10. Utilization Review RN — $80K – $105K
Utilization Review nurses work almost exclusively for health insurance companies, third-party administrators, and hospital case management departments. The job is medical necessity review — reading charts, applying InterQual or MCG criteria, and approving or denying continued stays and procedures. It is one of the oldest remote nursing paths, and it is still hiring consistently.
Most UR roles require two to five years of hospital experience, ideally in med-surg, ICU, or ED. Insurance carriers like UnitedHealth, Elevance, Humana, and Cigna post the highest volume of UR openings, and most positions are fully remote with a state-flexible license requirement.
Nurse.com and Vivian Health salary data put UR nurse pay in the $80K to $105K range, with senior and lead roles crossing $115K. Certifications like the CCM (Certified Case Manager) from the Commission for Case Manager Certification and InterQual training reliably raise the ceiling.
