).
Do jobs like clinical nurse specialists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than clinical nurse specialists where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.