How much is the icu nurse vs med-surg nurse pay gap in Massachusetts?

The estimated gap in Massachusetts is about $13,460 a year, or roughly 12% 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 Massachusetts figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Massachusetts wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Massachusetts'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.

Massachusetts · MA

ICU Nurse vs Med-Surg Nurse salary in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $125,640 a year versus $112,180 for med-surg nurses, a gap of about $13,460 (roughly 12% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Massachusetts.

ICU Nurse — Massachusetts

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$125,640

+15% vs national

Hourly

$60.40/hr

Median $125,640

$88,790Middle 50%: $103,470–$144,710$177,060

Typical range: $103,470–$144,710; What most nurses earn
High end: $177,060; Top earners
Entry level: $88,790; Newer nurses

Med-Surg Nurse — Massachusetts

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$112,180

+15% vs national

Hourly

$53.93/hr

Median $112,180

$79,280Middle 50%: $92,380–$129,200$158,090

Typical range: $92,380–$129,200; What most nurses earn
High end: $158,090; Top earners
Entry level: $79,280; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Massachusetts

ICU nurses are modeled to earn slightly more than med-surg nurses, though both roles are built on the same RN license and wage base. The edge reflects the ICU's higher patient acuity, lower nurse-to-patient ratios, and critical-care certifications such as the CCRN. The Massachusetts figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Massachusetts's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national ICU Nurse vs Med-Surg Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.

ICU Nurse vs Med-Surg Nurse in Massachusetts — FAQ

Do icu nurses or med-surg nurses earn more in Massachusetts?: In Massachusetts, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $125,640 a year versus $112,180 for med-surg nurses, a gap of about $13,460 (roughly 12% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Massachusetts's local pay level.
How much is the icu nurse vs med-surg nurse pay gap in Massachusetts?: The estimated gap in Massachusetts is about $13,460 a year, or roughly 12% 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 Massachusetts figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Massachusetts wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Massachusetts'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 & 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 estimate (BLS national × state wage index)

Massachusetts figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 1.15×).

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

Estimated figures for Massachusetts. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.