Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric Salary in the United States

How much does a Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric in the United States is $88,817 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $108,491
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $81,144 to $99,115
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $74,158

Key Factors That Influence Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric Salaries

A Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric'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 - Psychiatric Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric'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): $86,298
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $86,527
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $89,586
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $93,889
  • Expert (over 8 years): $94,197
Levels Salary
Entry Level Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric$86,298
Intermediate Level Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric$86,527
Senior Level Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric$89,586
Specialist Level Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric$93,889
Expert Level Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric$94,197

Top Paying Cities for Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric

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: $112,025
  • San Francisco: $110,798
  • Oakland: $108,463

What Skills Can Increase a Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Accountability (Mentioned in 4.51% Job Postings): Setting and holding oneself and others to stated expectations by associating tasks with our business's mission, values, and goals.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 3.91% 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.
  • Data Collection (Mentioned in 1.72% Job Postings): Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established system, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. Data collection is a component of research in all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities, and business. While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality evidence that allows analysis to lead to the formulation of convincing and credible answers to the questions that have been posed.
Skills Demand Percentage
Accountability 4.51%
Acute Care 3.91%
Data Collection 1.72%

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 - Psychiatric's salary.

  • Telecommunications: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Collective Bargaining: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Data Collection: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Telecommunications $95,034
7%
Collective Bargaining $92,370
4%
Data Collection $92,370
4%

Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $94,210. While startup companies pay approximate $80,280.

Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $80,280
Growth Stage 51~500 $84,747
Established 501~5000 $91,129
Enterprise 5000+ $94,210

Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric 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, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$106,580$51.020%

How Education impacts an Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric 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 - Psychiatric with a Bachelor's Degree is between $82,441 and $87,027.

Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.8%
High School 2.8%
Associates 36.2%
Bachelors 55.3%
Masters 5.0%
Doctorate 0.7%

Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric'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
$81,144
Average $88,817/year
$99,115
$6,762
Average $7,401/month
$8,260
$1,560
Average $1,708/week
$1,906
$39
Average $43/hour
$48
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $99,115 $8,260 $1,906 $48
Average $88,817 $7,401 $1,708 $43
25th Percentile $81,144 $6,762 $1,560 $39

Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric, 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 - Psychiatric Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Maternity Services Director $161,998 82%
Head of Intensive Care Unit $154,113 74%
Staff Nurse - RN I $73,601 -17%
Transplant Nurse Coordinator $110,094 24%

Most common benefits for Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric

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

Common company salaries for Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric

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

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FAQ about Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric

1. Where can a Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric earn the most?

A Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric'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 - Psychiatric earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric is $112,025.

2. What is the highest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric?

The highest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric is $108,491.

3. What is the lowest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric?

The lowest pay for Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric is $74,158.

4. What are the responsibilities of Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric?

Provides professional nursing care to assigned patients with varying levels of mental health disorders and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities, including outpatients and psychiatric inpatients. Works as part of an interdisciplinary medical team to evaluate patients and develop treatment plans. Administers medications, monitors patient progress, and records observations in patient medical records. Promotes patients' independence by teaching patients and families to understand conditions, medications, and self-care skills. Renders all services in compliance with industry standards, privacy laws, and regulatory requirements. May supervise lower-level nurses. May require a bachelor's degree in nursing. Requires Registered Nurse (RN). 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 - Psychiatric?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Staff Nurse - RN - Psychiatric 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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