Everyone operating in the emergency room must keep an open mind and calm to handle whatever emergency comes next. The least of them are: Emergency Room Nurses or ER Nurses. For all the responsibility, stress, and vulnerability that they are put through, the feeling of a life is immeasurable. But the closest one can come to quantify it is that an average ER Nurse’s salary in the US is $118,272[1]. In fact, it ranges from $93,305 to $149,921 annually. The average being $118,272. If that figure alone does give a good idea then consider the fact that a typical ER nurse makes twice what an average American does (U.S. Bureau of Labor reports, $59,384 to be the average American salary in Q4 of 2023[2]). Further, they report making $12,500 per year in overtime[1] – that alone is 20% of a typical American wage.
ER nurse starting salary |
$29.29 per hour[3] |
Media annual ER nurse salary |
$77,956 per year[4] |
ER nurse salary trajectory |
12% rise from 2024 to 2029[5] |
Once presented with these facts on ER Nurse pay, one may be inclined to say they are quite well-placed in terms of salary. But there’s more to consider: cost of living, taxes, non-cash remunerations. While they inherently make it tricky to produce the one true source of ER nurse salaries in the US, we can still compile data from various sources and synthesize a reliable pecuniary data set. This is what we do in this guide especially ER nurse salary by state. Then to paint a bigger picture, we also compare ER nurse salaries with other popular nursing specialties, touch upon factors that impact their wages, and the prospects in coming years.
Before we get to the breakdown, let’s glance over the ER nurse salary ranges in states where they are most in demand.
There is a large range in the pay for emergency room nurses across the United States (we will discuss this important factor in more detail under ER Nurse Salary by State). Among the top 10 states where they are trending, the ER nurse salary data shows Arizona has the highest average salary of $124,719 per year. While Colorado has the widest salary fluctuation $84,004 to $144,865 per year. On the other end, at $80,687 per year, in this list, Texas sits at the bottom.
Lower End of |
Average ER Nurse Annual Salary |
Upper End of |
|
ER Nurse Salary in Alabama |
$84,620 per year | $106,619 per year | $134,337 per year |
ER Nurse Salary in South Carolina | $83,199 per year | $100,804 per year |
$122,135 per year |
ER Nurse Salary in Kanasa |
$91,818 per year | $106,921 per year | $124,508 per year |
ER Nurse Salary in Louisiana | $82,579 per year | $97,844 per year |
$115,930 per year |
ER Nurse Salary Illinois |
$97,563 per year | $118,444 per year | $143,793 per year |
ER Nurse Salary in Tennessee | $87,813 per year | $110,010 per year |
$137,818 per year |
ER Nurse Salary in Arizona |
$102,268 per year | $124,719 per year | $152,097 per year |
ER Nurse Salary in Georgia | $78,948 per year | $99,248 per year |
$124,768 per year |
ER Nurse Salary in Texas |
$80,687 per year | $104,942 per year | $136,487 per year |
ER Nurse Salary in Colorado | $84,004 per year | $110,314 per year |
$144,865 per year |
*source: indeed[1]
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Next let’s quickly understand the fundamentals of the ER nurse job itself – what they do, how to get started, and what salary to expect right after graduating.
An ER nurse stands for Emergency Room nurse. As the name suggests, these nurses work in emergency healthcare setups to provide immediate care to patients in critical conditions. They collaborate with doctors to assess symptoms, administer medications, and supervise rest time. Given the high-intensity nature of the job, ER nurses must also have excellent communication, quick adaptation, and emotional intelligence to support both patients and their family members.
To become an ER nurse, you need a nursing degree and RN certification. Often specialized training in ER is also preferred. These nurses can work in various settings like hospitals, trauma centers, or urgent care facilities. It’s noteworthy that genderwise, there are mostly female ER nurses (~80%)[3].
An ER nurse can make around $60,000 when starting out and well over $100,000 as they pass a senior level[6].
Suggested Reading: Career as a Nurse in US in 2024
Figuring out the exact salary of ER nurses in the US can be difficult. Factors like location, experience, and skills influence the final number. That said, we can still synthesize their estimated salary range from reported figures on major job board. On the high end, ER nurses can make over $96 per hour or $148,921 annually. At the lower end, they might earn $59 per hour, bringing in $93,305 per year. The average ER nurse’s salary falls around $75 per hour or $118,272 annually.
ER Nurse Salary |
Per Hour | Per Week | Per Month | Per Year |
Lower end salary | $59.88 | $1,707 | $6,606 |
$93,305 |
Average base salary |
$75.91 | $2,164 | $8,374 | $118,272 |
Higher end salary | $96.22 | $2,743 | $10,615 |
$149,921 |
Suggested Reading: 2024 Salary Guide for US Nurse Practitioners
The table below shows how ER nurse salaries are distributed across the country. Half of all ER nurses make $77,956 per year or less (the median). Those in the bottom 10th percentile earn $62,383 annually, while the top 10% make $94,720 or more.
Percentile |
ER Nurse Annual Salary |
10% |
$62,383 per year |
25% |
$69,805 per year |
50% |
$77,956 per year |
75% |
$86,733 per year |
90% |
$94,72 per year |
*source: Salary[4]
ER nurses earn a median base salary of $77,879. Including benefits, their total compensation reaches $108,526 annually. Base salary makes up most of the compensation (71.8%), followed by time off (9.1%) and healthcare support (5.9%).
Annual Core Compensation of ER Nurse |
||
Median |
% of Total |
|
Base Salary |
$77,879 | 71.8% |
Bonus | $78 |
0.1% |
Annual Value of Benefits for ER Nurses |
||
Median |
% of Total |
|
Social Security |
$5,964 |
5.5% |
401K/403B |
$3,820 | 3.5% |
Disability | $1,247 |
1.1% |
Healthcare |
$6,371 | 5.9% |
Pension | $3,274 |
3.0% |
Time Off |
$9,894 | 9.1% |
Total Compensation | $108,526 |
100% |
*source: Salary[4]
As mentioned earlier, health benefits are the most common offers to ER nurses in the US. Extending on it – Over 77% of ER nurses enjoy medical insurance, with dental (70%) and vision (64%) following closely behind[3]. However, depending on the employer, nearly a quarter of them don’t receive any of such benefits.
401(k) |
Employee stock purchase plan | Paid housing |
401(k) matching | Flexible schedule |
Paid time off |
403(b) |
Flexible spending account | Pet insurance |
AD&D insurance | Free parking |
Prescription drug insurance |
Adoption assistance |
Health insurance | Referral program |
Continuing education credits | Housing stipend |
Relocation assistance |
Dental Insurance |
License reimbursement | Retirement plan |
Disability insurance | Life insurance |
Travel reimbursement |
Employee assistance program |
Loan repayment program | Tuition reimbursement |
Employee discount | Opportunities for advancement |
Vision insurance |
*source: indeed[1]
Now we come to the coveted state-wise ER nurse salary stat in the US. We’ve seen before that their salaries vary greatly by location and the table below proves the same. Hawaii offers the highest ER nurse annual pay at $138,666. Conversely, Iowa has the lowest at $64,287 per year. Interestingly, the biggest pay gap among neighboring states is between Massachusetts ($109,099) and Rhode Island ($104,571) in the Northeast, while that of between North Dakota ($71,653) and South Dakota ($67,796) is the smallest.
State |
Avg. ER Nurse Salary Annual |
Avg. ER Nurse Hourly Rate |
Alabama | $73,549 per year |
$35.36 per hour |
Alaska |
$81,873 per year | $39.36 per hour |
Arizona | $81,835 per year |
$39.34 per hour |
Arkansas |
$73,627 per year | $35.40 per hour |
California | $113,512 per year |
$54.57 per hour |
Colorado |
$74,367 per year | $35.75 per hour |
Connecticut | $98,196 per year |
$47.21 per hour |
Delaware |
$85,610 per year | $41.16 per hour |
District of Columbia | $100,628 per year |
$48.38 per hour |
Florida |
$76,949 per year | $36.99 per hour |
Georgia | $78,390 per year |
$37.69 per hour |
Hawaii |
$138,666 per year | $66.67 per hour |
Idaho | $78,008 per year |
$37.50 per hour |
Illinois |
$82,399 per year | $39.61 per hour |
Indiana | $70,757 per year |
$34.02 per hour |
Iowa |
$64,287 per year | $30.91 per hour |
Kansas | $71,271 per year |
$34.26 per hour |
Kentucky |
$82,123 per year | $39.48 per hour |
Louisiana | $79,558 per year |
$38.25 per hour |
Maine |
$77,363 per year | $37.19 per hour |
Maryland | $86,506 per year |
$41.59 per hour |
Massachusetts |
$109,099 per year | $52.45 per hour |
Michigan |
$91,018 per year |
$43.76 per hour |
Minnesota | $83,190 per year |
$40.00 per hour |
Mississippi |
$74,461 per year | $35.80 per hour |
Missouri | $76,711 per year |
$36.88 per hour |
Montana |
$77,984 per year | $37.49 per hour |
Nebraska | $70,751 per year |
$34.01 per hour |
Nevada |
$92,878 per year | $44.65 per hour |
New Hampshire | $97,547 per year |
$46.90 per hour |
New Jersey |
$90,907 per year | $43.71 per hour |
New Mexico | $87,373 per year |
$42.01 per hour |
New York |
$106,369 per year | $51.14 per hour |
North Carolina | $79,178 per year |
$38.07 per hour |
North Dakota |
$71,653 per year | $34.45 per hour |
Ohio | $88,442 per year |
$42.52 per hour |
Oklahoma |
$67,337 per year | $32.37 per hour |
Oregon | $93,086 per year |
$44.75 per hour |
Pennsylvania |
$86,990 per year | $41.82 per hour |
Rhode Island | $104,571 per year |
$50.27 per hour |
South Carolina |
$66,073 per year | $31.77 per hour |
South Dakota | $67,796 per year |
$32.59 per hour |
Tennessee |
$76,667 per year | $36.86 per hour |
Texas | $74,757 per year |
$35.94 per hour |
Utah |
$71,582 per year | $34.41 per hour |
Vermont | $80,555 per year |
$38.73 per hour |
Virginia |
$85,819 per year | $41.26 per hour |
Washington | $78,842 per year |
$37.90 per hour |
West Virginia |
$68,667 per year | $33.01 per hour |
Wisconsin | $82,777 per year |
$39.80 per hour |
Wyoming |
$78,330 per year |
$37.66 per hour |
*source: Zippia[6]
We know scanning through this long table can be daunting so we’ve listed the top 10 highest- and lowest-paying states regarding emergency room nurses’s salaries.
However, it’s imperative to point out that the states with the highest salaries are not inherently better to settle in as ER nurses than those with the lowest salaries. We recommend taking into account elements such as living expenses, job opportunities, and desired lifestyle while deciding on the location.
Suggested Watch: Top 10 Highest-paid Nursing Jobs
Among the best-paying states for ER nurses, Hawaii takes the cake for the highest salaries at a whopping $138,666 per year, or $66.67 per hour. California, Massachusetts, and New York follow closely behind with their offer exceeding $100,000 annually.
State |
Avg. ER Nurse Salary Annually |
Avg. ER Nurse Salary Hourly |
Hawaii | $138,666 per year |
$66.67 per hour |
California |
$113,512 per year | $54.57 per hour |
Massachusetts | $109,099 per year |
$52.45 per hour |
New York |
$106,369 per year | $51.14 per hour |
Rhode Island | $104,571 per year |
$50.27 per hour |
District of Columbia |
$100,628 per year | $48.38 per hour |
Connecticut | $98,196 per year |
$47.21 per hour |
New Hampshire |
$97,547 per year | $46.90 per hour |
Oregon | $93,086 per year |
$44.75 per hour |
Nevada |
$92,878 per year |
$44.65 per hour |
*source: Zippia[6]
Considering the state with low pays for ER nurses in the US, Iowa sits at the bottom of the list with a yearly average salary of $64,287. This is less than half what their counterparts in Hawaii make. Several states offer around the $67,000 mark, including South Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
State |
Avg. ER Nurse Salary Annually |
Avg. ER Nurse Salary Hourly |
Iowa | $64,287 per year |
$30.91 per hour |
South Carolina |
$66,073 per year | $31.77 per hour |
Oklahoma | $67,337 per year |
$32.37 per hour |
South Dakota |
$67,796 per year | $32.59 per hour |
West Virginia | $68,667 per year |
$33.01 per hour |
Nebraska |
$70,751 per year | $34.01 per hour |
Indiana | $70,757 per year |
$34.02 per hour |
Kansas |
$71,271 per year | $34.26 per hour |
Utah | $71,582 per year |
$34.41 per hour |
North Dakota |
$71,653 per year |
$34.45 per hour |
*source: Zippia[6]
Looking further down the location for ER nurse’s salary – from state to city level – the data below highlights that the city of Urban Honolulu, HI leading at an average annual salary of $138,824 and an hourly rate of $66.74. San Jose, CA, and Boston, MA follow right behind at $116,126 and $109,725 yearly respectively. Other cities offering higher pay include New York City, Washington, and Norwalk – all above the $100,00 mark.
Cities |
Avg. ER Nurse Salary Annually |
Avg. ER Nurse Salary Hourly |
Urban Honolulu, HI | $138,824 per year |
$66.74 per hour |
San Jose, CA |
$116,126 per year | $55.83 per hour |
Boston, MA | $109,725 per year |
$52.75 per hour |
New York, NY |
$107,328 per year | $51.60 per hour |
Washington, DC | $101,427 per year |
$48.76 per hour |
Norwalk, CT |
$98,331 per year | $47.27 per hour |
Medford, OR | $96,483 per year |
$46.39 per hour |
Las Vegas, NV |
$93,048 per year | $44.73 per hour |
Englewood, NJ | $91,533 per year |
$44.01 per hour |
Philadelphia, PA |
$87,644 per year |
$42.14 per hour |
*source: Zippia[6]
Given the stressful environment of an emergency room day in and day out, a mere salary is not enough to keep ER nurses there for a long career. Hence, no wonder that the best of employers for ER nurses not only offer attractive salaries but also ensure a work life balance with schedule flexibility, state-of-the-art resources, and more. While evaluating employers on these intangible factors is subject to debate, there are a few that stand out per publicly accessible review.
ER Nurse Employer |
Average Hourly
ER Nurse Salary Offered |
Employer
Rating |
Cambridge Global Services | $52 per hour |
3.1 |
Torrance Memorial Medical Center |
$51 per hour | 4.1 |
Ultimate Care | $50 per hour |
4.1 |
Presbyterian Healthcare Services |
$43 per hour | 3.6 |
Abrazo Community Health Network | $43 per hour |
3.3 |
ChristianaCare |
$43 per hour | 3.5 |
Epic International Staffing | $42 per hour |
3.9 |
Baylor Scott & White Health |
$42 per hour | 3.9 |
Banner Health | $42 per hour |
3.4 |
Universal Health Services. Inc. |
$42 per hour |
3.3 |
*source: Glassdoor[12]
Suggested Watch: Navigating Work and Life as a Nurse
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Becoming a travel ER nurse is an smart way for a new graduate – who is uncertain about where to settle professionally – to explore their career options. Like any traditional ER nurse, a travel ER nurse also help in emergency room procedures and patient care. However, instead of committing to one location long-term, they move between medical facilities on a temporary basis – usually couple of weeks to a month.
Salary Range |
Travel ER Nurse Salary |
Minimum |
$553 per week |
Average |
$2,130 per week |
Maximum |
$3,758 per week |
*source: Vivian[7]
State |
Average Travel ER Nurse
Weekly Salary |
Max Travel ER Nurse
Weekly Salary |
Rhode Island | $2,778 per week |
$3,488 per week |
New Jersey |
$2,492 per week | $2,947 per week |
Delaware | $2,452 per week |
$2,736 per week |
North Dakota |
$2,438 per week | $2,674 per week |
New York | $2,374 per week |
$3,604 per week |
Wisconsin |
$2,373 per week | $2,805 per week |
Minnesota | $2,371 per week |
$2,930 per week |
Vermont |
$2,371 per week | $2,937 per week |
California | $2,356 per week |
$3,617 per week |
Massachusetts |
$2,347 per week |
$3,181 per week |
*source: Vivian[7]
Employer |
Travel ER Nurse
Average Weekly Salary |
Travel ER Nurse
Max Weekly Salary |
Greenkey Resources | $3,324 per week |
$4,100 per week |
Rang Healthcare |
$3,128 per week | $3,128 per week |
TheraEX Staffing Services | $3,024 per week |
$3,024 per week |
Consolidated Medical Travel |
$2,964 per week | $3,557 per week |
Mitchell Martin Healthcare | $2,947 per week |
$2,947 per week |
NURSE’s Etc. Staffing |
$2,928 per week | $3,604 per week |
VeeAr Projects | $2,907 per week |
$3,200 per week |
DT-Healthcare Staffing |
$2,890 per week | $3,610 per week |
Trinity Health FirstChoice | $2,820 per week |
$3,277 per week |
Pacer Staffing |
$2,818 per week |
$2,818 per week |
*source: Vivian[7]
The table below compares the ER Nurse salary with 5 of the most popular nurse speciality in the US[8]. The data reveals that NICU nurses and cardiac nurses on average make about 20% more compared to ER Nurses. On the other hand, school nurses, public health nurses, and home health RNs earn 45 – 20% less than ER Nurses despite their more demand.
Popular Nursing Jobs |
Average Annual Salary |
Cardiac Nurse |
$137,936 per year |
NICU Nurse |
$125,589 per year |
ER Nurse |
$118,272 per year |
Home Health RN |
$94,190 per year |
Public Health Nurse |
$71,076 per year |
School Nurse |
$64,903 per year |
*source: indeed[1]
Suggested Reading: Navigating Career Paths in Healthcare: How to Choose Your Specialization
Time and again we have noticed location matters when it comes to ER nurse wages. Examining the state-by-state statistics on ER nurse salaries[6], trends in regional salaries start to emerge that suggest a balancing act between their pay and living expenses. States on the East Coast (Rhode Island at $104,571), the Mid-Atlantic (D.C. at $100,628), and the West Coast (California at $113,512) offer the highest annual wages. However, the cost of living is also frequently higher in these places. On the other hand, ER nurses in the Midwest and South often make less money e.g. Alabama paying $73,549 and South Dakota paying $67,796. But still stay in demand because of the lower cost of living in these regions.
The data below on ER nurse hourly rates by years of experience highlights a clear progression in pay with increasing number of years. Nurses with less than 1 year earn an average of $29.29 per hour. The same goes beyond $43 per hour for those with 20+ years.
ER Nurse Years of |
Avg. ER Nurse Hourly Rate |
< 1 year |
$29.29 per hour |
1-4 years |
$32.14 per hour |
5-9 years |
$35.59 per hour |
10-19 years |
$39.60 per hour |
20+ years |
$43 per hour |
*source: Payscale[3]
The data on ER nurses average annual salaries by degree highlights that those with a Master’s Degree earn the highest at $100,683 per year. Interestingly a Doctorate Degree holder – a higher degree – on average makes $92,668. Bachelor’s Degree holders and those with Associate Degrees tend to earn the least. This indicates a notable 32% difference between the highest and lowest-paid groups based on their educational background.
Degree |
ER Nurse Average Annual Salary |
Master’s Degree |
$100,683 per year |
Doctorate Degree |
$92,668 per year |
Bachelor’s Degree |
$89,247 per year |
Some College/ Associate Degree |
$76,345 per year |
*source: Zippia[6]
Salaries of ER nurses at the same career level and medical facilities can differ basis their skill. Nurses skilled in Transport experience an 11% increase in pay, followed by Recovery/PACU and Clinical Education at 8% each. Some skills with comparatively lesser impact on salary are ACLS and pediatrics.
ER Nurse Skill |
Effect on ER Nurse Salary |
Transport |
▲11% |
Recovery / Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) |
▲8% |
Clinical Education |
▲8% |
Administration |
▲6% |
Clinical Supervision |
▲5% |
Triage |
▲4% |
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) |
▲3% |
Pediatrics |
▲1% |
*source: Payscale[3]
Suggested Tool: Nurse Resume Builder
ER nurse salary trajectory in the US have a positive outlook amidst rising healthcare demands. An AHA survey revealed that 46.7% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure; yet, only 38% of them are unaware of it[9]. Which is one of the main causes of emergency room admissions in the US. The other two being: traffic accidents (rise by 18% between 2019 – 2022[10]), and substance poisoning (annual death rate increase by 4%[11]).
With these in sight, Zippia reports a steady 2.4% annual salary increase[4], while SalaryExpert forecasts a promising 12% rise by 2029[6].
Suggested Read: Nurse Practitioner’s Salary Trajectory
In conclusion, it’s safe to say that working as an ER nurse in the United States can be both personally and professionally rewarding. With an average annual salary that peaks at $149,921[1]. Given that one may have to start at around $60,000, ER nurses have plenty of opportunities to grow their salary over time. It’s important to keep in mind that location has the biggest influence on ER nurse pay, but one may be resourceful and take advantage of any opportunity by upskilling, going to college, or working more hours. Furthermore, ER nursing compensation is expected to positively trend by 12% over the next five years[6] making it a lucrative and fulfilling career choice.
All said, what can help one land the best deal per their ER nurse career stage is their negotiation skill. The more informed you are of your field, the better you can negotiate. We highly recommend connecting with like-minded professionals to keep updated of all news, events, and openings related to ER nursing.
Since location has the biggest impact on ER nurse salary, one can say that those in the higest-paying location make the most viz. Urban Honolulu, HI at $138,824. But do consider skills, education level and even race for a broader understanding.
ER nurses in NYC earn an average annual salary of $143,543 and an hourly rate of $92.13, reflecting the city’s high cost of living and demand for healthcare services.
In California, ER nurses make an average of $130,041 per year and $83.46 hourly, driven by the state’s strong healthcare sector and higher living costs.
ER nurses in Texas earn around $104,942 annually and $67.35 hourly, reflecting the state’s medium cost of living compared to other regions.
Given the significant variation of the ER nurse salaries for different location, skills, and career stage a wise strategy to assess if your compensation is fair not is to connect and exchange information with other professionals in your field within your region.
[1] https://www.indeed.com/career/registered-nurse-%20-emergency-room/salaries
[2] https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/business/hr-payroll/average-salary-us/
[3] https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)%2C_Emergency_Room/Hourly_Rate
[4] https://www.salary.com/tools/salary-calculator/staff-nurse-rn-emergency-room-benefits
[5] https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/emergency-department-registered-nurse/united-states
[6] https://www.zippia.com/salaries/emergency-room-nurse/
[7] https://www.vivian.com/nursing/er-emergency-room-nurse/travel/salary
[8] https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/nursing-specialties