Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses – also known as critical care nurses – are highly-trained healthcare professionals who provide care to patients with life-threatening illnesses or conditions.
While registered nurses overall in the United States receive $82,750 per year according to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, ICU nurses are among the highest-paid nurses. According to data from Incredible Health, the average salary for critical care nurses is $90,855 – an effective hourly rate of $43.68.
This hourly rate puts the average ICU nurse salary at about 10% higher than a the average registered nurse’s wage. Remember that this number is just the aggregate average salary and does not take into account unit position, experience level, and other factors.
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ICU nurse salaries by state
ICU nurse salaries vary depending on the state in which you practice thanks to factors like cost of living and the local job market. For example, you may earn a larger paycheck as a staff ICU nurse in Hawaii – where the cost of goods like food and gas is very high – than in Mississippi, where the cost of living is lower.
The top five highest-paying states for nurses, including ICU nurses (without factoring in the cost of living) include the following:
| State | Salary | COL Adjusted Salary | Local Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $124,000 | $106,529 | Get Local Estimate |
| Hawaii | $106,530 | $89,296 | Get Local Estimate |
| Oregon | $98,630 | $96,131 | Get Local Estimate |
| Alaska | $97,230 | $92,512 | Get Local Estimate |
| Massachusetts | $96,630 | $87,527 | Get Local Estimate |
The top five highest-paying states for nurses, including ICU nurses (adjusted for cost of living) are the following:
| State | Salary | COL Adjusted Salary | Local Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $124,000 | $106,529 | Get Local Estimate |
| Oregon | $98,630 | $96,131 | Get Local Estimate |
| Alaska | $97,230 | $92,512 | Get Local Estimate |
| Nevada | $97,230 | $92,146 | Get Local Estimate |
| Hawaii | $106,530 | $89,296 | Get Local Estimate |
Career Outlook for ICU Nurses
Critical care is one of many of the nurse specializations one can choose to pursue. In general, registered nurses can enjoy a 12.1% increase in growth outlook through 2028.
