Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Salary in the United States

How much does a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) in the United States is $104,836 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

However, a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)'s salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,042
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $95,782 to $116,983
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $87,539

Key Factors That Influence Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Salaries

A Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)'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): $101,853
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $102,529
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $105,732
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $110,809
  • Expert (over 8 years): $111,171
Levels Salary
Entry Level Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)$101,853
Intermediate Level Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)$102,529
Senior Level Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)$105,732
Specialist Level Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)$110,809
Expert Level Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)$111,171

Top Paying Cities for Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)s

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: $132,233
  • San Francisco: $130,785
  • Oakland: $128,028

What Skills Can Increase a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)'s Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 5.51% 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.
  • Nursing Practice (Mentioned in 2.87% 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.
  • Patient Safety (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): Patient safety is a discipline and responsibility that emphasizes safety in health care through the prevention, reduction, reporting, and analysis of medical error that often leads to adverse effects. The frequency and magnitude of avoidable adverse events experienced by patients was not well known until the 1990s, when multiple countries reported staggering numbers of patients harmed and killed by medical errors. Recognizing that healthcare errors impact 1 in every 10 patients around the world, the World Health Organization calls patient safety an endemic concern. Indeed, patient safety has emerged as a distinct healthcare discipline supported by an immature yet developing scientific framework. There is a significant transdisciplinary body of theoretical and research literature that informs the science of patient safety. At the same time, efforts are being made to anchor patient safety more firmly in medical education. The resulting patient safety knowledge continually informs improvement efforts such as: applying lessons learned from business and industry, adopting innovative technologies, educating providers and consumers, enhancing error reporting systems, and developing new economic incentives.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 5.51%
Nursing Practice 2.87%
Patient Safety 1.54%

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 Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)'s salary.

  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Confidentiality: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Written Communication $113,223
8%
Time Management $112,175
7%
Confidentiality $109,029
4%

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $111,272. While startup companies pay approximate $94,758.

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $94,758
Growth Stage 51~500 $100,053
Established 501~5000 $107,609
Enterprise 5000+ $111,272

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$125,803$60.020%

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)'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 September 01, 2026
$95,782
Average $104,836/year
$116,983
$7,982
Average $8,736/month
$9,749
$1,842
Average $2,016/week
$2,250
$46
Average $50/hour
$56
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $116,983 $9,749 $2,250 $56
Average $104,836 $8,736 $2,016 $50
25th Percentile $95,782 $7,982 $1,842 $46

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA), 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.

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Director Mother and Baby Unit $162,000 55%
Director Intensive Care Unit Operations $154,200 47%
Entry Registered Nurse - Staff $73,600 -30%
Organ Transplant Coordinator RN $110,200 5%

Most common benefits for Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)

Here are companies hiring for Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.)

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