Emergency Department Nurse Salary Guide

Visits to emergency departments increase every year, which keeps emergency department nurses in demand. ED nurses work in unpredictable, high-intensity environments, treating patients in all age groups. They primarily work in emergency departments at hospitals, but they may also find employment in trauma units, burn centers, urgent care centers, disaster zones, military bases and correctional facilities. The rising need for RNs in the emergency medical field often fuels hefty salaries, but several factors can impact an ED nurse’s paycheck.

Emergency department nurses are registered nurses who specialize in providing immediate assessments and care to patients experiencing potentially life-threatening crises. They prioritize care based on the critical nature of each case and help stabilize and treat patients. ED nurses may discharge patients once the emergency passes or arrange hospital admittance for further treatment.

There aren’t any special educational requirements to become an ED nurse beyond what’s required to become a registered nurse. Therefore, they must earn an Associate or a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Upon graduation, they must pass the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.

The base salary of an ED nurse may be impacted by numerous factors, such as years of experience. Experience is something you can only gain with time on the job; as your years in the field grow, so will your base salary. Other key elements potentially affecting your salary that you have more immediate control over include certifications, work setting and physical location of the job.

ED nurses must have Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support training and certification, so having these certifications likely won’t improve your base salary. Because they may treat patients of any age, Pediatric Advanced Life Support also may be required. If it’s not required, get it anyway. Obtaining any professional certification relevant to the emergency nursing field could boost your salary base. Studies have shown that certified nurses usually earn more than those who aren’t.

Hospitals tend to pay more than other workplace settings, which is convenient since ED nurses are frequently employed in these settings. The geographical location of the hospital can have a bigger impact on base salary. ED nurses in California tend to have some of the highest salaries nationwide. Locations on both the East and West Coasts and in the New England states tend to pay more while ED positions in midwestern states and many areas in the south typically pay less.

You can become an ED nurse with only an associate degree but pursuing your BSN can potentially increase your salary. If you already possess a BSN, consider an advanced degree. A Master of Science in Nursing may open career paths in advanced roles that come with higher salaries, such as an emergency nurse practitioner position.

If you want to become an emergency nurse practitioner, you first need national certification as a family nurse practitioner. Once you have this credential, there are three routes you can take to sit for the exam for Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certification. You can complete:

• 100 emergency-related continuing education contact hours with a minimum of 2,000 direct care emergency practice clinical hours

• An approved graduate or postgraduate academic emergency care nurse practitioner program with all ENP program didactic courses and requirements

• An approved advanced practice fellowship program in emergency care

Becoming a certified emergency nurse practitioner should increase your salary significantly. You can also enhance your skills and potentially your pay through professional certifications that only require an unrestricted RN license and no additional education.

The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing offers two relevant certifications. Two years of experience in an emergency department setting is recommended but not required to sit for either certification exam. The Certified Emergency Nurse credential is ideal for ED nurses wanting to demonstrate their expertise and skills in emergency nursing. Because ED nurses may treat trauma patients, you may also consider the Trauma Certified Registered Nurse credential to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge in trauma nursing. Either certification has the potential of increasing your salary since many employers favor certified staff.

Earning your Advanced Disaster Life Support (ADLS), Domestic violence nurse examiner (DVNE) or Covid-19 Certification (Covid-19 Certification) often increases your salary potential as a emergency department nurse or makes you eligible for another position with greater responsibilities, which also might include a bump in wages.

Yes, having a Advanced Disaster Life Support (ADLS) or any relevant professional certification has the potential to boost your salary as a emergency department nurse.

Yes, having a Domestic violence nurse examiner (DVNE) or any relevant professional certification has the potential to boost your salary as a emergency department nurse.

Yes, having a Covid-19 Certification (Covid-19 Certification) or any relevant professional certification has the potential to boost your salary as a emergency department nurse.

Take a look at Vivian's ED Nurse Career Guide for more information, including required education, responsibilities, pros and cons and more.