Coronary Care Nurse Salary Guide

Nurses with more experience, education and certifications tend to command more pay than their counterparts with less experience or education. To increase your earning potential as a coronary care unit nurse, consider getting a more advanced degree, adding certifications to your resume and seeking out experience that lets you build on your nursing skills.

Coronary care RNs earned around $41 per hour across the United States, per data from Vivian Health based on active jobs as of May 4, 2023. On average, that's about $2 more per hour than the average combined nursing salary in the nation on that date.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that job growth for RNs in all specialties should keep pace with national averages through 2031, resulting in job growth of 6% within this decade. The BLS doesn’t track job growth for individual nursing specialties.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that more than 20 million Americans have coronary artery disease, which is only one type of cardiovascular issue. Aging populations, cultural and health factors, and retiring nurses all add to the burden on cardiac care units, potentially creating an increasing need for nurses in this specialty.

Hospitals likely have the most coronary care unit nursing positions. Most midsize and larger hospitals have a cardiac wing or unit, and even smaller hospitals typically offer some type of cardiac care. Other facilities that might employ these nursing specialists include hospitals and clinics specializing in heart care and private cardiac treatment and surgery centers.

Although the BLS doesn’t break down RN pay within specific specialties by facility, the entire RN cohort within medical settings earned the most money in outpatient care centers, followed by specialty hospitals. Both types of facilities could potentially employ coronary care nurses and provide higher average pay than others. 

However, location is a factor, with facilities in large metro areas potentially offering the most pay, in general, to support hiring in competitive markets. Travel nurses may also find higher pay for assignments with rural or at-need facilities to solve staffing shortages.