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Average ER Nurse Salary

WRITTEN BY Sophia Metrakos, RN
DATE

Jul 14 2022


CATEGORIES Salary

Nurse Salaries / ER Nurse Salary

Emergency room nurses work at the frontlines of health care and treat patients who are in dire need of medical attention. However, not every ER patient is in critical condition. ER nurses can expect to have a lot of variety, seeing many different patients and conditions. 

While registered nurses overall in the United States receive $82,750 per year according to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, ER nurses are among the highest-paid. According to data from Incredible Health, the average salary for ED/ER nurses is $91,071 which also translates to $43.78/hr. 

This hourly rate puts the average ER nurse salary at about 8% higher than a the average registered nurse’s median wage. Remember that this number is just the aggregate average salary and does not take into account nursing salaries that consider unit position, experience level, and other factors.

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Nursing positions are among the top in-demand jobs in the country, and experts project at least 6% between 2021 and 2031. Additionally, there is a shortage of professionals in the field. These primary factors contribute to higher ED/ER nursing sa laries and a strong outlook for the career path.

ER nurse salaries by state

ER nurse salaries vary by state since there is a different cost of living in every area. 

For example, you may earn a larger paycheck as a staff ER nurse in Hawaii because the cost of living is about 12% higher than the country’s average.

Conversely, ER nursees in Mississippi may earn less than ER nurses in other states because the cost of living is about 12% less than the country’s average.

The top five highest-paying cities for nurses, including ER nurses (without factoring in the cost of living) include the following:

StateSalaryCOL Adjusted SalaryLocal Estimates
California$124,000$106,529Get Local Estimate
Hawaii$106,530$89,296Get Local Estimate
Oregon$98,630$96,131Get Local Estimate
Alaska$97,230$92,512Get Local Estimate
Massachusetts$96,630$87,527Get Local Estimate

The top five highest-paying states for nurses, including ER nurses (adjusted for cost of living) are the following:

StateSalaryCOL Adjusted SalaryLocal Estimates
California$124,000$106,529Get Local Estimate
Oregon$98,630$96,131Get Local Estimate
Alaska$97,230$92,512Get Local Estimate
Nevada$97,230$92,146Get Local Estimate
Hawaii$106,530$89,296Get Local Estimate
ER nurse salaries – all states
Alaska
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Iowa
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Maryland
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
North Carolina
North Dakota
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
West Virginia

Frequently asked questions about ER nurses

What is the difference between an ER nurse and an ICU nurse?

The skillset of ER and ICU nurses is similar since both need to know how to treat critical level patients. ER nurses are the initial nurse that will be seen when an emergency patient enters the hospital. If this patient is in critical condition, they’ll then be transferred to an ICU for further care. ER nurses may also see less critical patients who are simply treated and then discharged or transferred to less critical floors like med-surg. 

What is the average nurse-to-patient ratio for ER nurses?

ER nurses can typically expect a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:3 or 1:4 but this can vary depending on the hospital and staffing conditions. 

Are there any additional recommended certifications to have?

BLS and ACLS certification are required by most emergency departments but certification requirements vary by hospital. Some may also require PALS, CEN, or TCRN certifications. 

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Top ER nurse jobs on Incredible Health

  • 🏥 Emergency Charge Nurse

    Clearlake, CA | $62,000 to $118,000 /year

  • 🏥 Nurse Manager – Emergency Department

    Zachary, LA | $56,000 to $88,000 /year

  • 🏥 Registered Nurse – Emergency Department

    Gresham, OR |

  • 🏥 Registered Nurse – Emergency Department

    Boulder, CO | $67,000 to $104,000 /year

  • 🏥 Registered Nurse – Emergency Department

    Goldsboro, NC | $47,960 to $79,360 /year

Sources

  • “Registered Nurses: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” bls.gov. Accessed July 6, 2022.
  • “Average Rent by State 2022.” worldpopulationreview.com. Accessed July 6, 2022. 
  • “AACN Fact Sheet – Nursing Shortage.” aacnnursing.org. Accessed July 6, 2022. 
Written by Sophia Metrakos, RN

Sophia is a copywriter and registered nurse. Her writing experience spans across a variety of topics including healthcare, wellness, and parenting. She has experience caring for renal and oncology patients. She graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor’s in Nursing in 2019.

Read more from Sophia

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