Charge Nurse salary
A charge nurse earns about $100,150 a year — roughly $48.15/hour, with most earning between $81,310 and $107,830. This is an estimate — a starting point, not an exact figure.
Charge Nurse — U.S. national
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$100,150
Hourly
$48.15/hr
- Typical range
- $81,310–$107,830
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $144,790
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $70,650
- Newer nurses
What affects this pay
- Charge differential per shift
- Unit size and acuity
- Experience and clinical-ladder step
- Nights and weekend differentials
- Metro labor market
About Charge Nurses
What they do
Charge nurses run a hospital unit for a single shift: making patient assignments, coordinating admissions, discharges, and transfers, troubleshooting staffing, and being the go-to resource for the team — often while still taking their own patients.
How to become a Charge Nurse
Charge nurses are experienced staff RNs (commonly two-plus years on the unit) who step up into the role; it is usually a shift assignment with a pay differential rather than a separate salaried job, and a frequent first step toward management.
What drives the pay
Public wage data doesn’t track charge nurses separately; figures are based on registered nurse pay. The modest premium reflects a per-shift charge differential and seniority rather than a distinct salaried management wage.
Charge Nurse pay by state
Where this role tends to pay the most.
| State | Annual pay | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| California | $138,210 | +38% vs national |
| Hawaii | $120,180 | +20% vs national |
| Alaska | $118,180 | +18% vs national |
| Oregon | $118,180 | +18% vs national |
| Washington | $118,180 | +18% vs national |
| Massachusetts | $115,170 | +15% vs national |
| New York | $113,170 | +13% vs national |
| District of Columbia | $112,170 | +12% vs national |
Compare next
Roles nurses weigh against this one.
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
Charge Nurse is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.07×, reflecting commonly reported pay differences. Treat as directional, not precise.
Source year 2024. Last reviewed June 1, 2025. Full methodology
This role isn’t broken out in public wage data, so the figure starts from registered nurse pay and sharpens as nurses submit their pay. Last reviewed June 1, 2025.