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Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salary in the United States

How much does a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit in the United States is $90,921 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

However, a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $110,788
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,206 to $101,320
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $76,182
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View as table View as graph 25% $83,206 10% $76,182 90% $110,788 75% $101,320 $90,921 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $101,320 $8,443 $1,948 $49
Average $90,921 $7,577 $1,748 $44
25th Percentile $83,206 $6,934 $1,600 $40
Check out Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Job Openings in the United States
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Intensive Care Units Benefits

Tallahassee Memorial - TALLAHASSEE, FL

Registered Nurse

Tallahassee Memorial - TALLAHASSEE, FL

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Key Factors That Influence Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salaries

A Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $88,388
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $88,618
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $91,697
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $96,043
  • Expert (over 8 years): $96,353
Levels Salary
Entry Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$88,388
Intermediate Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$88,618
Senior Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$91,697
Specialist Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$96,043
Expert Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$96,353
$88,388 0 yr
$88,618 < 2 yrs
$91,697 2-4 yrs
$96,043 5-8 yrs
$96,353 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Units

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $114,679
  • San Francisco: $113,551
  • Oakland: $111,033

What Skills Can Increase a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 5.95% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 5.49% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Nursing Practice (Mentioned in 2.93% Job Postings): Nursing practice may be work experience that is direct and/or indirect patient care in clinical practice, nursing administration, education, research, or consultation in the specialty represented by the credential.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 5.95%
Acute Care 5.49%
Nursing Practice 2.93%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit's salary.
  • Telecommunications: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Staff Development: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Telecommunications
$100,013
10%
Staff Development
$97,285
7%
Written Communication
$96,376
6%
Risk Management
$96,376
6%
Verbal Communication
$95,467
5%
Oral Communication
$95,467
5%
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How Education impacts a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Units enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit with a Associate's Degree is between $82,257 and $86,847).

Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit
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%
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Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Maternity Services Director $162,030 78%
Head of Intensive Care Unit $154,199 70%
Staff Nurse - RN I $73,653 -19%
Transplant Nurse Coordinator $109,974 21%

Most common benefits for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit

Here are companies hiring for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit

1. Where can a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit earn the most?

A Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit is $114,679.

2. What is the highest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit?

The highest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit is $110,788.

3. What is the lowest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit?

The lowest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit is $76,182.

4. What are the responsibilities of Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit?

Provides professional nursing care to assigned patients in the intensive care unit. Performs various diagnostic tests, administers medications, and develops patient care plans in conjunction with other medical professionals. Assists physicians during examinations and procedures, operating and monitoring medical equipment as necessary. Observes patients' progress, records observations in patient medical record, and updates attending physician directly when necessary. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Requires Registered Nurse (RN). Requires Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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