The following page shows the career & education requirements, salary and job outlook for a Legal Nursing around the country.
What We Do
In many cases, the medical and legal worlds can overlap, particularly in things like malpractice cases. However, because most prosecutors and lawyers do not have the necessary expertise in health care, they need the help of an expert in that area in order to ensure that they get their facts right in a particular case. This is where legal nurse consultants are often required. Most legal nurses will be experienced professionals who have gained substantial experience in the nursing field and have already earned the training required to work as a legal consultant on various medical cases.
Work Environment
As you might imagine, most legal nurses will find employment within a range of different healthcare settings, including clinics, hospitals, and long-term centers for patient care. Health insurance companies and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) will also hire legal nurse consultants, and so will prosecution offices, attorney firms, forensic departments and more. After obtaining a significant amount of expertise, some legal nurses can even open their own consulting firms.
How to Become a Legal Nursing
Becoming a legal nurse consultant first requires an individual to become an active registered nurse with a nursing degree from a traditional university or nursing school. In order to earn a certification as an RN, individuals will be required to pass the national licensure examination for registered nurses, and earn as many years of experience as possible to get better job opportunities.
Training & Certification Requirements
Once they have graduated from a nursing program, individuals who want to become legal nurses must complete a range of licensing procedures that meet their state laws. For instance, all nurses will need to pass the examination to become a licensed registered nurse. Though it is not a mandatory requirement, the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants also offers training courses and certification examinations for legal nurse consultants. In order to take this certification exam, it is important to have at least five years of experience as a nurse, and 2,000 hours of legal consulting experience.
Legal Nursing Related Job Titles
According to Indeed.com, the following career/job titles with salary figures are most closely related to Legal Nursing.
Career/Job Title | Average Salary |
---|---|
Nursing Evaluator | $26,000 |
RN House Supervisor | $76,000 |
Medical Malpractice Investigator | $38,000 |
RN Inpatient Emergency | $60,000 |
Legal Nurse Consultant | $21,000 |
RN Homecare | $75,000 |
For Student | $49,000 |
RN Pediatric Icu Ccu | $75,000 |
RN Correctional Facility | $96,000 |
Senior Child Protective Investigator | $42,000 |
Legal Nursing Earning Potential
The current average wage for legal nurse consultants is approximately $71,593 per year according to information from Payscale.
Legal Nursing Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, categorizes legal nurse consultants with a range of other registered nurses, and expects faster-than-average growth in employment opportunities of approximately 19% for the period of 2012 to 2022. The estimation is that a continued demand for valuable healthcare and legal professionals is bound to lead to an improvement in hiring opportunities.
According to Indeed.com, the average national salary of jobs for Legal Nursing was $34,000.00 with a high confidence ranking based on over 250 sources. Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide are 40% lower than average salaries for all job postings nationwide.
Legal Nursing Salary by State
The following lists Legal Nursing salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings by employers through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $43,000 while Hawaii had the smallest quoted salary of $21,000.
Alaska – $25,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 48th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Alaska are 26% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ResCare, TherapyTravelers, Workplace Alaska, and Surgical Care Affiliates. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Alabama – $35,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 11th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Alabama are 1% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like HealthSouth, ResCare, Genesis Healthcare, and Fresenius Medical Care. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Arkansas – $35,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 12th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Arkansas are 2% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like HealthSouth, TherapyTravelers, Vantage Point of Northwest Arkansas, and Mercy. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Arizona – $28,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 43rd | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Arizona are 18% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Banner Health, HealthSouth, and ResCare. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
California – $37,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 7th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in California are 7% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kaiser Permanente, TherapyTravelers, RehabCare Group, and ResCare. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Colorado – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 34th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Colorado are 11% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Emerus, Genesis Healthcare, SUMMIT HOSPITAL, and TherapyTravelers. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Connecticut – $40,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 4th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Connecticut are 15% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Saint Francis Care, Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, TherapyTravelers, and Genesis Healthcare. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
DC – $43,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 1st | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Washington, DC are 25% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Children's Hospital, Genesis Healthcare, TherapyTravelers, and Children's School Services. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Delaware – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 35th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Delaware are 12% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Genesis Healthcare, Nemours, RehabCare Group, and TherapyTravelers. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Florida – $32,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 26th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Florida are 7% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like VITAS Healthcare, ResCare, South Lake Hospital, and HealthSouth. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Georgia – $39,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 5th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Georgia are 14% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ResCare, TherapyTravelers, Aegis Therapies, and Athens Regional Health System. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Hawaii – $21,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 51st | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Hawaii are 38% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 51st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kaiser Permanente, TherapyTravelers, Hawaii Nursing Solutions, and Envision Healthcare. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Iowa – $34,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 16th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like UnityPoint Health, TherapyTravelers, Aegis Therapies, and McFarland Clinic PC. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Idaho – $22,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 50th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Idaho are 34% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Ensign Services, Inc., Marquis Companies Shaw Mountain (Boise), Intermountain Healthcare, and St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Illinois – $39,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 6th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Illinois are 13% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like RehabCare Group, TherapyTravelers, Aegis Therapies, and BJC HealthCare. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Indiana – $33,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 20th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Indiana are 4% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Indiana University Health, Bloomington Hospital, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, and TherapyTravelers. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Kansas – $31,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 30th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Kansas are 9% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aegis Therapies, TherapyTravelers, Genesis Healthcare, and Summit Care, Inc.. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Kentucky – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 36th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Kentucky are 14% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Catholic Health Initiatives, TherapyTravelers, KentuckyOne Health, and Genesis Healthcare. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Louisiana – $31,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 31st | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Louisiana are 11% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Unlisted Company, East Jefferson General Hospital, and Fresenius Medical Care. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Massachusetts – $41,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 3rd | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Massachusetts are 20% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Genesis Healthcare, HealthSouth, and BAYSTATE HEALTH SYSTEM. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Maryland – $35,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 13th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Maryland are 3% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MedExpress, Aegis Therapies, BrightStar Care, and JOHNS HOPKINS HEALTH SYSTEM. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Maine – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 37th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Maine are 12% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, RehabCare Group, Genesis Healthcare, and HealthSouth. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Michigan – $35,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 14th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Michigan are 1% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Munson Healthcare, Covenant HealthCare, ResCare, and MedExpress. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Minnesota – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 38th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Minnesota are 13% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Aegis Therapies, MedExpress, and Prairie River Home Care, Inc. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Missouri – $34,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 17th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Missouri are 2% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like BJC HealthCare, Aegis Therapies, RehabCare Group, and HealthSouth. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Mississippi – $36,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 9th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Mississippi are 5% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, Aegis Therapies, and RehabCare Group. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Montana – $29,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 42nd | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Montana are 17% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Genesis Healthcare, and Kalispell Regional Medical Center. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
North Carolina – $33,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 21st | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in North Carolina are 5% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Carolinas HealthCare System, ResCare, TherapyTravelers, and RehabCare Group. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
North Dakota – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 39th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in North Dakota are 11% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Sanford Health, RehabCare Group, and Altru Health System. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Nebraska – $25,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 49th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Nebraska are 27% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Aegis Therapies, MedExpress, and Children's Hospital & Medical Center – Omaha. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
New Hampshire – $34,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 18th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in New Hampshire are 1% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Genesis Healthcare, Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center, and TherapyTravelers. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
New Jersey – $37,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 8th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in New Jersey are 8% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Genesis Healthcare, Valley Health System of Ridgewood, NJ, TherapyTravelers, and St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
New Mexico – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 40th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in New Mexico are 13% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Genesis Healthcare, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, and Aegis Therapies. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Nevada – $26,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 46th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Nevada are 24% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, HealthSouth, Genesis Healthcare, and Emerus. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
New York – $42,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 2nd | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in New York State are 21% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Northwell Health, Mercy Hospital Of Buffalo, Centers Health Care, and Beth Abraham Family of Health Services. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Ohio – $33,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 22nd | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Ohio are 4% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Genesis Healthcare, TherapyTravelers, ResCare, and RehabCare Group. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Oklahoma – $32,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 27th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Oklahoma are 8% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aegis Therapies, ResCare, TherapyTravelers, and HealthSouth. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Oregon – $33,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 23rd | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Oregon are 3% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Kaiser Permanente, State of Oregon, and Sky Lakes Medical Center. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Pennsylvania – $33,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 24th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Pennsylvania are 4% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network, Genesis Healthcare, HealthSouth, and TherapyTravelers. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Rhode Island – $31,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 32nd | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Rhode Island are 9% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Lifespan, TherapyTravelers, Genesis Healthcare, and Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
South Carolina – $34,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 19th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in South Carolina are 1% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, ResCare, HealthSouth, and Lexington Medical Center. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
South Dakota – $26,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 47th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in South Dakota are 25% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sanford Health, TherapyTravelers, Aegis Therapies, and Regional Health. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Tennessee – $32,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 28th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Tennessee are 7% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sumner Regional Medical Center, Take Care Health, Livingston Regional Hospital, and RehabCare Group. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Texas – $33,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 25th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Texas are 3% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Catholic Health Initiatives, TherapyTravelers, HealthSouth, and ResCare. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Utah – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 45th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Utah are 22% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Intermountain Healthcare, University of Utah, ResCare, and HealthSouth. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Virginia – $35,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 15th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Virginia are 1% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Sentara Healthcare, Aegis Therapies, and HealthSouth. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Vermont – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 41st | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Vermont are 12% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Genesis Healthcare, Visiting Nurse Association, Option Care, Inc., and Northwestern Medical Center. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Washington – $36,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 10th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Washington State are 3% higher than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like EvergreenHealth, University of Washington Medical Center, TherapyTravelers, and University of Washington. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Wisconsin – $31,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 33rd | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Wisconsin are 11% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, Gundersen Health System, Aegis Therapies, and RehabCare Group. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
West Virginia – $32,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 29th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in West Virginia are 6% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Genesis Healthcare, MedExpress, HealthSouth, and ResCare. | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Wyoming – $28,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 44th | ||||||||||
Average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings in Wyoming are 17% lower than average Legal Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TherapyTravelers, St. Johns Medical Center, West Park Hospital, and Aegis Therapies. | |||||||||||
|