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Intensive care unit nurse salary
Average intensive care unit nurse salary
$79,483
Understanding ICU Nurse Salaries
The average salary for Intensive Care Unit Nurses is approximately $79,483 per year, translating to about $38 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and facility type. Newly graduated nurses typically start at a lower salary, while those with several years of experience can earn substantially more.
Salary by State
ICU Nurses can find higher salaries in specific states. For example, states like California and New York often offer competitive compensation compared to the national average. In addition, metropolitan areas frequently provide higher pay due to the cost of living and demand for skilled healthcare professionals.
Top Cities for ICU Nurses
Cities with the highest paying opportunities for ICU Nurses include San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY, where salaries can exceed $90,000 annually. These locations not only offer attractive pay but also provide robust professional development opportunities.
Career Advancement
Investing in continuing education and certifications can significantly enhance earning potential. ICU Nurses are encouraged to pursue specialized training and advanced practice roles, which can lead to positions with even greater responsibilities and higher salaries.
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Where can an Intensive Care Unit Nurse earn more?
Intensive care unit nurse salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level intensive care unit nurse | $63,000 | $30.30 |
| Mid-level intensive care unit nurse | $79,300 | $38.11 |
| Senior-level intensive care unit nurse | $109,000 | $52.27 |
Average intensive care unit nurse salary by state
The highest-paying states for intensive care unit nurses are Nevada, California, and Delaware. The lowest average intensive care unit nurse salary states are Idaho, Colorado, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for intensive care unit nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $105,612 | $50.77 |
| 2 | Nevada | $106,451 | $51.18 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $95,309 | $45.82 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $101,274 | $48.69 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $88,370 | $42.49 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $95,693 | $46.01 |
| 7 | Oregon | $101,487 | $48.79 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $100,335 | $48.24 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $82,567 | $39.70 |
| 10 | Utah | $99,356 | $47.77 |
| 11 | California | $106,231 | $51.07 |
| 12 | Washington | $95,055 | $45.70 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $96,610 | $46.45 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $89,497 | $43.03 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $92,991 | $44.71 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $80,496 | $38.70 |
| 17 | Georgia | $84,869 | $40.80 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $80,701 | $38.80 |
| 19 | Montana | $83,930 | $40.35 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $81,446 | $39.16 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $76,827 | $36.94 |
| 22 | Michigan | $80,285 | $38.60 |
| 23 | New York | $90,382 | $43.45 |
| 24 | Arizona | $84,435 | $40.59 |
| 25 | Illinois | $87,906 | $42.26 |
| 26 | Alaska | $82,944 | $39.88 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $72,499 | $34.86 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $76,180 | $36.63 |
| 29 | Vermont | $76,187 | $36.63 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $77,249 | $37.14 |
| 31 | Ohio | $72,530 | $34.87 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $89,940 | $43.24 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $83,571 | $40.18 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $73,901 | $35.53 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $71,075 | $34.17 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $76,326 | $36.70 |
| 37 | Florida | $71,199 | $34.23 |
| 38 | Iowa | $74,349 | $35.74 |
| 39 | Kansas | $72,933 | $35.06 |
| 40 | Maryland | $78,857 | $37.91 |
| 41 | Texas | $72,816 | $35.01 |
| 42 | Missouri | $75,274 | $36.19 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $87,931 | $42.27 |
| 44 | Maine | $63,470 | $30.51 |
| 45 | Virginia | $76,063 | $36.57 |
| 46 | Indiana | $66,869 | $32.15 |
| 47 | Idaho | $71,003 | $34.14 |
| 48 | Alabama | $71,579 | $34.41 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $55,753 | $26.80 |
| 50 | Colorado | $68,752 | $33.05 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $56,108 | $26.98 |
Highest paying cities for intensive care unit nurses
The highest-paying cities for intensive care unit nurses are Santa Clara, CA, Reno, NV, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara, CA | $109,199 | $52.50 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $106,978 | $51.43 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $102,012 | $49.04 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $101,153 | $48.63 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $100,939 | $48.53 |
| 6 | Rochester, MN | $97,467 | $46.86 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $90,653 | $43.58 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $90,161 | $43.35 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $89,899 | $43.22 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $88,056 | $42.33 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $88,031 | $42.32 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $85,093 | $40.91 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $84,502 | $40.63 |
| 14 | Jersey City, NJ | $83,865 | $40.32 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,942 | $39.88 |
| 16 | Oklahoma City, OK | $80,543 | $38.72 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $80,503 | $38.70 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $78,936 | $37.95 |
| 19 | Richmond, KY | $77,163 | $37.10 |
| 20 | Richmond, VA | $75,862 | $36.47 |
Intensive care unit nurse salary details
An intensive care unit nurse's salary ranges from $48,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $131,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an intensive care unit nurse's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $131,000 | $10,917 | $63 |
| 75th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
| Average | $79,483 | $6,624 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
Highest paying intensive care unit nurse jobs
The highest paying types of intensive care unit nurses are advanced registered nurse practitioner, registered nurse in the icu, and traveling nurse.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Clinician | $65,159 | $5,430 | $31.33 | 596,073 |
| Nurse | $57,564 | $4,797 | $27.67 | 696,124 |
| Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner | $97,820 | $8,152 | $47.03 | 486,582 |
| Operating Room Nurse | $68,255 | $5,688 | $32.82 | 545,487 |
| Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | $71,342 | $5,945 | $34.30 | 645,134 |
| Registered Nurse In The ICU | $92,881 | $7,740 | $44.65 | 631,825 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for intensive care unit nurses, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sophia Thomas
President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
-Starting salaries for NPs are exceptional, and usually hover between $80,000-100,000, but that can vary significantly based on geographic location, work setting, and certification/specialty. Some salaries are higher.
-The bureau of labor statistics (BLS) offers an excellent breakdown of salaries by region and state as well: link
-(Note: some stats on the BLS website are reflective of the Mean or Average salary and others represent the Median or midpoint. AANP data are all reported in Median)
-As NPs advance in their careers, there is a clear and positive relationship between number of years' experience and salary growth.
Top companies hiring intensive care unit nurses now:
Which companies pay intensive care unit nurses the most?
Intensive care unit nurse salaries at Dignity Health and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average intensive care unit nurse salary at companies like Aya Healthcare and Soliant are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dignity Health | $132,336 | $63.62 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $110,271 | $53.01 |
| 3 | Aya Healthcare | $109,842 | $52.81 |
| 4 | Soliant | $109,044 | $52.42 |
| 5 | Westways Staffing | $105,997 | $50.96 |
| 6 | MAS Medical Staffing | $105,404 | $50.67 |
| 7 | trustaff | $101,364 | $48.73 |
| 8 | ATC Healthcare | $100,189 | $48.17 |
| 9 | Interim HealthCare | $95,787 | $46.05 |
| 10 | Ascension Michigan | $89,313 | $42.94 |
| 11 | LeaderStat | $89,210 | $42.89 |
| 12 | Baptist Health Care | $89,054 | $42.81 |
| 13 | Incredible Health | $88,588 | $42.59 |
| 14 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $88,521 | $42.56 |
| 15 | Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company | $88,112 | $42.36 |
| 16 | 24 Hour Home Care | $87,597 | $42.11 |
| 17 | The Zack Group | $87,149 | $41.90 |
| 18 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $85,949 | $41.32 |
| 19 | Indian Health Service | $83,938 | $40.35 |
| 20 | Clinical Management Consultants | $83,422 | $40.11 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Intensive care unit nurse salary trends
The average intensive care unit nurse salary has risen by $11,127 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average intensive care unit nurse earned $68,356 annually, but today, they earn $79,483 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for intensive care unit nurses over the last decade.
Compare intensive care unit nurse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average intensive care unit nurse salary over time
Compare intensive care unit nurse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Intensive care unit nurse salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $79,500 | $38.21 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $77,300 | $37.18 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $75,700 | $36.39 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $73,900 | $35.51 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $72,200 | $34.72 | +1.4% |
Recently added intensive care unit nurse salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutterhealth | Registration Nurse II, Intensive Care Unit | Modesto, CA | 06/30/2025 | $143,293 |
| ATC Healthcare | PRN-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) Nurse | Portland, OR | 06/29/2025 | $116,872 |
| ATC Healthcare | Intensive Care Unit RN-Contract Position In | Dothan, AL | 06/29/2025 | $110,611 |
| Prana Talent | RN Cvicu | Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit Nurse | Travel | Shift: AM\\PM\\NOC | Up To | Lake Havasu City, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $128,476 |
| Connected Health Care, LLC | Travel/Contract Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse ! | Winston-Salem, NC | 06/26/2025 | $117,394 |
| Medstar Research Institute | Intensive Care Unit ICU RN DAY/Night Rotating | Baltimore, MD | 06/25/2025 | $73,045 |
| Gotham Companies | Intensive/Critical Care Unit ICU CCU RN | Andover, KS | 06/24/2025 | $73,045 |
| Emory Healthcare/Emory University | Emory University Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Facility Float Registered Nurse-Event | Atlanta, GA | 06/22/2025 | $87,654 |
| Navitspartners | Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse-Icurn | Utica, NY | 06/22/2025 | $125,220 |
| Connected Health Care, LLC | Travel/Contract Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse! | Camden, NJ | 06/17/2025 | $133,829 |
Intensive care unit nurse salary FAQs
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