State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Critical Care Nurse Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Critical Care Nurses is $97,550 a year ($46.90/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% through 2034, with about 189,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 29-1141Healthcare Practitioners and TechnicalLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $97,550
- Projected growth
- +4.9%
- Openings a year
- 189,100
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Certified Critical Care Nurse, Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), ICU Critical Care NP (Intensive Care Unit Critical Care Nurse Practitioner), ICU Nurse (Intensive Care Unit Nurse), Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse (ICU RN).
How much do Critical Care Nurses make?
10th percentile$68,940
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$80,330
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$97,550
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$112,350
Upper quartile
90th percentile$137,470
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $97,550 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $46.90/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $101,420 |
| People employed | 3,379,720 |
Versus all US occupations
At $97,550, Critical Care Nurses earn 91% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $46,570 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
The median is typical for the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $97,870.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $137,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $68,940, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 76% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $140,270, and still leads at $126,689 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Critical Care Nurses the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $140,270 | $126,689 | 338,940 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | $123,983 | 12,940 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | $124,815 | 39,730 |
| Washington | $124,200 | $116,061 | 69,260 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | $106,957 | 7,510 |
| New York | $109,440 | $101,408 | 205,810 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | $97,882 | 92,680 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | $98,859 | 88,200 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | $103,692 | 27,070 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | $99,160 | 40,110 |
Is Critical Care Nurse a growing career?
Critical Care Nurses4.9%
All US occupations3.1%
+4.9% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Critical Care Nurses to change 4.9% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 166,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 189,100 openings are projected each year, 5.6% of the 3,391,000 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for healthcare services will increase because of the large number of older people, who typically have more medical problems than younger people. Registered nurses also will be needed to educate and care for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.
Job growth is expected across most types of healthcare settings, including hospitals and outpatient care centers that provide same-day services, such as chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and surgery. In addition, because many older people prefer to be treated at home or in residential care facilities, registered nurses will be in demand in those settings.
How to become a Critical Care Nurse
No state issues a critical care nurse licence. You are licensed as a registered nurse, and critical care is where you work rather than what you are licensed to do. The credential that exists is CCRN from AACN Certification Corporation, and it is voluntary specialty certification rather than a licence. AACN points out that CCRN is not even an acronym for critical care registered nurse: it is a service mark denoting certification in acute and critical care nursing. Eligibility is built on documented direct-care hours, not on a course.
The credential path, step by step
- Become a registered nurse2 to 4 years
BLS records the three usual paths: a bachelor's degree in nursing, an associate degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing programme. All three lead to the same NCLEX-RN examination, developed and administered by NCSBN, and to the same RN licence.
- Get and keep an unencumbered state RN licence
AACN requires a current unencumbered US RN or APRN licence, meaning one not under formal board discipline and carrying no conditions limiting practice. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers 43 jurisdictions, of which 40 have implemented it, so a multistate licence is genuinely available in nursing in a way it is not in many other health professions.
- Accumulate the direct-care hours, because that is the real gate1 to 2 years of eligible practice
CCRN has no required course and no required programme. There are two hour options: 1,750 hours in the direct care of acutely or critically ill patients during the previous two years, with 875 of them accrued in the most recent year; or a minimum of 2,000 hours during the previous five years with 144 in the most recent year. The majority of practice hours must focus on critically ill patients, and the hours must be verifiable by a clinical supervisor or professional colleague.
- Pass the CCRN examination
150 multiple-choice items over 3 hours, of which 125 are scored and 25 gather statistical data, weighted 80 percent to clinical judgment and 20 percent to professional caring and ethical practice, delivered by PSI. The pass standard is a published raw cut score out of the 125 scored items rather than a percentage: 83 for CCRN Adult and Pediatric and 84 for CCRN Neonatal as of 12 November 2025. In 2025 the first-time pass rate was 72.02 percent for CCRN Adult.
- Pick the right member of the family
CCRN comes in Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal versions for nurses giving direct care. CCRN-K is for knowledge professionals such as educators and managers who influence the care of acutely and critically ill patients without primarily providing it, and it carries different hours: 1,040 in two years with 260 in the most recent year. CCRN-E is the tele-critical care pathway for nurses caring for adult patients by camera from a centralised tele-ICU. PCCN covers progressive care: acutely ill adults in intermediate care, stepdown, telemetry, transitional care and the emergency department. CMC and CSC are subspecialty add-ons in cardiac medicine and cardiac surgery, each requiring an existing ABSNC-accredited certification such as CCRN or PCCN to attach to, and each 90 items over 2 hours.
- Renew every three years
Renewal requires 432 practice hours during the three-year period with 144 accrued in the 12 months before the renewal date, plus either 100 Synergy CERPs or the renewal examination. Applications for renewal by examination are due at least 30 days before expiry, and failing a renewal examination sends you back to initial-examination eligibility with no fallback to the CERP route.
Exams you have to pass
CCRN (Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal)
150 multiple-choice items over 3 hours, 125 scored and 25 unscored, built on the Synergy Model and weighted 80 percent clinical judgment and 20 percent professional caring and ethical practice. Eligibility is 1,750 direct-care hours in two years with 875 in the most recent year, or 2,000 hours in five years with 144 in the most recent year, plus a current unencumbered US RN or APRN licence. Passing is a raw cut score out of 125: 83 for Adult and Pediatric, 84 for Neonatal, effective 12 November 2025. The examination fee is $260 for AACN members and $375 otherwise.
Administered by AACN Certification Corporation, delivered by PSI.
PCCN is the progressive care certification, 150 items with 125 scored and a cut score of 82. CMC (cardiac medicine) and CSC (cardiac surgery, covering adult cardiac surgery patients in the first 48 hours after operation) are subspecialty credentials of 90 items with 75 scored, cut scores 50 and 55, that attach to an existing ABSNC-accredited certification such as CCRN or PCCN rather than standing alone.
Administered by AACN Certification Corporation.
- How long the training takes
There is no programme. Entry to registered nursing takes 2 to 4 years depending on whether you take an associate degree, a diploma or a bachelor's degree, and CCRN eligibility then rests on documented practice hours: 1,750 across two years with 875 in the most recent year, or 2,000 across five years with 144 in the most recent year.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
CCRN is granted for three years. Renewal requires 432 practice hours in the period with 144 in the final 12 months, plus either the renewal examination or 100 Synergy CERPs distributed by category: at least 60 and at most 80 in Category A (clinical judgment and clinical inquiry), at least 10 and at most 30 in Category B (advocacy and moral agency, caring practices, response to diversity, facilitation of learning), at least 10 and at most 30 in Category C (collaboration, systems thinking), plus 20 in a category of your choice. Records must be kept for at least three years in case of audit. Renewal by CERPs costs $150 for members and $230 otherwise; renewal by examination costs $185 and $290.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
The licence that varies by state is the registered nurse licence, not a critical care credential: no state board issues one. California's Board of Registered Nursing, for example, recognises only clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, psychiatric and mental health nurse and public health nurse as advanced categories, and critical care is not among them. O*NET treats critical care nurses as a sub-occupation of registered nurses for the same reason. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers 43 jurisdictions, 41 states plus Guam and the US Virgin Islands, of which 40 have implemented it while Guam, Massachusetts and the US Virgin Islands have enacted it with implementation dates still to be determined.
Who governs the credential
- AACN Certification Corporation — Awards and renews CCRN, CCRN-K, CCRN-E, PCCN and the CMC and CSC subspecialty credentials. Its certifications are ABSNC accredited, which is what makes them countable for ANCC Magnet reporting.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) — Develops and administers the NCLEX-RN, the examination behind the only licence a critical care nurse actually holds, and operates the Nurse Licensure Compact.
- American Nurses Credentialing Center, Magnet Recognition Program (ANCC) — Runs the Magnet Recognition Program, which since 1 January 2024 counts only certifications accredited by NCCA, ANAB, ABSNC or ICAC. This is the clearest documented reason employers push specialty certification, since Magnet applicants must report and set goals for the share of eligible nurses certified.
Credential detail for critical care nurses is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- AACN Certification Corporation: CCRN Exam Handbook, direct care eligibility pathway · checked August 23, 2026
- AACN Certification Corporation: CCRN renewal handbook · checked August 23, 2026
- AACN Certification Corporation: Exam statistics and passing scores · checked August 23, 2026
- AACN Certification Corporation: Get certified · checked August 23, 2026
- AACN: Value of certification resource center · checked August 23, 2026
- ANCC Magnet Recognition Program: Accepted certifications · checked August 23, 2026
- NCSBN: Nurse licensure guidance · checked August 23, 2026
- Nurse Licensure Compact: participating jurisdictions · checked August 23, 2026
- California Board of Registered Nursing: Advanced practice categories · checked August 23, 2026
- O*NET OnLine: Critical Care Nurses (29-1141.03) · checked August 23, 2026
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Registered nurses usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses must be licensed.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as critical care nurses.
- Bachelor's Degree50.0%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)35.7%
- Master's Degree10.7%
- Post-Master's Certificate3.6%
What does a Critical Care Nurse do?
Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their families.
Day-to-day tasks
- Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.
- Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
- Monitor patients' fluid intake and output to detect emerging problems, such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
- Compile and analyze data obtained from monitoring or diagnostic tests.
- Conduct pulmonary assessments to identify abnormal respiratory patterns or breathing sounds that indicate problems.
- Assess patients' pain levels or sedation requirements.
- Collaborate with other health care professionals to develop and revise treatment plans, based on identified needs and assessment data.
- Document patients' medical histories and assessment findings.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Nurses who work in hospitals and nursing care facilities usually work in shifts to provide round-the-clock coverage. They may work nights, weekends, and holidays. They may be on call, which means that they are on duty and must be available to work on short notice.
Nurses who work in offices, schools, and other places that do not provide 24-hour care are more likely to work regular business hours.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
- Dealing with customers or the public is very important
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
- Handling conflict situations at least monthly
- Mistakes carry very serious consequences
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where critical care nurses work
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 59% |
|---|---|
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 19% |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 6% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 5% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 3% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Monitoring4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Writing3.4/5
- Science3.0/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.0/5
- Service Orientation4.0/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Operations Monitoring3.4/5
- Instructing3.3/5
- Time Management3.3/5
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Human resources software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Critical Care Nurse?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic3.9
Investigativeprimary5.0
Artistic1.7
Socialprimary5.6
Enterprising2.2
Conventionalprimary4.2
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Critical Care Nurse: frequently asked questions
How much do Critical Care Nurses make?
Critical Care Nurses earn a median of $97,550 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 91% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $46.90/hr. The middle half earn between $80,330 and $112,350. The top 10% earn $137,470 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Critical Care Nurse?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Critical Care Nurses, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Critical Care Nurse a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 189,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Critical Care Nurse do?
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their families. A core O*NET task: evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Medical software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Critical Care Nurses the most?
The highest state medians for Critical Care Nurses are California ($140,270), Hawaii ($136,320), Oregon ($129,010) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Critical Care Nurse?
O*NET scores Critical Care Nurses highest on the Social, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Critical Care Nurse?
There is no programme. Entry to registered nursing takes 2 to 4 years depending on whether you take an associate degree, a diploma or a bachelor's degree, and CCRN eligibility then rests on documented practice hours: 1,750 across two years with 875 in the most recent year, or 2,000 across five years with 144 in the most recent year.
Do you need a license to work as a Critical Care Nurse?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. The licence that varies by state is the registered nurse licence, not a critical care credential: no state board issues one. California's Board of Registered Nursing, for example, recognises only clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, psychiatric and mental health nurse and public health nurse as advanced categories, and critical care is not among them. O*NET treats critical care nurses as a sub-occupation of registered nurses for the same reason. The Nurse Licensure Compact covers 43 jurisdictions, 41 states plus Guam and the US Virgin Islands, of which 40 have implemented it while Guam, Massachusetts and the US Virgin Islands have enacted it with implementation dates still to be determined.
What exams do you have to pass to become a Critical Care Nurse?
The CCRN (Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal) and the PCCN, CMC and CSC. 150 multiple-choice items over 3 hours, 125 scored and 25 unscored, built on the Synergy Model and weighted 80 percent clinical judgment and 20 percent professional caring and ethical practice. Eligibility is 1,750 direct-care hours in two years with 875 in the most recent year, or 2,000 hours in five years with 144 in the most recent year, plus a current unencumbered US RN or APRN licence. Passing is a raw cut score out of 125: 83 for Adult and Pediatric, 84 for Neonatal, effective 12 November 2025. The examination fee is $260 for AACN members and $375 otherwise.