Hello there, welcome to another excellent read examining the topic: How Much Does an ICU Nurse Make?
We’ll cover Intensive Care Unit Nurse Salary by location, level of education, years of experience, and industry, just to mention a few, and why you may want to pursue this nursing career.
At the end of this article, we would have walked you through every aspect of an average ICU Nurse Salary.
We’ll take you through:
- How does work experience impact the average salary of an ICU RN?
- How ICU Nurses work and earn by states
- Pediatric and Neonatal intensive care nurses’ salary by the level of education
- The effect of the workplace on the salary of CCU Registered Nurse
Let’s get started right away!
An Overview of ICU Nurse Salary
Nursing is one of the few career paths that allow people to continue to grow and learn while also allowing them to challenge themselves.
Nurses come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they are always in demand.
They collaborate with Doctors and Surgeons, assist patients in receiving care, and provide a source of consolation.
Registered Nurses make up the bulk of ICU Nurses.
Candidates must obtain a diploma, an Associate Degree (ADN), or a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) to become Registered Nurses.
Candidates must also pass the NCLEX-RN exam in order to receive an RN license.
For Critical Care Nurses, additional qualification is usually required.
The AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses offers certification).
As of March 29, 2022, the average Critical Care Nurse pay in the United States is $79,700, with a salary range of $47,100 to $103,200.
Salary ranges rely on a variety of things, including the level of education, sort of certifications, supplementary talents, and the length of years you’ve worked in your field.
ICU Nurse Salary by Level of Education and Years of Experience
Perfection is achieved via practice.
The additional time spent on a job position, the more experienced you become in it, and the wages awarded to ICU Nurses reflect this.
Typically, ICU Nurses reach the average income level around their seventh to the eighth year in the profession.
ICU Nurses flaunting zero to sixty months of experience make 12-16 percent more than their newly graduated colleagues.
ICU Nurses flaunting seventy-two (six years) to one hundred and twenty months (ten years) of experience make 20-23 percent more than their newly graduated colleagues.
Salary differences of 23-25 percent exist between ICU Nurses flaunting seventy-two to one hundred and twenty months of experience and those with eleven to nineteen years (132 to 228 months) of experience.
ICU Nurses flaunting twenty years or more experience earn 23–26 percent much more than CCU Nurses with eleven to nineteen years (132 to 228 months) of experience.
That is more than double their entry-level pay.
As previously stated, personnel salary is a significant issue for CCNs.
Increased salary for experienced and professional ICU Nurses is one approach to keep them on the nursing job.
- Entry Level average Critical Care Nurse salary is $47,100
- 0-5 years (0 to 60 months) of experience is $54,300
- 6-10 years (72 to 120 months) of experience is $66,400
- 11-19 years (132 to 228 months) of experience is $82,400
- 20 and above years of experience is $102,300
The average yearly compensation for Critical Care BSN RNs Registered Nurses – ICU in the United States is around $70,500, which is 7-8 percent higher than the national average.
On the other hand, CCRNs with MSN earn over $92,100 as the mean annual salary in the United States.
ICU Nurse Pay by State
The average salary is mostly determined by Nurse salary rates in any particular location.
Most of the time average Nurse pay rates are determined by the cost of living for a particular location, selection of employees with the necessary education and skills, the accessibility of people qualified to perform a certain job in that location, and job availability.
Areas with a higher average income also manage to have a more heightened cost of living.
The heightened cost of living increases salaries because people cannot afford to settle in such costly areas if salaries are not high enough.
It should be noted that the highest-salaried Intensive Care Unit Nurses operate in California.
However, California’s cost of living is about 45-49 percent higher than the national average, which is one of the grounds for the average ICU Nurse Salary in the State being 49-51 percent greater than the national average.
Here are some states with their various ICU Nursing salaries:
- California average ICU Nurse Salary (ICU Nurse Salary California): $106,200
- Washington average ICU RN Salary: $80,400
- New Hampshire average ICU Nurse Salary: $66,900
- Hawaii’s average ICU Nurse Salary is $92,300
- Massachusetts average ICU Nurse Salary: $84,800
- Oregon average ICU Nurse Salary: $84,700
- Alaska’s non-metropolitan area (rural areas outside of Alaska’s most populated cities) -the average income for an ICU Nurse is $83,900.
- Nevada average ICU Nurse Salary: $79,000
- New Jersey average ICU Nurse Salary: $75,500
- Connecticut average ICU Nurse Salary: $74,700
- Kansas average ICU Nurse Salary: $56,600
- Mississippi average ICU Nurse Salary: $54,000
- Pennsylvania average ICU Nurse Salary: $65,300
- Rhode Island average ICU Nurse Salary: $72,900
- South Carolina average ICU Nurse Salary: $53,700
- Wisconsin average ICU Nurse Salary: $65,900
- Wyoming average ICU Nurse Salary: $64,000
- Indiana average ICU Nurse Salary: $59,500
- Michigan average ICU Nurse Salary: $65,200
- New York average ICU Nurse Salary (ICU Nurse Salary NYC): $79,100
- Texas average ICU Nurse Salary (ICU Nurse Salary Texas): $67,700
- Florida average ICU Nurse Salary (ICU Nurse Salary Florida): $61,200
- Alabama average ICU Nurse Salary: $53,100
- Maryland average ICU Nurse Salary: $71,900
- Oklahoma average ICU Nurse Salary: $58,700
- CCU Nurse Salary for South Dakota: $53,700
- Georgia average ICU Nurse Salary (ICU Nurse Salary Georgia): $63,000
- Los Angeles, California average ICU Nurse Salary (ICU Nurse Salary Los Angeles): $89,000
ICU Nurse Salary by Employer
According to Payscale employers such as Banner Health, Methodist Healthcare, and HCA, Inc., that responded to a job posting for the position of Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the highest reported salary is at Kaiser Permanente, where the mean hourly wage is $65.70.
Other organizations that pay well for the same position include HCA, Inc., and Banner Health with salary ranges of $30.40 and $36.90 per hour, respectively.
Mercy Hospital has the lowest salary, with a mean of $23.90 per hour.
Texas Health Resources and Florida Hospital, Orlando Florida are also among the organizations that pay at the lower end of the range, with payments of $29.35 and $27.10, respectively, for their services.
Intensive Care Unit Nurse Jobs and Salary Outlook
If you want to work as a Nurse in critical care, you’ll want to know the job forecast for the next several years.
That way, you’ll be able to plan the correct specialties and certifications to aid in your job search.
For at least 45-50 years, the United States has had periodic nursing shortages, not just among Critical Care Unit Nurses but all Nurses.
However, the present nursing depletion is so severe that some reviewers predict that by 2030, 1.199 million more Nurses will be required to meet the nursing market.
Minnesota, Hawaii, Delaware, New Jersey, and Illinois are among the states with the most heightened need for ICU Nurses.
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is still being felt across the United States, and the need for ICU Nurses will persistently be on the increase.
The aging of the Baby Boomer era is also driving the need for critical care interventions: 25-28.
1 percent of patients aged 60 to 85 who are admitted to the hospital end up visiting the ICU at least one time throughout their hospitalizations.
Despite the fact that ICU Nurses are expected to be very proficient, no single thing in their education—whether on the nursing job or in an academic program—equips them to work unaided, thus they earn much less than Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) who have been educated to work without physician supervision.
ICU Nurses are paid roughly 40-41 percent lower than Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners, 125-130 percent lower than licensed Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and 37-39% lower than Nurse-Midwives.
On the other hand, CCU Nurses earn much more than supplementary healthcare workers whose major duty is restoration rather than treatment.
CCNs are paid 24-26 percent higher than Dieticians, 40-42 percent higher than ER Medical Technicians, and 15-18 percent higher than Respiratory Therapists.
According to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), the job outlook is also favorable.
According to statistics, this sector is anticipated to develop by roughly 7-9% between 2020 and 2030, therefore students who are just getting started today can expect job growth once they graduate.
By 2030, a further 221,901 new jobs are predicted in the industry.
This is significantly faster than the norm.
Because strong demand is linked to increased pay, the future picture for ICU Nurse salaries is bright.
Skills and Factors that Affect Critical Care RN Salary
Critical Care Nurses require a diverse set of soft and hard skills to be successful in their careers.
In order to deliver high-quality patient care, they must maintain open lines of communication with most healthcare professionals and their teams.
They must also interact with patients and their family members in a sympathetic and straightforward manner to explain every diagnosis, the progress reports, and the patient’s health state.
It is also really important in this field to have strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.
A large number of patients in critical care settings are involved in life-threatening circumstances that demand quick thinking and innovative solutions to be successful.
Critical Care Nurses should also have a deep sense of compassion for their patients and their family members.
They should also be able to empathize with them and comprehend their situations.
Ways to Improve CCN Hourly Wage
There are various ways to supplement your annual earnings if you wish to earn much more than the fundamental ICU nursing salary.
Here are some of them:
Work 7 (in the Evening) to 7 (in the Morning) Shifts
Employees who work outside of the hours of 8 (in the morning) to 5 (in the evening) receive a shift differential from most hospitals and medical institutions.
Take on More Shifts
In an Intensive Care Unit, the number of patients on admission can fluctuate considerably, but when a Critical Care Unit is close to its capacity, as they have been all through the pandemic, that ICU may likely need additional manpower urgently.
Become a Charge Nurse
Over the course of one shift, CCU Charge Nurses have functional responsibility for the entire ICU, managing staffing, reviewing the results of unit activities, and arranging patient activities.
The job opening is allocated on a rotational basis in some institutions, while it is a permanent job position in others.
Get Technological Clinical Training
Make an effort to obtain specialized clinical training before embarking on a job search.
Obtaining certification and training in a clinical forte like neonatal critical care nursing, cardiac surgical care, or pediatric critical care may help you stand out in the job market.
Submit Your interest to Recruiting Agencies or Registries
Nurse registries or recruiting agencies are organizations that provide on-demand nursing services to medical offices hospitals, homes, and individuals.
Become a Travel Nurse
During the pandemic outbreak, several medical facilities are depending on visiting Nurses to keep their ICUs functional.
Relocate
As previously stated, the typical ICU Nurse wage varies greatly from region to region and, in many cases, even between cities within the same province.
It is always possible to relocate to a location where CCU Nurses can earn more money.
Conclusion
Intensive care units are fast-paced and stressful environments, and even before the COVID-19 pandemic, high turnover and burnout were frequent among ICU Nurses.
While ICU job titles may be a good fit for Nurses who have excellent time and organizational management abilities, they may not be a good fit for Nurses who struggle to maintain emotional distance from their duties.
Before you take any position in the Intensive Care Unit, be sure you understand your base salary and exactly what you’ll be up against.
No doubt, the pay gap between an ICU Nurse’s wage and an RN’s salary outside of critical care is insufficient to compensate for the added stress.
The median ICU Nurse’s salary is slightly greater than the average RN income in most hospitals and medical facilities.
Should you, however, base your career path decision simply on the answer to the question, “How much does an ICU Nurse make?” The answer to that question may well be “No” for most Registered Nurses.
FAQs
How Much Does ICU Nurse Make?
In the United States, the average salary for an RN (Registered Nurse) in the intensive care unit is $2,413.5 per week, with an additional $11,875.5 in overtime pay per year.
Do ICU Nurses Make More Money?
While the average yearly ICU Nurse Salary is approximately $82,400, some of the highest earners earn up to $133,100. This is due to the greater amount of knowledge and experience they have gained.
What Is Entry Level ICU Nurse Salary?
Entry-level Critical Care Nurses earn an average of $47,100 per year, while those in their late years earn an average of $103,300 per year. Registered Nurses who specialize in critical care nursing earn an average yearly salary of $82,400.
How Much Do ICU Nurses Make?
In the United States, the average salary for an RN (Registered Nurse) in the intensive care unit is $2,413.5 per week, with an additional $11,875.5 in overtime pay per year.
How Much Do ICU RNs Make in Florida?
The average annual income for a NICU RN in Tampa, Florida is $85,500 as of March 23, 2022. If you need an immediate pay calculator, that works out to about $41.1 per hour. This equates to $1,647 a week or $7,200 per month.
What Is Cardiac ICU Nurse Salary?
While annual salaries for Pediatric Cardiac ICU Nurses range from $88,600 (first quartile) to $129,100 (third quartile), the prevalence of Pediatric Cardiac ICU (PICU) Nurse’ salaries currently ranges from $88,600 (first quartile) to $129,100 (3rd quartile), with principal earners (90th percentile) earning $147,500 annually across the United States.
What Is ICU Nurse Salary Per Hour?
In the United States, the average salary for an ICU Nurse is $45.70.
What Is ICU RN Salary?
In the United States, the average salary for an RN (Registered Nurse) in the intensive care unit is $2,413.5 per week, with an additional $11,875.5 in overtime pay per year.
What is NICU Nurse Salary?
A NICU Nurse’s salary is determined by their years of experience, kind of certification, and level of education. In the United States, the national average salary for a NICU Registered Nurse is $71,500 per year.
What Is the Average Salary of an ICU Nurse?
In 2022, the median ICU Nurse pay will be $43.90 per hour, or $1,537 per week, $5,982 per month, or $82,400 per year. This is 40.9 percent less than the average yearly salary of a Nurse Practitioner but comparable to the average annual salaries of ER Nurses, Hospice Nurses, and NICU Nurses.
Where Do ICU Nurses Get Paid the Most?
California has the highest-paid ICU Nurses. Critical Care RNs earn an average of $51.05 per hour in the state, more than double the average hourly income in Alabama, the state with the lowest-paid ICU Nurses, where the mean hourly wage is $25.50.
What is a Surgical ICU Nurse’s Salary?
As of April 2022, the average annual salary for a Surgical ICU Nurse in the United States is $101,200 a year. In case you would want a quick salary converter, that comes out to be around $48.65 per hour. This equates to $1,950 per week or $8,500 per month.
How Much Is PICU RN Salary?
In the United States, the prevalence of Pediatric Cardiac (PICU) ICU Nurses earns between $88,600 and $129,100 annually, with the 90th percentile earning $147,500. The average salary for a Pediatric Cardiac ICU Nurse is up to $40,600, with opportunities for advancement and better pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.
How Much Is Pediatric ICU Nurse Salary?
While annual salaries for Pediatric Cardiac ICU Nurses range from $88,600 (first quartile) to $129,100 (third quartile), the preponderance of Pediatric Cardiac (PICU) ICU Nurse’ salaries currently range from $88,600 (first quartile) to $129,100 (3rd quartile), with principal earners (90th percentile) earning $147,600 yearly across the United States. The typical pay for a Pediatric Cardiac ICU Nurse ranges widely (up to $40,600), implying that there may be several prospects for promotion and higher income dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.
