Critical Care Nurse Salary by Experience Level

Compare salary bands for each critical care nurse level.

2026 Median Salary$103KExperienced Critical Care Nurse benchmark
Senior Range$84K - $145KSenior Critical Care Nurse market range
Starting Hourly Range$17-$25/hrStudent Nurse Intern / early-career estimate
Category (Experience)
Year
Min - Max (USD)
Salary Range (Min - Max in USD)
Student Nurse Intern(Prelicensure placement)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$17-$25/hr
$16-$24/hr
$16-$23/hr
$15-$22/hr
$14-$21/hr
$17
$25
$16
$24
$16
$23
$15
$22
$14
$21
New Graduate Critical Care Nurse(0 to 1 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$70K - $108K
$68K - $104K
$65K - $100K
$62K - $96K
$59K - $92K
$70K
$108K
$68K
$104K
$65K
$100K
$62K
$96K
$59K
$92K
Entry Level Critical Care Nurse(1 to 2 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$73K - $112K
$70K - $108K
$68K - $104K
$65K - $100K
$62K - $96K
$73K
$112K
$70K
$108K
$68K
$104K
$65K
$100K
$62K
$96K
Critical Care Nurse(2 to 3 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$76K - $118K
$73K - $114K
$70K - $110K
$67K - $106K
$64K - $102K
$76K
$118K
$73K
$114K
$70K
$110K
$67K
$106K
$64K
$102K
Experienced Critical Care Nurse(3 to 5 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$79K - $132K
$76K - $127K
$73K - $123K
$69K - $118K
$66K - $113K
$79K
$132K
$76K
$127K
$73K
$123K
$69K
$118K
$66K
$113K
Senior Critical Care Nurse(5 to 8 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$84K - $145K
$81K - $140K
$78K - $136K
$74K - $131K
$71K - $126K
$84K
$145K
$81K
$140K
$78K
$136K
$74K
$131K
$71K
$126K
Charge Nurse(Relevant leadership experience)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$85K - $150K
$82K - $145K
$79K - $140K
$76K - $136K
$73K - $132K
$85K
$150K
$82K
$145K
$79K
$140K
$76K
$136K
$73K
$132K
Critical Care Nursing Director(Nursing management experience)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$110K - $220K
$106K - $210K
$102K - $230K
$98K - $205K
$94K - $195K
$110K
$220K
$106K
$210K
$102K
$230K
$98K
$205K
$94K
$195K
Chief Nursing Officer(Executive nursing leadership)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$180K - $310K
$170K - $290K
$168K - $285K
$160K - $280K
$150K - $265K
$180K
$310K
$170K
$290K
$168K
$285K
$160K
$280K
$150K
$265K

References