Skilled Nursing Facility Nurse Salary Guide

Registered nurses working at skilled nursing facilities (SNF) care for patients residing in these facilities. Skilled nursing facilities are often great places for new nurses to start their careers and hone their basic nursing skills while developing supervisory experience. Because these positions often attract new grad nurses, the pay scale may be lower than at other healthcare facilities.

Skilled nursing facility RNs specialize in providing long-term care to elderly and/or disabled patients/residents or those who have chronic or degenerative conditions or are recovering from a severe injury or illness. Their primary task is helping improve the overall quality of life of all SNF residents by tending to their basic needs and providing advanced healthcare to keep their conditions under control. It’s common for RNs in these facilities to supervise CNAs, LPNs, and other direct care staff.

Beginning a career as a skilled nursing facility nurse only requires an Associate Degree in Nursing, but to advance in the field, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is often needed. All nursing programs must be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and all graduate nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. SNF nurses also need training and certification in Basic Life Support and maybe Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support.

One disadvantage of working in skilled nursing facilities is the average RN salary is usually slightly lower than the salary of RNs working in other types of healthcare facilities. Therefore, it’s beneficial to know what could impact how SNFs base RN salaries.

Like any professional, years of experience is a major factor in how a skilled nursing facility RN’s salary is based. Years in the field also help increase relevant nursing skills, which also potentially impacts base salaries. Experienced SNF nurses may earn higher base salaries because they’ve had time to master critical thinking, time management, and multitasking skills that make them better nurses and allow them to handle heavier caseloads than new nurses.

Nurses can enter the SNF field with just an ADN and though a BSN could increase employability, it may not initially affect salary as much as expected. However, not having a BSN can hinder those wanting to advance their career in this nursing niche. When your education level goes beyond a BSN, an impact on base salary is generally a given.

Physical geography can play a much bigger role in how salaries are based than many other factors. Healthcare facilities, even SNFs, in urban areas typically have higher budgets than those in rural settings. Larger budgets usually translate into higher base salaries. Northern states often have higher base salaries than those in the South. However, locales that pay the most are often the ones with higher costs of living, hence the higher salary.

The growing need for nurses in long-term care opens many avenues for professional growth to SNF nurses with advanced degrees and specialized certifications. If you entered the nursing field with an ADN and you want to pursue an advanced role, earning your BSN is a good career move. However, you may not want to stop there. Earning an MSN or a DNP typically opens new career pathways in advanced practice RN roles and administration.

APRNs have become valuable members of skilled nursing facilities' interdisciplinary teams. Advance your career and get a pay bump with a Director of Nursing role, which may require further education in nursing and business administration. Some facilities prefer or even require DONs to have a master’s degree, which gives you an advantage during the interview and salary negotiation process if you already have one.

Advanced education is also sometimes required to sit for certification exams. Professional certifications are generally a guaranteed way to increase your salary. While there aren’t any certifications specifically for skilled nursing facility RNs, certifications related to the usual patient populations can still give your salary a boost. Certifications in fields like gerontology, pain management, and wound care are prime examples. 

The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board offers Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Certification, which covers several common medical issues that often arise in skilled nursing. The WOCNCB also offers numerous individual certifications, including: 

• Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse

• Certified Wound Care Nurse

• Certified Ostomy Care Nurse

• Certified Continence Care Nurse

• Certified Foot Care Nurse

Any of which can be valuable when it comes to salary. For APRNs, the WOCNCB also offers advanced practice versions of each of these certifications, which can help these nurses improve their salaries. The WOCNCB requires a BSN or higher for regular certifications and an MSN or higher for advanced practice certifications.

Since many patients in skilled nursing facilities are elderly, RNs can boost their careers and their paychecks by earning Gerontological Nursing board certification (GERO-BC) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Sitting for this exam requires two years of full-time practice with at least 2,000 hours of practice and 30 hours of continuing education in gerontological nursing.

Earning your Gerontological Nursing Certification (GERO-BC), Dementia Capable Care (CPI-DCC) or Dementia Capable Care Instructor (CPI-DCC Certified Instructor) often increases your salary potential as a skilled nursing facility nurse or makes you eligible for another position with greater responsibilities, which also might include a bump in wages.

Yes, having a Gerontological Nursing Certification (GERO-BC) or any relevant professional certification has the potential to boost your salary as a skilled nursing facility nurse.

Yes, having a Dementia Capable Care (DCC-CPI) or any relevant professional certification has the potential to boost your salary as a skilled nursing facility nurse.

Yes, having a Dementia Capable Care Instructor (CPI-DCC Certified Instructor) or any relevant professional certification has the potential to boost your salary as a skilled nursing facility nurse.

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