As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Icu Registered Nurse in the United States is $87,864 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.
However, an Icu Registered Nurse's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Icu Registered Nurse Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $97,302 | $8,109 | $1,871 | $47 |
| Average | $87,864 | $7,322 | $1,690 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,657 | $6,638 | $1,532 | $38 |
An Icu Registered Nurse'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.
Experience is a primary driver of an Icu Registered Nurse'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Icu Registered Nurse | $85,926 |
| Intermediate Level Icu Registered Nurse | $86,154 |
| Senior Level Icu Registered Nurse | $89,198 |
| Specialist Level Icu Registered Nurse | $93,480 |
| Expert Level Icu Registered Nurse | $93,785 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Planning | 5.95% |
| Acute Care | 5.49% |
| Nursing Practice | 2.93% |
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 an Icu Registered Nurse's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications | $96,650 | |
| Staff Development | $94,014 | |
| Written Communication | $93,135 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Icu Registered Nurses 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 an Icu Registered Nurse with a Associate's Degree is between $82,257 and $86,847).
| Typical Education for Icu Registered Nurse | |
|---|---|
| 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% |
Understanding how an Icu Registered Nurse'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $97,302 | $8,109 | $1,871 | $47 |
| Average | $87,864 | $7,322 | $1,690 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,657 | $6,638 | $1,532 | $38 |
Salaries for an Icu Registered Nurse can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $204,040 in 2023 to around $198,456 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Icu Registered Nurse salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $204,040 |
| 2024 | $206,231 |
| 2025 | $198,456 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
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|
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The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Icu Registered Nurse roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
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