ICU vs ER Nurse Salary
ICU Nurses earn more — a national median of $109,260 vs $107,310, a gap of about $1,950 per year.
ICU Nurse
Specialty estimate$109,260 / yr median
ER Nurse
Specialty estimate$107,310 / yr median
Annual pay, side by side
- ICU NurseSpecialty estimate$109,260$52.53/hr
- ER NurseSpecialty estimate$107,310$51.59/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.
ICU 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
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 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology
Last reviewed July 17, 2026.
ICU vs ER Nurse Salary FAQ
- Do ICU Nurses or ER Nurses earn more?
- ICU Nurses earn more, with a national median of about $109,260 a year vs $107,310 for ER Nurses — a gap of roughly $1,950 per year.
- How big is the pay gap between ICU Nurses and ER Nurses?
- The difference is about $1,950 a year, or roughly 2% more for ICU Nurses. It varies by state, experience, setting, and shift — use the calculator to compare both for your own situation.
- Why do ICU 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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