How much does an Acute RN make in the United States? (2026)

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Acute RN in the United States is $86,611 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.However, an Acute RN's salary can vary significantly. Hereâ€™s a look at the typical salary range:Top Earners (90th percentile): $102,727Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $80,755 to $95,047Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,423

What are the main factors that influence an Acute RN's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Acute RN's salary?

An Acute RN's salary grows with experience: starting around $83,013 for beginners, reaching about $85,440 at mid-level, and approach $88,954 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for an Acute RN?

Acute RN salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Acute RN roles are District of Columbia $95,896, California $95,532, Massachusetts $94,259. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Acute RN roles make?

Salaries for Acute RN level roles vary by specialization: Acute Care Surgeon: $399,363; NP - Acute Care: $118,101; Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care: $118,021; RN Acute Bedside: $117,593; RN Surgical Acute: $105,499.

Acute RN Salary in the United States

How much does an Acute RN make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Acute RN in the United States is $86,611 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

However, an Acute RN's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $102,727
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $80,755 to $95,047
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,423

10% $75,423

50% (Median) $86,611

90% $102,727

Acute RN Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$95,047	$7,921	$1,828	$46
Average	$86,611	$7,218	$1,666	$42
25th Percentile	$80,755	$6,730	$1,553	$39

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Acute RN Salaries

An Acute RN's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Acute RN Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Acute RN's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $83,013
Early Career (1-2 years): $83,181
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $85,440
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $88,720
Expert (over 8 years): $88,954

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Entry Level Acute RN	less than 1 year	$83,013
Early Career Level Acute RN	1-2 years	$83,181
Mid-Level Level Acute RN	2-4 years	$85,440
Senior-Level Level Acute RN	5-8 years	$88,720
Expert Level Acute RN	over 8 years	$88,954

How Do Acute RN Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Acute RNs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $95,896.
California: $95,532.
Massachusetts: $94,259.

District of Columbia $95,896 California $95,532 Massachusetts $94,259 Washington $93,913 New Jersey $93,878 Alaska $93,757 Connecticut $92,561 New York $92,076

Hawaii $90,526 Rhode Island $89,798 Maryland $89,305 Minnesota $88,629 Colorado $88,369 Illinois $88,283 Oregon $87,954 Delaware $87,711

New Hampshire $87,559 Virginia $87,217 Pennsylvania $86,221 Nevada $85,719 North Dakota $85,555 Michigan $85,295 Wisconsin $85,199 Vermont $85,009

Texas $84,481 Maine $84,446 Arizona $84,394 Ohio $84,333 Georgia $83,537 Indiana $83,138 Wyoming $83,060 Utah $82,939

Iowa $82,887 Kansas $82,471 Louisiana $82,350 North Carolina $82,307 Missouri $82,289 Florida $81,952 Montana $81,770 Nebraska $81,596

Kentucky $81,501 South Carolina $81,155 Tennessee $80,938 Idaho $80,852 New Mexico $80,219 Oklahoma $80,081 Alabama $79,570 South Dakota $78,712

Arkansas $78,245 West Virginia $77,993 Mississippi $77,240

Top Paying Cities for Acute RN

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $109,243
San Francisco: $108,047
Oakland: $105,770

San Jose, CA $109,243

San Francisco, CA $108,047

Oakland, CA $105,770

New York, NY $99,723

Paramus, NJ $98,511

Queens Village, NY $98,506

Passaic, NJ $98,424

Bergenfield, NJ $98,416

Stamford, CT $98,226

Huntington, NY $98,190

Newark, NJ $97,550

Bridgeport, CT $97,367

Vallejo, CA $97,195

New Brunswick, NJ $97,160

Petaluma, CA $97,108

Middlesex, NJ $96,944

Somerset, NJ $96,883

Santa Cruz, CA $96,771

Boston, MA $96,242

Monterey, CA $95,938

Seattle, WA $95,740

Santa Rosa, CA $95,723

Los Angeles, CA $95,697

Juneau, AK $95,472

Washington, DC $95,376

Orange, CA $95,068

Santa Ana, CA $94,839

Long Beach, CA $94,753

Anaheim, CA $94,735

Anchorage, AK $94,692

Santa Maria, CA $94,432

Everett, WA $94,415

Danbury, CT $94,110

Bremerton, WA $93,990

Tacoma, WA $93,679

New Suffolk, NY $93,677

Sacramento, CA $93,653

Santa Barbara, CA $93,557

San Diego, CA $93,462

Trenton, NJ $93,462

Brockton, MA $93,367

Fairbanks, AK $93,155

Lompoc, CA $92,934

Lowell, MA $92,864

Ventura, CA $92,847

Nashua, NH $92,830

Stockton, CA $92,821

Modesto, CA $92,189

Poughkeepsie, NY $91,998

Olympia, WA $91,834

Kennewick, WA $91,834

New Haven, CT $91,799

Lawrence, MA $91,487

Hartford, CT $91,401

Riverside, CA $91,383

New Bedford, MA $91,297

Richland, WA $91,297

Bakersfield, CA $91,176

San Bernardino, CA $91,141

New Britain, CT $91,132

Atlantic City, NJ $91,132

New London, CT $91,098

Norwich, CT $91,072

Portsmouth, NH $91,054

Boulder, CO $90,871

Portland, OR $90,751

Worcester, MA $90,743

Minneapolis, MN $90,474

Philadelphia, PA $90,353

Honolulu, HI $90,067

Saint Paul, MN $90,025

Vineland, NJ $90,006

Providence, RI $89,755

Chicago, IL $89,504

Bellingham, WA $89,400

Springfield, MA $89,331

Baltimore, MD $89,305

Chico, CA $89,088

Pittsfield, MA $88,854

Manchester, NH $88,690

Spokane, WA $88,309

Denver, CO $88,300

Albany, NY $87,893

Troy, NY $87,858

Nassau, NY $87,766

Schenectady, NY $87,677

Wilmington, DE $87,607

Burlington, VT $87,486

Salem, OR $87,451

Portland, ME $87,183

Yakima, WA $87,096

Rochester, MN $86,828

Reno, NV $86,784

Fresno, CA $86,784

Milwaukee, WI $86,706

Detroit, MI $86,620

Ann Arbor, MI $86,605

Allentown, PA $86,594

Colorado Springs, CO $86,447

Syracuse, NY $86,403

Carson City, NV $86,403

Houston, TX $86,282

Eugene, OR $86,239

Gary, IN $86,135

Springfield, OR $86,066

Bismarck, ND $86,048

Galveston, TX $85,988

Medford, OR $85,858

Fort Collins, CO $85,823

Concord, NH $85,780

Austin, TX $85,754

Mesa, AZ $85,572

Reading, PA $85,563

Phoenix, AZ $85,555

Dallas, TX $85,529

Saint Cloud, MN $85,445

Madison, WI $85,329

Utica, NY $85,096

Rochester, NY $84,957

Des Moines, IA $84,948

Raleigh, NC $84,940

Atlanta, GA $84,810

Battle Creek, MI $84,784

Salt Lake City, UT $84,758

Lancaster, PA $84,628

Harrisburg, PA $84,507

Kansas City, MO $84,420

Kansas City, KS $84,403

Champaign, IL $84,403

Fort Worth, TX $84,394

Columbus, OH $84,379

Boca Raton, FL $84,359

Pittsburgh, PA $84,325

Richmond, VA $84,290

Indianapolis, IN $84,273

Cleveland, OH $84,264

Las Vegas, NV $84,160

Cincinnati, OH $84,160

Petersburg, VA $84,030

Huntsville, AL $83,900

Lansing, MI $83,842

Lebanon, PA $83,831

Pueblo, CO $83,822

Appleton, WI $83,796

Buffalo, NY $83,762

Dayton, OH $83,736

Racine, WI $83,718

Charlotte, NC $83,710

Saint Louis, MO $83,684

York, PA $83,632

Elkhart, IN $83,632

Gastonia, NC $83,615

Billings, MT $83,595

Beaumont, TX $83,571

Lorain, OH $83,554

Benton Harbor, MI $83,537

Toledo, OH $83,519

Binghamton, NY $83,476

Rock Hill, SC $83,467

Rockford, IL $83,424

Springfield, IL $83,389

Elyria, OH $83,381

Fargo, ND $83,381

Flagstaff, AZ $83,320

Fort Lauderdale, FL $83,268

Duluth, MN $83,216

Miami, FL $83,216

Grand Forks, ND $83,155

Cheyenne, WY $83,155

Bangor, ME $82,965

Cedar Rapids, IA $82,870

Durham, NC $82,833

Louisville, KY $82,826

Grand Rapids, MI $82,809

Hialeah, FL $82,800

Casper, WY $82,679

Scranton, PA $82,575

New Orleans, LA $82,549

Virginia Beach, VA $82,540

Akron, OH $82,497

Peoria, IL $82,385

Sarasota, FL $82,367

Nashville, TN $82,307

Omaha, NE $82,307

Green Bay, WI $82,307

Baton Rouge, LA $82,263

Charleston, SC $82,246

Davenport, IA $82,203

Jamestown, NY $82,203

Tucson, AZ $82,159

Saint Petersburg, FL $82,107

Tampa, FL $82,090

Evansville, IN $82,038

Port Arthur, TX $82,038

Bradenton, FL $82,003

Santa Fe, NM $81,848

Orlando, FL $81,692

Clearwater, FL $81,666

La Crosse, WI $81,484

Canton, OH $81,484

Albuquerque, NM $81,432

Newport News, VA $81,423

High Point, NC $81,397

Ogden, UT $81,363

Corpus Christi, TX $81,293

Norfolk, VA $81,241

Laramie, WY $81,241

Rock Island, IL $81,189

Saginaw, MI $81,172

Jacksonville, FL $81,163

Salisbury, NC $81,146

Boise, ID $81,129

Moline, IL $81,085

Fort Myers, FL $81,059

Memphis, TN $81,042

Tulsa, OK $80,999

Waterloo, IA $80,947

Spartanburg, SC $80,860

Lincoln, NE $80,817

Fort Wayne, IN $80,800

Provo, UT $80,791

Cedar Falls, IA $80,687

San Antonio, TX $80,652

Greensboro, NC $80,618

South Bend, IN $80,609

Savannah, GA $80,514

Muskegon, MI $80,479

Birmingham, AL $80,470

Winston Salem, NC $80,428

Lake Charles, LA $80,219

Anderson, IN $80,202

Lexington, KY $80,176

Augusta, GA $80,150

Greenville, SC $80,150

Lima, OH $80,081

Wichita, KS $80,072

Tuscaloosa, AL $80,072

Columbia, SC $79,994

Springfield, OH $79,977

Asheville, NC $79,838

Bloomington, IN $79,778

Knoxville, TN $79,466

Shreveport, LA $79,457

Wilmington, NC $79,345

Roanoke, VA $79,345

Topeka, KS $79,189

Frankfort, KY $79,179

Oklahoma City, OK $79,119

Chillicothe, OH $79,085

Longview, TX $79,076

Melbourne, FL $79,067

Sioux Falls, SD $78,929

Mobile, AL $78,920

Terre Haute, IN $78,885

Altoona, PA $78,834

Amarillo, TX $78,773

Killeen, TX $78,747

Fayetteville, AR $78,678

Chattanooga, TN $78,652

Sioux City, IA $78,574

Idaho Falls, ID $78,556

Lynchburg, VA $78,487

Gainesville, FL $78,374

Portsmouth, OH $78,331

Little Rock, AR $78,314

Lafayette, LA $78,279

Youngstown, OH $78,279

Daytona Beach, FL $78,227

Clarksville, TN $78,219

Pensacola, FL $78,210

Temple, TX $78,204

Hopkinsville, KY $77,950

Erie, PA $77,933

Florence, SC $77,898

Charleston, WV $77,760

Great Falls, MT $77,716

Macon, GA $77,595

Tallahassee, FL $77,586

Fayetteville, NC $77,569

Waco, TX $77,552

Helena, MT $77,491

Pine Bluff, AR $77,458

Vincennes, IN $77,352

Lubbock, TX $77,318

Alamogordo, NM $77,266

Twin Falls, ID $77,188

Rapid City, SD $77,162

Jackson, MS $77,006

Huntington, WV $77,000

Greenville, MS $76,997

Parkersburg, WV $76,909

Montgomery, AL $76,893

Wichita Falls, TX $76,807

Springfield, MO $76,807

Biloxi, MS $76,764

Monroe, LA $76,677

Johnstown, PA $76,616

Sumter, SC $76,582

Columbus, GA $76,573

Pascagoula, MS $76,408

Abilene, TX $76,408

Kingsport, TN $76,183

Albany, GA $76,183

Gulfport, MS $76,157

Alexandria, LA $75,871

Fort Smith, AR $75,655

El Paso, TX $75,421

Las Cruces, NM $75,031

Harlingen, TX $74,811

Pocatello, ID $74,797

Florence, AL $74,685

Brownsville, TX $74,668

Mcallen, TX $74,486

Dothan, AL $74,364

Columbus, MS $73,850

Altus, OK $73,446

Lawton, OK $73,282

Pierre, SD $72,970

Acute RN Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Acute RN roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Acute RN positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Acute RN as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Acute RN

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking	$99,603	$48.0	15%
Biotechnology	$97,438	$47.0	12%
Energy & Utilities	$93,107	$45.0	7%
Insurance	$90,942	$44.0	5%

How Education impacts an Acute RN's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Acute RN professionals enter the field with a Associate's degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Acute RN with a Associate's is between $81,300 and $85,864.

Acute RN Salaries by Degree Level

$87,300
$86,500
$85,600
$84,800
$83,900
$83,100
$82,200
$81,300

Typical Education for Acute RN
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Degree	0.1%
High School	2.1%
Associate's Degree	43.3%
Bachelor's Degree	48.9%
Master's Degree or MBA	5.3%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent	0.3%

View as Graph

Acute RN Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Acute RN's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$80,755

Average $86,611/year

$95,047

$6,730

Average $7,218/month

$7,921

$1,553

Average $1,666/week

$1,828

$39

Average $42/hour

$46

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$95,047	$7,921	$1,828	$46
Average	$86,611	$7,218	$1,666	$42
25th Percentile	$80,755	$6,730	$1,553	$39

Salary Trends for Acute RN

Salaries for an Acute RN can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $74,772 in 2023 to around $74,938 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Acute RN salary trends, click here.

Average Annual Salary of Acute RN Over Time

$???
$74,772
$75,415
$74,938
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$74,772
2024	$75,415
2025	$74,938

Most common benefits for Acute RN

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Acute RN

Here are companies hiring for Acute RN and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology United States

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Acute RN job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Acute RN

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Acute RN?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Acute RN roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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Acute RN Salary in the United States

Check out Acute RN Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Acute RN Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Acute RN Salaries?

How Do Acute RN Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Acute RN

Acute RN Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Acute RN

How Education impacts an Acute RN's Salary?

Acute RN Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Acute RN

Acute RN Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salary Trends for Acute RN

Average Annual Salary of Acute RN Over Time

Most common benefits for Acute RN

Common company salaries for Acute RN

Find Your Next Acute RN Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Acute RN

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Acute RN?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Acute RN Salary in the United States

Check out Acute RN Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Acute RN Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Acute RN Salaries?

How Do Acute RN Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Acute RN

Acute RN Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Acute RN

How Education impacts an Acute RN's Salary?

Acute RN Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Acute RN

Acute RN Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of jobs related to Acute RN

Salary Trends for Acute RN

Average Annual Salary of Acute RN Over Time

Most common benefits for Acute RN

Common company salaries for Acute RN

Find Your Next Acute RN Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Acute RN

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Acute RN?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?