Flight Nurse vs ER Nurse Salary
Flight Nurses earn more — a national median of $112,180 vs $107,310, a gap of about $4,870 per year.
Flight Nurse
Specialty estimate$112,180 / yr median
ER Nurse
Specialty estimate$107,310 / yr median
Annual pay, side by side
- Flight NurseSpecialty estimate$112,180$53.93/hr
- ER NurseSpecialty estimate$107,310$51.59/hr
What the difference comes down to
Flight nurses tend to earn a bit more than ER staff nurses, reflecting the specialized transport setting, required critical-care and emergency certifications, and the demands of air/ground transport. Both build on the RN wage base; flight roles usually require several years of ER or ICU experience first. Scope of practice, required education, and autonomy are the biggest drivers of the gap. Use the calculator to personalize either path by your state, experience, and work setting.
Flight Nurse vs ER Nurse Salary by state
Estimated pay gap for this comparison in each state.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled specialty estimate
Flight Nurse is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.15×, reflecting commonly reported pay differences. Treat as directional, not precise.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Last reviewed July 3, 2026.
Flight Nurse vs ER Nurse Salary FAQ
- Do Flight Nurses or ER Nurses earn more?
- Flight Nurses earn more, with a national median of about $112,180 a year vs $107,310 for ER Nurses — a gap of roughly $4,870 per year.
- How big is the pay gap between Flight Nurses and ER Nurses?
- The difference is about $4,870 a year, or roughly 5% more for Flight Nurses. It varies by state, experience, setting, and shift — use the calculator to compare both for your own situation.
- Why do Flight Nurses earn more than ER Nurses?
- Both roles are paid on the same registered-nurse base, so the gap comes down to certification, shift differentials, unit acuity, and the local market rather than a separate official wage.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
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