Critical Care Nurses
Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed
Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.
Median pay: $97,550/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +4.9% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 189,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
• Administer medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other methods.
• Monitor patients' fluid intake and output to detect emerging problems, such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
• Prioritize nursing care for assigned critically ill patients, based on assessment data or identified needs.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Critical Care Nurses?
The median pay for Critical Care Nurses is $97,550 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Critical Care Nurses?
Employment for Critical Care Nurses is projected to change +4.9% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Critical Care Nurses?
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Critical Care Nurses?
About 189,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.