They say you value life the most when you experience its fragility. As a hospice nurse, you get to do so day in and day out. There’s a lot to learn in that but as you offer your noble service, there’s also decent money to earn to make your life convenient. On average, a hospice nurse’s salary ranges from $62,734 to $111,289 annually[1]. When compared to an average American’s salary (U.S. Bureau of Labor, reported it to be $59,384, in Q4 of 2023[2]), the average hospice nurse salary is approximately 40.71% higher.
While evaluating salary there’s always more to consider than just the number, a hospice nurse pay is satisfactory for 66%[1] of them considering the cost of living in their area.
|
Average new grad hospice nurse salary |
$59,500 per year[3] |
| Median annual hospice nurse salary |
$84,462 per year[4] |
|
Hospice nurse salary potential |
12% rise from 2024 to 2029[5] |
One can guess that location would play in crucial role in deciding your buying power at any salary level. Goes for hospice nurses’ salaries too. Other aspects to consider include work experience, skills, education level, etc. However, to come up with the precise salary figures for hospice nurses in the US gets tricky because there’s no one true source of updated information – not even U.S. BLS. Still one can collate data from various reliable sources to paint a reasonable picture of their salary stats, patterns, and trajectory. And this is what we do in this guide on Hospice Nurse Salary – 2024. This guide has data on hospice nurse salary by state, their non-cash benefits, and even salary bumps by career progression. We also compare hospice nurses’ salaries with other popular nurse disciplines’ salaries to help you make informed decisions on nursing professions.
But before we delve into that, let’s go back to the location factor – and where the hospice nurse salary falls across US states where they are most in demand.
Hospice Nurse Salary in In-demand US States
The wages for hospice nurses in different US states show significant variation (whose critical consideration we’ll delve into later in Hospice Nurse Salary by State). Among the states with high demand for these nurses, California stands out with an annual salary range of $58,791 to $308,264. New York follows closely, offering salaries ranging from $87,079 to $119,954 per year. In contrast, Florida tends to offer salaries between $56,318 and $93,186 per year and averages around $72,443 annually.
|
Lower End of |
Average Hospice Nurse Annual Salary |
Upper End of |
|
|
Hospice Nurse Salary in California |
$58,791 per year | $134,623 per year | $308,264 per year |
| Hospice Nurse Salary in New York | $87,079 per year | $102,203 per year |
$119,954 per year |
|
Hospice Nurse Salary in Oregon |
$75,238 per year | $90,599 per year | $109,096 per year |
| Hospice Nurse Salary in Florida | $56,318 per year | $72,443 per year |
$93,186 per year |
|
Hospice Nurse Salary Ohio |
$64,560 per year | $79,463 per year | $97,807 per year |
| Hospice Nurse Salary in Michigan | $69,522 per year | $82,480 per year |
$97,852 per year |
|
Hospice Nurse Salary in Massachusetts |
$74,127 per year | $92,659 per year | $115,825 per year |
| Hospice Nurse Salary in Las Vegas | $68,818 per year | $88,090 per year |
$112,757 per year |
|
Hospice Nurse salary in Texas |
$66,770 per year | $83,857 per year | $105,315 per year |
| Hospice Nurse Salary in Tennessee | $61,233 per year | $75,524 per year | $93,151 per year |
*source: indeed[1]
Look for the best-paying Hospice Nurse jobs across the US, by joining our nursing professional community now!
Next let’s quickly gloss over the basics of the hospice nurse job itself – their responsibilities, entry requirements, and new grad salary possibilities.
Hospice Nurse Job in US
Hospice nurses provide end-of-life care to terminally ill patients. Their duties include not only administering medications and monitoring vital signs but also identifying and addressing the physical, psychosocial, and environmental needs of their patients. In addition, they are expected to offer education and emotional support to patients and their families.
To become a hospice nurse in the US, one typically starts by earning a nursing degree and obtaining a registered nurse (RN) license. Further, you can obtain certifications such as the Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN) credential to enhance your career prospects. On another hand, it’s worth noting that the gender breakdown among hospice nurses is skewed[7]: Over 91% of them are female, close to 8% are male, and the remaining prefer to self-define.
As for the entry-level hospice nurse salary, expect an average of $59,470[3] annually.
Suggested Reading: Career as a Nurse in US in 2024
How much do Hospice Nurses Make in a Year, Month, and Hour in the US in 2024
As mentioned earlier, pinpointing an exact Hospice Nurse’s salary is challenging due to various influencing factors and the lack of one true source. However, using data from reliable sources, we estimate that on the higher end, hospice nurse salary goes up to $45.96 per hour or $111,289 per year. At the lower end, hospice nurses make around $25.91 per hour, resulting in an annual income of $62,734. On average, nurses working at a hospice facility earn approximately $34.50 per hour – an annual salary of $83,556.
|
Hospice Nurse Salary |
Per Hour | Per Week | Per Month | Per Year |
| Lower end salary | $25.91 | $1,148 | $4,442 |
$62,734 |
|
Average base salary |
$34.50 | $1,529 | $5,916 | $83,556 |
| Higher end salary | $45.96 | $2,036 | $7,879 |
$111,289 |
*source: indeed[1]
Suggested Reading: 2024 Salary Guide for US Nurse Practitioners
Median Hospice Nurse Salary
Now looking at the hospice nurse salary from another revealing angle – median – paints us a picture of how the salary points across the lower and higher ranges are distributed among the number of professionals. Meaning, how much salary for a hospice nurse is most likely to be.
|
Percentile |
Hospice Nurse Annual Salary |
| 10% |
$70,312 per year |
|
25% |
$77,055 per year |
| 50% |
$84,462 per year |
|
75% |
$96,683 per year |
| 90% |
$107,810 per year |
*source: Salary[4]
Reading the table above, we see that the bottom 10th percentile makes $70,312 per year compared to the $107,810 per year salary of hospice nurses in the upper 10th percentile. And, the salary most likely held by hospice nurses across the US i.e. the median hospice nurse salary – is $84,462 annually.
Hospice Nurse Salary and Benefits Breakdown
Median Hospice Nurse Compensation Breakdown
|
Annual Core Compensation of Hospice Nurse |
||
|
Median |
% of Total | |
| Base Salary | $84,433 |
72.1% |
|
Bonus |
$29 |
0.0% |
|
Annual Value of Benefits for Hospice Nurses |
||
|
Median |
% of Total | |
| Social Security | $6,461 |
5.5% |
|
401K/403B |
$4,139 | 3.5% |
| Disability | $1,351 |
1.2% |
|
Healthcare |
$6,371 | 5.4% |
| Pension | $3,547 |
3.0% |
|
Time Off |
$10,720 |
9.2% |
|
Total Compensation |
$117,051 |
100% |
Common Benefits for Hospice Nurses
The majority of hospice RN employers offer medical (71%) and dental (62%) benefits, but some 30% of them do not extend any such non-cash remunerations[7].
|
401(k) |
Employee stock purchase plan | Mileage reimbursement |
| 401(k) matching | Flexible schedule |
Opportunities for advancement |
|
403(b) |
Flexible spending account | Paid sick time |
| AD&D insurance | Free parking |
Paid time off |
|
Company car |
Gym membership | Referral program |
| Continuing education credits | Health insurance |
Retirement plan |
|
Dental insurance |
Health savings account | Travel reimbursement |
| Disability insurance | Housing stipend |
Tuition reimbursement |
|
Employee assistance program |
License reimbursement | Vision insurance |
| Employee discount | Life insurance |
Wellness program |
*source: indeed[1]
Hospice Nurse Salary by State
Now, coming to the core data for this guide on hospice nurse salary – state-wise salaries. Across the 50 states of the US, a significant fluctuation is evident. On one side Rhode Island leads the list with a $112,805 annual salary to hospice nurses on average while on the other end, we see offers as low as $54,542 per year in South Dakota.
|
State |
Avg. Salary of
Hospice Nurse |
Hourly Rate of Hospice Nurse |
|
Alabama |
$56,967 | $27.39 |
| Alaska | $69,091 |
$33.22 |
|
Arizona |
$71,915 | $34.57 |
| Arkansas | $62,244 |
$29.93 |
|
California |
$105,096 | $50.53 |
| Colorado | $67,127 |
$32.27 |
|
Connecticut |
$89,916 | $43.23 |
| Delaware | $91,375 |
$43.93 |
|
District of Columbia |
$98,935 | $47.56 |
| Florida | $65,078 |
$31.29 |
|
Georgia |
$69,950 | $33.63 |
| Hawaii | $90,994 |
$43.75 |
|
Idaho |
$84,273 | $40.52 |
| Illinois | $67,741 |
$32.57 |
|
Indiana |
$55,367 | $26.62 |
| Iowa | $55,407 |
$26.64 |
|
Kansas |
$62,977 | $30.28 |
| Kentucky | $63,734 |
$30.64 |
|
Louisiana |
$71,591 | $34.42 |
| Maine | $72,106 |
$34.67 |
|
Maryland |
$86,295 | $41.49 |
| Massachusetts | $91,567 |
$44.02 |
|
Michigan |
$73,732 | $35.45 |
| Minnesota | $69,385 |
$33.36 |
|
Mississippi |
$65,587 | $31.53 |
| Missouri | $66,333 |
$31.89 |
|
Montana |
$72,389 | $34.80 |
| Nebraska | $59,808 |
$28.75 |
|
Nevada |
$82,874 | $39.84 |
| New Hampshire | $83,395 |
$40.09 |
|
New Jersey |
$93,531 | $44.97 |
| New Mexico | $73,417 |
$35.30 |
|
New York |
$95,583 | $45.95 |
| North Carolina | $66,083 |
$31.77 |
|
North Dakota |
$59,540 | $28.63 |
| Ohio | $71,144 |
$34.20 |
|
Oklahoma |
$63,093 | $30.33 |
| Oregon | $91,866 |
$44.17 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$82,595 | $39.71 |
| Rhode Island | $112,805 |
$54.23 |
|
South Carolina |
$65,840 | $31.65 |
| South Dakota | $54,542 |
$26.22 |
|
Tennessee |
$57,092 | $27.45 |
| Texas | $71,112 |
$34.19 |
|
Utah |
$72,427 | $34.82 |
| Vermont | $85,211 |
$40.97 |
|
Virginia |
$72,969 | $35.08 |
| Washington | $90,713 |
$43.61 |
|
West Virginia |
$76,637 | $36.84 |
| Wisconsin | $76,923 |
$36.98 |
|
Wyoming |
$74,039 |
$35.60 |
*source: Zippia[3]
Too long a table to scan – good for you we have compiled the top 10 highest-paying and lowest-paying states for hospice nurses below.
But before we go there, we would like to highlight that this is not to say that the highest-paying states are absolutely better choices to be a hospice nurse than the lowest-paying states. It’s rather a straightforward filter to give you a gist. While making decision on which location to settle in for your profession, we encourage you to consider factors like living cost, career stage, lifestyle preferences, etc.
Suggested Watch: Top 10 Highest-paid Nursing Jobs
Top 10 Highest-paying US States for Hospice Nurses
Hospice nurses in Rhode Island earn the most annually at $112,805. Interestingly, Rhode Island also offers the highest hourly rate for hospice nurses at $54.23. Among the highest-paying states for hospice nurses, California and the District of Columbia are also top players offering salaries close to $100,000 annually or $50 per hour.
|
State |
Avg. Hospice Nurse Salary per Year |
Avg. Hospice Nurse |
|
Rhode Island |
$112,805 per year | $54.23 per hour |
| California | $105,096 per year |
$50.53 per hour |
|
District of Columbia |
$98,935 per year | $47.56 per hour |
| New York | $95,583 per year |
$45.95 per hour |
|
New Jersey |
$93,531 per year | $44.97 per hour |
| Oregon | $91,866 per year |
$44.17 per hour |
|
Massachusetts |
$91,567 per year | $44.02 per hour |
| Delaware | $91,375 per year |
$43.93 per hour |
|
Hawaii |
$90,994 per year | $43.75 per hour |
| Washington | $90,713 per year |
$43.61 per hour |
*source: Zippia[3]
10 Lowest-paying US States for Hospice Nurses
Among the lowest-paying US states for hospice nurses South Dakota is at the bottom of the pack, with an average annual salary of $54,542 and an hourly rate of $26.22. It is followed by Indiana and Iowa where hospice nurses on average make $55,000 annually or $26 per hour.
|
State |
Avg. Hospice Nurse Salary per Year |
Avg. Hospice Nurse Salary per Hour |
| South Dakota | $54,542 per year |
$26.22 per hour |
|
Indiana |
$55,367 per year | $26.62 per hour |
| Iowa | $55,407 per year |
$26.64 per hour |
|
Alabama |
$56,967 per year | $27.39 per hour |
| Tennessee | $57,092 per year |
$27.45 per hour |
|
North Dakota |
$59,540 per year | $28.63 per hour |
| Nebraska | $59,808 per year |
$28.75 per hour |
|
Arkansas |
$62,244 per year | $29.93 per hour |
| Kansas | $62,977 per year |
$30.28 per hour |
|
Oklahoma |
$63,093 per year |
$30.33 per hour |
*source: Zippia[3]
Highest-paying US Cities for Hospice Nurses
Going a step deeper in the region layer from states to cities, the pattern for highest-paying cities for hospice nurses follows suit of the states. The city of Providence in Rhode Island leads with an average annual salary of $112,899 and an hourly rate of $54.28. Santa Rosa, CA, is a close second offering hospice nurses an average annual salary of $110,663 per year and $53.20 per hour. Other major cities in the list include New York, NY, and Newark, NJ.
| Cities | Avg. Hospice Nurse Salary per Year |
Avg. Hospice Nurse Salary per Hour |
| Providence, RI | $112,899 per year | $54.28 per hour |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $110,663 per year | $53.20 per hour |
| New York, NY | $95,931 per year | $46.12 per hour |
| Newark, NJ | $93,599 per year | $45.00 per hour |
| Eugene, OR | $92,748 per year | $44.59 per hour |
| Vancouver, WA | $92,424 per year | $44.43 per hour |
| Springfield, MA | $91,945 per year | $44.20 per hour |
| Newark, DE | $91,198 per year | $43.85 per hour |
| Baltimore, MD | $86,566 per year | $41.62 per hour |
| Philadelphia, PA | $83,346 per year | $40.07 per hour |
| Providence, RI | $112,899 per year | $54.28 per hour |
*source: Zippia[3]
Popular Employers for Hospice Nurses and Their Offered Salaries
Given the vulnerable state of the patients in hospice care, it’s not just the salaries that draw hospice nurses to a potential employer. They also consider a positive work environment, access to necessary resources, and work-life balance. Assessing employers based on these intangible factors is subjective but over time some stand out given reviews on public platforms.
| Hospice Nurse Employer | Average Hourly Hospice Nurse Salary Offered |
Employer Rating |
| Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care | $47.57 per hour | 2.6 |
| Host Healthcare | $43.96 per hour | 4.7 |
| Hospice Services of Massachusetts | $41.38 per hour | 3.6 |
| VITAS Healthcare | $38.60 per hour | 3.3 |
| Compassus | $37.62 per hour | 3.3 |
| AccentCare | $35.69 per hour | 3.3 |
| Alliance Healthcare Solutions | $34.69 per hour | 4.8 |
| Amedisys | $33.66 per hour | 3.1 |
| Integrity Placement Group | $31.04 per hour | 5 |
| ProMedica Health System | $26.62 per hour | 3.2 |
*source: indeed[1]
Suggested Watch: Navigating Work and Life as a Nurse
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Hospice Nurse Salary by Career Progression
The annual salary of a hospice nurse can range from $69,000 to $288,000, depending on their career stage. A New Grad Registered Nurse starts out at $107,157 and as one advances in their career, their pay grows significantly. Chief Registered Nurses earn $214,047 annually on average, and Director of Nursing positions average $135,876.
| Hospice Nurse Career Stage | Typical Hospice Nurse Annual Salary Range |
Hospice Nurse Annual Pay Estimate |
| Assistant Manager of Nursing | $69K – $119K per year | $90,426 per year |
| New Grad Registered Nurse | $86K – $134K per year | $107,157 per year |
| Registered Nurse | $90K – $142K per year | $112,879 per year |
| Assistant Director of Nursing | $93K – $145K per year | $115,500 per year |
| Adjunct Registered Nurse | $97K – $148K per year | $119,332 per year |
| Senior Registered Nurse | $98K – $147K per year | $119,805 per year |
| Registered Nurse V | $103K – $156K per year | $126,184 per year |
| Director of Nursing | $109K – $170K per year | $135,876 per year |
| Senior Director of Nursing | $143K – $236K per year | $182,296 per year |
| Chief Registered Nurse | $162K – $288K per year | $214,047 per year |
*source: glassdoor[8]
Travel Hospice Nurse Salary
Early in their nursing career, many of them when unsure about which location to settle in as hospice nurses, being a travel hospice nurse is a good alternative. Much like a regular hospice nurse, a traveling hospice nurse is a healthcare professional who provides end-of-life care to terminally ill patients – but instead of being tied up to a location for a long time, they typically work on a temporary or contract basis. Thus enjoying the flexibility of exploring various healthcare facilities, patient’s homes, or cities altogether.
Because of the traveling component, a travel hospice nurse’s salary is typically higher than its non-traveling counterpart. Vivian reports that the average salary for a Travel Hospice Nurse is $2,040 per week[9].
Below we take a closer comparative look between the two.
| Range | Hospice Nurse Weekly Salary |
Travel Hospice Nurse Weekly Salary |
| Low range | $1,699 per week | $1,148 per week |
| Average | $2,040 per week | $1,529 per week |
| High range | $2,419 per week | $2,036 per week |
*source: Vivian[9], Indeed[1]
Hospice Nurse Salary v/s Other Popular Nursing Jobs
In general, compared to other popular nursing jobs, the average annual salary of a Hospice Nurse ($83,556) ranks modestly. Certified Nurse-midwives and Rehabilitation Nurses can make salaries around 23% higher, while Nursing Administrators earn approximately 21% more. However, when deciding on a profession, it’s not mere salary but personal preferences, so do not discount hospice nurses’ value by this comparison only.
| Popular Nursing Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
| Certified Nurse-midwife | $102,746 per year |
| Rehabilitation Nurse | $102,215 per year |
| Nursing Administrator | $101,340 per year |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) | $93,252 per year |
| Registered Nurse RN) | $89,869 per year |
| Hospice Nurse | $83,556 per year |
*source: indeed[10]
Suggested Reading: Navigating Career Paths in Healthcare: How to Choose Your Specialization
Factors Influencing Hospice Nurse Salaries
Location-based influence on the Hospice Nurse Pay
Reflecting on the data on hospice nurse salaries by state[3], the emerging patterns in regional salaries indicate a trade-off between salary and affordability of living. The Northeast (RI: $112,805), the Mid-Atlantic (DC: $98,935), and the West Coast (CA: $105,096) have the highest salaries. The cost of living is frequently greater in these places. On the other hand, hospice nurses’ salaries in the Midwest and South are generally considered lower (AL: $56,967, SD: $54,542) – plausibly due to both a lower cost of living and fewer work options.
Experience-based influence on the Hospice Nurse Pay
As common sense dictates, hospice nurse salaries increase over the year with the increase in their experience level. Someone with no experience can make around $29 per hour; mid-career hospice nurses with 5-9 years of experience on their CV make around $35 per hour. While the ones with 20+ years of experience earn above $37 per hour.
| Hospice Nurse Years of Experience |
Avg. Hospice Nurse Hourly Rate |
| < 1 year | $29.23 per hour |
| 1-4 years | $32.98 per hour |
| 5-9 years | $34.71 per hour |
| 10-19 years | $36.13 per hour |
| 20+ years | $37 per hour |
*source: Payscale[7]
Skill-based influence on the Hospice Nurse Pay
Upskilling helps increase your professional value in any sector and hospice nursing is no different. But some skills do so more than others. Skills like home care and wound care positively impact hospice nurse salaries, with increases of around 10%. While proficiency in medicine/surgery, clinical education, and case management can surge it up by 3-5%.
| Hospice Nurse Skill | Effect on Hospice Nurse Salary |
| Home Care | ▲11.35% |
| Wound Care | ▲8% |
| Medicine / Surgery | ▲5% |
| Clinical Education | ▲5% |
| Case Management | ▲3% |
| Home Health/Home Care | ▲2% |
| Acute Care | ▲2% |
| Hospice Care | ▲1% |
| Pain Management | ▲1% |
*source: Payscale[7]
Suggested Tool: Nurse Resume Builder
Hospice Nurse Salary Projections
Based on data from multiple sources, the US hospice nurse salary forecast has favorable indications, especially in light of changing healthcare demands and demographic trends. Hospice care will be in high demand as the senior citizen population is predicted to quadruple by 2030[11], mostly due to the aging Baby Boomer generation. Furthermore, the average lifespan in the United States is approximately 76 years[12], suggesting an increasing demand for end-of-life treatment. Further SalaryExpert[5] reports that the projected compensation potential for hospice nurses is expected to rise by 12% over the next five years (2024–2029).
Suggested Read: Nurse Practitioner’s Salary Trajectory
Endnote
In conclusion, it is evident that becoming a hospice nurse in the US can be financially and professionally fulfilling. With an average yearly pay of $83,556[1], there’s plenty of opportunity to start out well and increase income over time to the potential upper range of $210,000[8]. Remember that this depends on factors including geography, experience, and education. Additionally, hospice nursing pay has a 12% positive uptick[5], in the coming 5 years (by 2029) which solidifies it as a rewarding and profitable career decision.
Lastly, bring out your best while negotiating. Yes, negotiate from an informed position for higher pay during contract renewals or job offers. Keeping abreast of news, events, and job openings related to hospice nursing will elevate any already excellent earning opportunity even higher.
FAQ’s
How much do hospice nurses make in the US?
Hospice nurses in the US earn between $62,734 and $111,289 annually, reflecting the range from lower to higher salaries[1].
What state pays hospice nurses the most?
At a $112,899[3] annual salary offer on average, Rhode Island pays hospice nurses the most. California and New York are the other two states where hospice nurses are paid well.
What state pays hospice nurses the least?
South Dakota pays the lowest compensation to hospice nurses in the US – $54,542 per year and $26.22 per hour[3].
How much do hospice nurses make in a week?
On average, hospice nurses earn between $1,148 to $2,036 per week[1], depending on experience and location.
How much do hospice nurses make per hour?
The hourly earnings of hospice nurses in the US range from $25.91 to $45.96[1].
How do I know if I’m being paid fairly as a hospice nurse?
Since there is no reliable source of up-to-date information, hospice nurse salaries vary greatly among places for a variety of reasons, so one smart approach to find out if you’re getting paid fairly or not is to network with other members of your field in your area.
References
[1] https://www.indeed.com/career/hospice-nurse/salaries
[2] https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/business/hr-payroll/average-salary-us/
[3] https://www.zippia.com/salaries/hospice-registered-nurse/
[4] https://www.salary.com/tools/salary-calculator/staff-nurse-rn-hospice?type=bonus
[5] https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/hospice-nurse/united-states
[6] https://www.salary.com/tools/salary-calculator/staff-nurse-rn-hospice-benefits
[7] https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Hospice_Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate
[8] https://www.glassdoor.com/Career/how-to-become-hospice-rn_KO14,24.htm#
[9] https://www.vivian.com/nursing/hospice-nurse/travel/salary/
[10] https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/high-paying-nursing-jobs
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1464018/
[12] https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/
