Welcome to an information-packed article on a Flight Nurse Salary!
This guide will walk you through every aspect of how Flight Nurses are remunerated.
After reading through, you will have a better insight into Flight Nurse salaries, compensation plans, and how Flight Nurses can increase salaries.
This article discusses the following:
- Flight Nurse Salary – Overview
- Compensation Plan For Flight Nurses
- Flight Nurse Salary by state
- Safety Risks of a Flight Nurse
- How to Increase a Flight Nurse Salary
So, let’s get started!
Flight Nurse Salary – Overview
Before the advent of for-profit medical evacuation programs run by hospitals and municipalities, the industry was dominated by nonprofit organizations.
However, medical evacuation is driven by for-profit private air-ambulance companies, which are willing to pay high Flight Nurse salaries to attract qualified employees.
While Flight Nurses’ national average salary is $74,430 per year, the figures are influenced by various factors, including years of experience as a Critical Care Nurse, qualifications, and certification.
Compensation Plan for Flight Nurses
Flight Nurse compensation in a cash payment is only a portion of the total compensation package that Transport Nurses receive.
Furthermore, they may be eligible for welfare, which is non-cash remuneration provided by employers to employees and their salaries.
A Flight Nurse’s total remuneration can be significantly increased due to benefits.
A private sector Flight Nurse receives benefits equal to 42 percent of their salary, whereas a state or local government Flight Nurse receives benefits equal to 62 percent of their salary.
Therefore, the total remuneration received by Flight Nurses in the private sector comes to $114,836, and the remuneration package received by Flight Nurses in state and local government is roughly $133,910, respectively.
Benefits are popular among employees because they depict income not subject to taxation.
As shown in the table below, a typical compensation plan for a Flight Nurse includes:
| Element | Private Sector | State and Local Government |
|---|---|---|
Insurance | $8,957 | $15,667 |
Retirement and Savings | $3,904 | $16,605 |
Legally Required | $8,728 | $7,365 |
Paid Leave | $8,498 | $10,177 |
Supplemental Pay | $4,019 | $1,339 |
Total Benefits | $34,106 | $51,020 |
Average Annual Salary | $80,730 | $82,890 |
Total Compensation | $114,836 | $133,910 |
Flight Nurse Salary by state
A Flight Nurse’s hourly wage is $38.99 per hour, weekly wages are $1,559, monthly wages are $6,760, and yearly wages are $81,093, respectively, in all parts of the United States in 2022.
However, estimated average Flight Nurse salaries vary significantly between states and between cities within the same state.
The majority of this variation can be attributed to geographical differences in the cost of living.
Certified Flight Registered Nurses in California are paid the highest wages, while those who work as Flight Nurses in Alabama are paid less.
Flight Nurses in California earn an average of $122,190 per year, nearly twice as much as Flight Nurse jobs in Alabama, who earn $61,050 per year.
While living in Alabama is more expensive than in the rest of the United States, it is less expensive than living in California, 68 percent more expensive than living in Alabama.
In Seattle, Washington’s largest city, Flight Nurses earn 4% above the state average.
Of course, various other factors contribute to the disparity between Flight Nurse Salaries in these two states.
California has a higher demand for Flight Nurses, which will increase the average salary of a Flight Nurse soon.
When transporting a patient between medical facilities, it is common for them to be transported from a local hospital, where many healthcare services may not be accessible, to a Level I emergency facility.
For example, California has 18 Level I trauma centers, whereas Alabama only has one Level I trauma center.
The table below shows the hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual income of Flight Nurses by state:
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | $100,502 | $8,375 | $1,933 | $48.32 |
New Hampshire | $97,383 | $8,115 | $1,873 | $46.82 |
California | $96,387 | $8,032 | $1,854 | $46.34 |
Vermont | $92,006 | $7,667 | $1,769 | $44.23 |
Idaho | $90,804 | $7,567 | $1,746 | $43.66 |
Massachusetts | $90,216 | $7,518 | $1,735 | $43.37 |
Wyoming | $89,770 | $7,481 | $1,726 | $43.16 |
Maine | $89,134 | $7,428 | $1,714 | $42.85 |
Washington | $87,860 | $7,322 | $1,690 | $42.24 |
Hawaii | $87,685 | $7,307 | $1,686 | $42.16 |
West Virginia | $87,332 | $7,278 | $1,679 | $41.99 |
Pennsylvania | $85,853 | $7,154 | $1,651 | $41.28 |
Connecticut | $85,604 | $7,134 | $1,646 | $41.16 |
Montana | $84,941 | $7,078 | $1,633 | $40.84 |
New Jersey | $84,424 | $7,035 | $1,624 | $40.59 |
Rhode Island | $84,120 | $7,010 | $1,618 | $40.44 |
Arizona | $84,066 | $7,006 | $1,617 | $40.42 |
Indiana | $83,528 | $6,961 | $1,606 | $40.16 |
Alaska | $83,431 | $6,953 | $1,604 | $40.11 |
North Dakota | $82,892 | $6,908 | $1,594 | $39.85 |
Maryland | $82,826 | $6,902 | $1,593 | $39.82 |
Nevada | $82,775 | $6,898 | $1,592 | $39.80 |
Tennessee | $81,718 | $6,810 | $1,572 | $39.29 |
Minnesota | $81,706 | $6,809 | $1,571 | $39.28 |
Wisconsin | $81,566 | $6,797 | $1,569 | $39.21 |
Nebraska | $81,488 | $6,791 | $1,567 | $39.18 |
Ohio | $81,124 | $6,760 | $1,560 | $39.00 |
Georgia | $81,096 | $6,758 | $1,560 | $38.99 |
South Dakota | $80,472 | $6,706 | $1,548 | $38.69 |
Virginia | $80,420 | $6,702 | $1,547 | $38.66 |
Utah | $79,934 | $6,661 | $1,537 | $38.43 |
Oregon | $79,272 | $6,606 | $1,524 | $38.11 |
Louisiana | $79,239 | $6,603 | $1,524 | $38.10 |
Alabama | $79,200 | $6,600 | $1,523 | $38.08 |
Kansas | $78,151 | $6,513 | $1,503 | $37.57 |
South Carolina | $77,837 | $6,486 | $1,497 | $37.42 |
Iowa | $77,825 | $6,485 | $1,497 | $37.42 |
Colorado | $77,581 | $6,465 | $1,492 | $37.30 |
New Mexico | $77,518 | $6,460 | $1,491 | $37.27 |
Delaware | $77,411 | $6,451 | $1,489 | $37.22 |
Florida | $76,433 | $6,369 | $1,470 | $36.75 |
Oklahoma | $75,737 | $6,311 | $1,456 | $36.41 |
Kentucky | $74,238 | $6,187 | $1,428 | $35.69 |
Mississippi | $73,220 | $6,102 | $1,408 | $35.20 |
Arkansas | $72,874 | $6,073 | $1,401 | $35.04 |
Michigan | $72,798 | $6,066 | $1,400 | $35.00 |
Illinois | $72,479 | $6,040 | $1,394 | $34.85 |
Texas | $72,059 | $6,005 | $1,386 | $34.64 |
Missouri | $71,236 | $5,936 | $1,370 | $34.25 |
North Carolina | $66,329 | $5,527 | $1,276 | $31.89 |
Safety Risks and Insurance Coverage
Since Flight Nurses are frequently called upon to respond to trauma or crises, one of the first preventive measures they must be aware of is the surrounding environment.
For example, when responding to a car crash, Flight Nurses must ensure no gas or oil leaks or fires on the scene before proceeding.
They must also ensure that when victims are retrieved from vehicles, they are not harmed by metal or glass fragments that could cause injury.
A further example is a search and rescue operation in a remote location.
Flight or Air Transport Nurses must check for ice, dampness, and loose gravel before taking off.
Aside from that, they must be dressed appropriately for the weather and circumstance, and they must have means of communicating with others.
The real plane ride itself can be a source of danger.
Flight Nurses can be needed at any time of the day or night, in rain or shine, in fog or thunderstorms, and in any weather condition.
Visibility is a consideration for pilots, posing a safety hazard.
Turbulence can also make it difficult to provide medical care, so Flight Nurses should take extra precautions to keep both equipment and patients safe while in the air.
Emergency medical services operations are inherently dangerous because of the pressure to perform them quickly in various climatic conditions (such as adverse weather, night, and unfamiliar landing sites for helicopter operations).
As a result of the hazards associated with emergency medical services operations, many fatalities and injuries are reported.
Flight Nurses are exposed to potentially hazardous situations on the job, including the possibility of lifelong damage or death.
At this time, there is no specialized life insurance policy designed specifically for Flight Nurses to protect their families.
However, a Flight Nurse should apply for general life insurance premium packages to be considered for employment.
How to Increase a Flight Nurse Salary
If you want to boost your Flight Nurse Salary, consider the following suggestions:
Certification: Obtaining certification demonstrates that you know life-flight nursing specifics to prospective employers.
Acquiring a Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) certification (administered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing) in one or more of the following areas will assert mastery in life-saving techniques:
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Per-diem nursing jobs: Most medical centers are chronically understaffed in today’s world.
Per-diem shifts at a healthcare facility near your home will allow you to earn extra money whenever you require extra money.
Clinical specialization: A Flight Nurse with specialized knowledge in catheterization or dialysis may be able to bargain a higher hourly wage than a Flight Nurse who can only show general nursing competencies.
Graduate Degree: Though Nurses with an associate degree may work as Flight Nurses, many jobs may prefer Transport Nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN, the most common type of graduate degree.
An advanced nursing degree, e.g., an MSN (master’s degree), may enable you to advance to administrative or supervisory positions, resulting in increased Flight Nurse salaries.
Nursing School Teaching Positions: Working as a nursing school instructor at a community college or online learning provider will give you a higher salary.
Conclusion
Because nursing is a growing field in general, the employment outlook for Flight Nurses is favorable.
There is not much turnover in this type of position, but new private companies are forming and looking to hire Nurses for positions in this field.
Nurses who enjoy providing emergency care and who prefer a more challenging environment than a hospital or health office will find success in the field of transport.
FAQs
What does a Flight/Transport Nurse make in the state of Florida?
The average Flight Nurse pay in Orlando, Florida, is $84,840, while the range frequently falls between $75,290 and $95,280. Salary ranges are determined by a variety of factors, including education, certificates, environment, additional skills, and the number of years you have worked in your area.
How much does a Flight Nurse make in Texas?
A Life Flight Nurse in Texas is $148,856, 2 percent higher than the national average salary for a Life Flight Nurse of $146,069. This wage is 28 percent below the total average in three major cities of Washington, DC, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland, respectively.
How much does a Flight Nurse make in California?
The average pay for a Life Flight Nurse in Fremont, California, is $220,475, 51 percent higher than the national average salary for a Life Flight Nurse of $146,069. This salary is 29 percent more than the total average incomes of the other major metropolitan areas of Chicago, Illinois, and Georgia.
How much does a Flight Nurse make in Oklahoma?
The average pay for a Life Flight Nurse in Oklahoma is $129,313, 11 percent less than the national average salary for a Life Flight Nurse of $146,069. This salary is 47 percent lower than the total average incomes of the other major metropolitan areas of Washington, DC, and Seattle.
How much does a Flight Nurse make in Atlanta?
The average income for a Life Flight Nurse in Atlanta is $151,912, 4 percent higher than the national average salary for a Life Flight Nurse of $146,069. In comparison, the total average incomes of the other metro areas of Denver, CO, Chicago, and New York, NY are 5 percent lower.
