ICU vs ER Nurse Salary
ICU Nurses earn more — a national median of $104,830 vs $102,960, a gap of about $1,870 per year.
ICU Nurse
Specialty estimate$104,830 / yr median
ER Nurse
Specialty estimate$102,960 / yr median
Annual pay, side by side
- ICU NurseSpecialty estimate$104,830$50.40/hr
- ER NurseSpecialty estimate$102,960$49.50/hr
What the difference comes down to
ICU and ER nursing are both high-acuity specialties, with pay based on registered-nurse wages. Pay is close; differences come down to certification, shift differentials, and the local market rather than a separate official wage. 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.
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
ICU Nurse is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.12×, reflecting commonly reported pay differences. Treat as directional, not precise.
Source year 2024. Last reviewed June 1, 2025. Full methodology
Last reviewed June 1, 2025.
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