As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for an ICU Nurse in the United States is $90,800. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $72,078 to a high of $109,140, with most professionals earning between $81,000 and $100,400.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $100,400 | $8,367 | $1,931 | $48 |
| Average | $90,800 | $7,567 | $1,746 | $44 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $1,558 | $39 |
An entry-level ICU Nurse with less than 1 year of experience earns about $87,582. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $87,875. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $91,516. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $95,528, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $95,815.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level ICU Nurse | $87,582 |
| Intermediate Level ICU Nurse | $87,875 |
| Senior Level ICU Nurse | $91,516 |
| Specialist Level ICU Nurse | $95,528 |
| Expert Level ICU Nurse | $95,815 |
| Entry Level | 4% |
| Mid Level | 3% |
| Senior Level | 1% |
| Top Level | 5% |
| Experienced | 6% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in ICU Nurse compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $209,336 in 2023 to approximately $211,584 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of ICU Nurse salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of ICU Nurse information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see ICU Nurse job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for ICU Nurse and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $90,800 | 72.4% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $6,946 | 5.5% | ||
| 401K/403B | $4,449 | 3.5% | ||
| Disability | $1,453 | 1.2% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,371 | 5.1% | ||
| Pension | $3,814 | 3.0% | ||
| Time Off | $11,525 | 9.2% | ||
| Total Compensation | $125,357 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.4% |
| High School | 1.6% |
| Associates | 32.0% |
| Bachelors | 59.4% |
| Masters | 6.5% |
| Doctorate | 0.2% |
What Am I Worth?
While the ICU may be slightly slower than the ER at times, many nurses argue that both environments are intense and demand expert critical thinking skills. Each setting cares for patients with life-threatening conditions. Additionally, ICU nurses earn a salary ranging from $78,100 to $94,200, reflecting the high level of expertise required in this critical care role.
Often referred to as ICU nurses due to their specialized unit, critical care nurses are expertly trained to care for patients of all ages recovering from life-threatening conditions. In the U.S., there are over half a million critical care nurses, with salaries ranging from $78,100 to $94,200, reflecting their essential role in healthcare.
The most stressful nursing jobs include ICU nurse, ER nurse, and NICU nurse. ICU nurses, in particular, work in high-pressure environments, managing critical situations and caring for severely ill patients. Their salaries reflect this intensity, with a minimum of $78,100, a mid-range of $86,700, and a maximum of $94,200, highlighting the demanding nature of their work.
As of now, ICU Nurses in the USA earn between $78,100 and $94,200 annually, with a median salary of $86,700. This reflects a competitive pay scale, ensuring that skilled professionals are compensated fairly for their critical role in healthcare.
Top Happiest 5 states for nurses in the US: #5 Colorado. Quality of life ranking: #10. Average RN salary: $78,100. #4 Alaska. Quality of life ranking: #19. Average RN salary: $86,700. #3 Oregon. Quality of life ranking: #18. #2 Wisconsin. Quality of life ranking: #3. #1 Minnesota. Quality of life ranking: #2. Average ICU Nurse salary ranges from $78,100 to $94,200.
The highest paid ICU Nurse can earn a maximum salary of $94,200 per year. The average salary for an ICU Nurse typically falls around $86,700, with entry-level positions starting at a minimum of $78,100. While some Critical Care Nurse roles may offer higher salaries, these figures represent the standard range for ICU Nurses.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
