Healthcare3% remote-eligible+4% YoY growth

ICU Nurse Salary
by City (2026)

Provide intensive care to critically ill patients in hospital intensive care units. National median: $98K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$98K

Top 10% earn

$150K

Entry level

$78K

Salary growth

+4%/yr

ICU Nurse salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$109K	$137K	$171K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$105K	$132K	$165K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$104K	$130K	$162K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$103K	$130K	$161K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$103K	$130K	$161K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$101K	$127K	$159K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$101K	$127K	$159K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$101K	$127K	$159K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$100K	$126K	$157K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$99K	$125K	$156K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$98K	$123K	$153K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$98K	$123K	$153K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$97K	$122K	$152K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$97K	$122K	$152K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$97K	$121K	$151K	162	None ✓
San Diego, CA	$95K	$120K	$149K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$95K	$120K	$149K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$95K	$120K	$149K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$95K	$120K	$149K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$95K	$119K	$148K	155	11%
Arlington, VA	$94K	$118K	$146K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$94K	$118K	$146K	192	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$93K	$117K	$146K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$92K	$116K	$144K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$93K	$116K	$145K	148	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$92K	$116K	$144K	120	5%
Baltimore, MD	$92K	$116K	$144K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$93K	$116K	$145K	148	5.75%
Anchorage, AK	$92K	$116K	$144K	128	None ✓
Alexandria, VA	$92K	$115K	$144K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$92K	$115K	$144K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$90K	$114K	$141K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$90K	$113K	$140K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$90K	$113K	$141K	138	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$90K	$113K	$140K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$90K	$113K	$140K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$90K	$113K	$141K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$90K	$113K	$141K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$87K	$110K	$137K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$87K	$110K	$137K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$87K	$110K	$137K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$86K	$108K	$134K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$86K	$108K	$134K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$86K	$108K	$134K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$86K	$108K	$134K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$85K	$107K	$133K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$85K	$107K	$133K	120	None ✓
Houston, TX	$84K	$106K	$132K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$84K	$106K	$132K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$84K	$106K	$132K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$84K	$106K	$132K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$84K	$106K	$132K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$84K	$106K	$132K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$84K	$106K	$132K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$83K	$105K	$130K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$83K	$105K	$130K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$83K	$105K	$130K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$83K	$105K	$130K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$83K	$105K	$130K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$83K	$105K	$130K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$83K	$105K	$130K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$83K	$105K	$130K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$83K	$104K	$129K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$83K	$104K	$129K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$83K	$104K	$129K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$83K	$104K	$129K	112	4.75%
Austin, TX	$82K	$103K	$128K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$82K	$103K	$128K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$82K	$103K	$128K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$82K	$103K	$128K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$82K	$103K	$128K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$82K	$103K	$128K	118	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$82K	$103K	$128K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$82K	$103K	$128K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$82K	$103K	$128K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$82K	$103K	$128K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$81K	$102K	$127K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$81K	$102K	$127K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$81K	$102K	$127K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$81K	$102K	$127K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$81K	$102K	$127K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$81K	$102K	$127K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$80K	$101K	$126K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$80K	$101K	$126K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$80K	$101K	$126K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$80K	$101K	$126K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$80K	$101K	$126K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$80K	$100K	$124K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$80K	$100K	$124K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$80K	$100K	$124K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$80K	$100K	$125K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$80K	$100K	$124K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$80K	$100K	$124K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$80K	$100K	$124K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$80K	$100K	$125K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$79K	$99K	$124K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$79K	$99K	$124K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$79K	$99K	$123K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$79K	$99K	$123K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$79K	$99K	$124K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$79K	$99K	$124K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$79K	$99K	$123K	98	5.75%
Rochester, MN	$79K	$99K	$124K	100	6.8%
North Las Vegas, NV	$79K	$99K	$123K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$79K	$99K	$123K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$79K	$99K	$124K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$79K	$99K	$123K	98	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$79K	$99K	$124K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$79K	$99K	$123K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$79K	$99K	$123K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$79K	$99K	$123K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$79K	$99K	$124K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$78K	$98K	$122K	95	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$78K	$98K	$122K	100	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$78K	$98K	$122K	95	4.95%
Chandler, AZ	$78K	$98K	$122K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$78K	$98K	$122K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$78K	$98K	$122K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$78K	$98K	$122K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$78K	$98K	$122K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$78K	$98K	$122K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$78K	$98K	$122K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$78K	$98K	$122K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$78K	$98K	$122K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$78K	$98K	$122K	100	4.85%
North Charleston, SC	$78K	$98K	$122K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$77K	$97K	$120K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$77K	$97K	$120K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$77K	$97K	$120K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$77K	$97K	$120K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$77K	$97K	$120K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$76K	$96K	$119K	90	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$76K	$96K	$120K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$76K	$96K	$120K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$76K	$96K	$120K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$76K	$96K	$120K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$76K	$96K	$119K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$76K	$96K	$119K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$76K	$96K	$120K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$76K	$96K	$120K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$76K	$96K	$120K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$76K	$96K	$119K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$76K	$96K	$120K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$76K	$96K	$119K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$76K	$96K	$120K	105	6.5%
Fargo, ND	$76K	$96K	$119K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$76K	$95K	$118K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$75K	$94K	$117K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$75K	$94K	$117K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$75K	$94K	$117K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$75K	$94K	$117K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$75K	$94K	$117K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$75K	$94K	$117K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$75K	$94K	$117K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	5%
Lafayette, LA	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$75K	$94K	$117K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$74K	$93K	$116K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$74K	$93K	$116K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	3.99%
South Bend, IN	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	3.23%
Huntsville, AL	$74K	$93K	$116K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$74K	$93K	$116K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$74K	$93K	$116K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$74K	$93K	$116K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$74K	$93K	$116K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$73K	$92K	$114K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	5.75%
Toledo, OH	$73K	$92K	$114K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$73K	$92K	$114K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$73K	$92K	$114K	78	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$73K	$92K	$114K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$73K	$92K	$115K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$73K	$92K	$114K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$72K	$91K	$113K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$72K	$91K	$113K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$72K	$91K	$113K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$72K	$90K	$112K	82	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$72K	$90K	$112K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$72K	$90K	$112K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$72K	$90K	$112K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$72K	$90K	$112K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$72K	$90K	$112K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$72K	$90K	$112K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$72K	$90K	$112K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$72K	$90K	$112K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$72K	$90K	$112K	88	5.9%
Lubbock, TX	$70K	$88K	$110K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$70K	$88K	$110K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$70K	$88K	$110K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$70K	$88K	$110K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$69K	$86K	$107K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$69K	$86K	$107K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $98K ICU Nurse salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

ICU Nurse Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a ICU Nurse is $98,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $78,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $122,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of ICU Nurses nationally earn $150,000+.

Education and requirements

BSN; RN licensure; CCRN certification. This role is 3% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

ICU Nurse compensation is growing at 4% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

ICU Nurse salary FAQ

How much does a ICU Nurse make?

The median ICU Nurse salary in the US is $98,000 per year — about $47/hour. Most earn between $78,000 (25th percentile) and $122,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a ICU Nurse?

Entry-level ICU Nurse positions typically start around $78,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid ICU Nurses earn?

The top 10% of ICU Nurses earn $150,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays ICU Nurses the most?

San Francisco has the highest median ICU Nurse salary at $137K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are ICU Nurse salaries going up?

Yes — ICU Nurse pay is growing about 4% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

ICU Nurse Salaryby City (2026)