Emergency Department Nurse salary: $63.00/hr$2,520/wk$131,040/yr median.
Pay range $57.78$2,311$120,182–$72.45/hr$2,898/wk$150,696/yr across the middle 50% of active Emergency Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) postings nationwide.
177 unique employers · 579 cities · 52 states. Pay moved -9.9% over the last 30 days.
How Emergency Department Nurse pay is distributed.
10% of postings pay under $51.00/hr$2,040/wk$106,080/yr. The top 10% pay above $83.33/hr$3,333/wk$173,326/yr.
How Emergency Department Nurse pay has moved month over month.
Median pay moved from $61.19 in May 2026 to $41.50 in Oct 2026 (-32.2%). Bars show monthly posting volume; the line tracks the posting-weighted median.
| Month | Median /hr/wk/yr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $61.19$2,448$127,275 | $54.39$2,176$113,131–$66.54$2,662$138,403 | 336 |
| Jun 2026 | $61.86$2,474$128,669 | $56.69$2,268$117,915–$68.56$2,742$142,605 | 1,801 |
| Jul 2026 | $64.70$2,588$134,576 | $60.24$2,410$125,299–$75.18$3,007$156,374 | 1,272 |
| Aug 2026 | $63.69$2,548$132,475 | $59.50$2,380$123,760–$74.08$2,963$154,086 | 717 |
| Sep 2026 | $49.00$1,960$101,920 | $44.50$1,780$92,560–$55.50$2,220$115,440 | 8 |
| Oct 2026 | $41.50$1,660$86,320 | $41.00$1,640$85,280–$46.75$1,870$97,240 | 8 |
Emergency Department Nurse pay across every state with live data.
Showing all 47 states with live data. Bars scale to the highest-paying state.
The metros writing the biggest Emergency Department Nurse paychecks.
| City | State | Median /hr/wk/yr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| san leandro | CA · CALIFORNIA | $98.18$3,927$204,214 | $98.18$3,927$204,214–$98.18$3,927$204,214 | 11 |
| sitka | AK · ALASKA | $90.28$3,611$187,782 | $86.79$3,472$180,523–$92.96$3,718$193,357 | 63 |
| arcata | CA · CALIFORNIA | $88.45$3,538$183,976 | $83.75$3,350$174,200–$92.48$3,699$192,358 | 21 |
| brooklyn | NY · NEW YORK | $85.40$3,416$177,632 | $83.81$3,352$174,325–$90.70$3,628$188,656 | 24 |
| chula vista | CA · CALIFORNIA | $85.08$3,403$176,966 | $83.39$3,336$173,451–$87.43$3,497$181,854 | 11 |
CITY PAY DATA
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Where the top of the market is paying for Emergency Department Nurse.
| Employer | Median /hr/wk/yr | Range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| acuity healthcare staffing llc | $86.11$3,444$179,109 | $83.33$3,333$173,326–$86.11$3,444$179,109 | 7 |
| advantage staffing services | $85.00$3,400$176,800 | $79.67$3,187$165,714–$85.00$3,400$176,800 | 6 |
| amergis healthcare staffing boston | $84.83$3,393$176,446 | $67.54$2,702$140,483–$95.08$3,803$197,766 | 16 |
| cloudinfrait inc | $85.09$3,404$176,987 | $80.50$3,220$167,440–$96.93$3,877$201,614 | 12 |
| jackson nurse professionals | $85.99$3,440$178,859 | $59.77$2,391$124,322–$91.89$3,676$191,131 | 8 |
| kaiser permanente | $98.18$3,927$204,214 | $81.12$3,245$168,730–$123.82$4,953$257,546 | 19 |
| supplemental health care | $84.13$3,365$174,990 | $73.88$2,955$153,670–$98.50$3,940$204,880 | 8 |
| the good life medstaff | $85.60$3,424$178,048 | $60.73$2,429$126,318–$91.33$3,653$189,966 | 8 |
| united staffing solutions | $83.69$3,348$174,075 | $63.23$2,529$131,518–$105.81$4,232$220,085 | 26 |
| wcs healthcare partners | $88.00$3,520$183,040 | $80.00$3,200$166,400–$120.00$4,800$249,600 | 12 |
Showing all 10 employers with live pay data.
How Emergency Department Nurse pay shifts by schedule and contract type.
Staff Position pays the most at $98.18/hr$3,927/wk$204,214/yr median — 137% above Fulltime at $41.50/hr$1,660/wk$86,320/yr. Travel Contract drives the volume with 2,008 active postings.
How to become a Emergency Department Nurse.
Emergency Department nurses provide rapid assessment and treatment for patients with acute injuries and illnesses in fast-paced emergency room settings.
Most ER nurses start with a BSN and 1-2 years of acute care (often med-surg or telemetry) before transitioning to ED. Some hospitals offer direct-to-ED residencies for new graduates.
| Degree | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree in NursingADN | 2-3 years | Entry-level option, though BSN increasingly preferred for ED positions at major trauma centers. |
| Bachelor of Science in NursingBSN | 4 years | Preferred by most Level I and II trauma centers. Required for many ER leadership positions. |
| Master of Science in NursingMSN | 2-3 years post-BSN | Required for Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) roles or Clinical Nurse Specialist positions. |
State RN license required. Must pass NCLEX-RN examination.
CPR certification required for all ED nursing positions.
Required for ED nurses. Covers cardiac arrest algorithms, arrhythmia recognition, and resuscitation.
Required for EDs that treat pediatric patients. Covers pediatric emergencies and resuscitation.
Often required at trauma centers. Standardized trauma nursing education from ENA.
| Credential | Issued by | Pay impact |
|---|---|---|
| CEN Certified Emergency Nurse Gold standard ED certification. Validates specialized knowledge across all emergency nursing competencies. Requires 2 years of ED experience. | BCEN (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing) | +5-15% |
| CPEN Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse Specialization for nurses treating pediatric emergencies. Valuable in children's hospitals and pediatric EDs. | BCEN | +5-10% |
| CFRN Certified Flight Registered Nurse For nurses in flight/transport nursing. Requires significant ED or ICU experience plus flight-specific training. | BCEN | +10-20% |
| TCRN Trauma Certified Registered Nurse Specialization in trauma nursing across the continuum of care from ED to ICU. | BCEN | +5-10% |
| SANE-A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner - Adult Credential for forensic nursing and sexual assault examination. Requires specialized training (40+ hours). | IAFN | Specialty differential |
- 0-1 yearsED Residency / New Grad ER Nurse
Structured ED orientation (typically 12-20 weeks). Gradual increase in patient acuity and independence.
- 1-3 yearsStaff ER Nurse
Independent practice handling diverse emergencies. Often 4-6 patient assignments during shifts.
- 3-5 yearsSenior ER Nurse / Preceptor
Mentors new nurses, handles trauma and critical patients, may lead resuscitations. Often CEN certified.
- 5-7 yearsER Charge Nurse / Team Lead
Coordinates patient flow, manages staffing, and ensures efficient ED operations during shifts.
- 7-10 yearsED Educator / Clinical Nurse Specialist
Focuses on staff education, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice. MSN typically required.
- 10+ yearsED Manager / Director
Oversees ED operations, budgets, staff, and quality metrics. Works closely with medical director.
- 5+ years ED/ICUFlight Nurse / Transport Nurse
Advanced role in helicopter/fixed-wing transport. Requires extensive critical care experience and specialized training.
Schedule. Primarily 12-hour shifts with rotating days, nights, and weekends. EDs operate 24/7/365. High volume during evenings and weekends. Holiday and overnight requirements.
Physical demands. Highly demanding. Requires constant standing, walking, and quick movements. Must assist with patient transfers and restraints. Exposure to bodily fluids, aggressive patients, and high-stress situations.
ED nurses are in high demand, especially at trauma centers. Travel ER nurse positions offer $2,500-4,000+/week. ED experience is highly transferable to flight nursing, ICU, and advanced practice roles.
What clinicians ask about Emergency Department Nurse pay.
What is the average Emergency Department Nurse salary in 2026?
The median Emergency Department Nurse salary is $63.00/hr (approximately $131,040/yr) based on 4,331 active job postings.
What is the pay range for Emergency Department Nurse?
Hourly pay ranges from $57.78 at the 25th percentile to $72.45 at the 75th percentile, with the top 10% earning above $83.33/hr.
Which state pays Emergency Department Nurse roles the most?
Alaska currently leads with a median of $89.50/hr across 88 postings.
How many employers are hiring Emergency Department Nurses?
Our dataset shows 177 unique employers posting Emergency Department Nurse roles across 52 states.
Where does TrueRounds get Emergency Department Nurse salary data?
All salary figures are computed from active US healthcare job postings with listed pay ranges, collected over a rolling 6-month window and weighted by posting volume.
Explore other Registered Nurse (RN) tracks.
Emergency Department Nurse sits inside the Emergency Nurse track. Here are sibling tracks across Registered Nurse (RN) — same category, different clinical focus and pay envelope.
Active US healthcare postings. Weighted by volume. Refreshed daily.
Pay benchmarks are computed from active job postings with listed pay ranges, collected on a rolling 6-month window. Each role's percentiles are weighted by posting volume so a metro with two postings doesn't outweigh a metro with two hundred. Outliers (postings priced more than 4× the role median) are dropped to avoid contract-line distortion.
Use the data, then push back.
Bring these numbers into your next contract conversation. Recruiters know what the market pays — now you do too.