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SalaryNurse
Rhode Island · RI

ICU Nurse vs ER Nurse salary in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $114,720 a year versus $112,670 for er nurses, a gap of about $2,050 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Rhode Island.

ICU Nurse — Rhode Island

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$114,720

+5% vs national

Hourly

$55.15/hr

Median $114,720
$81,070$161,660
Typical range
$94,470–$132,120
What most nurses earn
High end
$161,660
Top earners
Entry level
$81,070
Newer nurses

ER Nurse — Rhode Island

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$112,670

+5% vs national

Hourly

$54.17/hr

Median $112,670
$79,630$158,780
Typical range
$92,780–$129,760
What most nurses earn
High end
$158,780
Top earners
Entry level
$79,630
Newer nurses

Why the gap in Rhode Island

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. The Rhode Island figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Rhode Island's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national ICU Nurse vs ER Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.

ICU Nurse vs ER Nurse in Rhode Island — FAQ

Do icu nurses or er nurses earn more in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $114,720 a year versus $112,670 for er nurses, a gap of about $2,050 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Rhode Island's local pay level.
How much is the icu nurse vs er nurse pay gap in Rhode Island?
The estimated gap in Rhode Island is about $2,050 a year, or roughly 2% more for icu nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Rhode Island figures exact?
No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Rhode Island wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Rhode Island's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
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.
Source & confidenceAn estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)

Rhode Island figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 1.05×).

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Rhode Island. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.