Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

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 August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit in the United States is $90,753 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): $110,857
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,912 to $101,276
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,773
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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): $88,178
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $88,412
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $91,538
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $95,936
  • Expert (over 8 years): $96,250
Levels Salary
Entry Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$88,178
Intermediate Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$88,412
Senior Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$91,538
Specialist Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$95,936
Expert Level Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit$96,250
View as Graph

How Do Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Units Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Units. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $100,482.
  • California: $100,101.
  • Massachusetts: $98,766.

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

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: $114,467
  • San Francisco: $113,213
  • Oakland: $110,828

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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 5.95%
Acute Care 5.49%
Nursing Practice 2.93%
See More Skills

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 $99,828
10%
Staff Development $97,106
7%
Written Communication $96,198
6%
Get Latest Data

Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $96,264. While startup companies pay approximate $82,030.

Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $82,030
Growth Stage 51~500 $86,594
Established 501~5000 $93,116
Enterprise 5000+ $96,264

Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit 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, Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$108,904$52.020%

How Education impacts an Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit with a Bachelor's Degree is between $82,638 and $87,181.

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%
View as Graph

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 August 01, 2026
$82,912
Average $90,753/year
$101,276
$6,909
Average $7,563/month
$8,440
$1,594
Average $1,745/week
$1,948
$40
Average $44/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $101,276 $8,440 $1,948 $49
Average $90,753 $7,563 $1,745 $44
25th Percentile $82,912 $6,909 $1,594 $40

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

Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit

Next Role

Advancement

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.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Maternity Services Director $161,998 79%
Head of Intensive Care Unit $154,113 70%
Staff Nurse - RN I $73,601 -19%
Transplant Nurse Coordinator $110,094 21%

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

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

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.

Find Your Next Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

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 $114,467.

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

The highest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit is $110,857.

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

The lowest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit is $75,773.

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.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Staff Nurse - RN - Intensive Care Unit 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst