How Much Do Cardiac Nurses Make?

Average Salary for Cardiac Nurses | Cardiac Nurse Salary Disparities by Gender | Highest-Paying and Lowest-Paying States for Cardiac Nurses | How Do Cardiac Nurse Salaries Compare to Other Nurses? | Ways to Increase Pay As a Cardiac Nurse | Frequently Asked Questions | Learn More

Cardiac nurses focus on cardiovascular health, working with cardiologists to care for patients with heart conditions and assist with surgeries. Using the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other sources, this guide provides information on average salaries and factors that affect compensation, such as certification and education level.

We’ve also broken the numbers down by gender and location to compare cardiac nurse pay with other nursing specialties.

Cardiac nurses hold registered nurse (RN) licenses and, at minimum, obtain education at the associate level. The BLS data shows registered nurses made a median annual salary of $77,600 in 2021. As the following information illustrates, however, cardiac nurse salary increases correspond with higher education levels.

According to the salaries of nurses surveyed by Medscape in 2020, the biggest jump, at 14%, occurs between the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and master of science in nursing (MSN) levels.

Source: MedScape

Male nurses comprise only 9.4% of the total number of RNs, but they earn higher paychecks than their female counterparts in nearly half of all specialty areas. For example, a survey conducted by the Journal of Nursing Regulation found that male cardiac nurses earn close to $15,000 more per year than female cardiac nurses.

While the BLS does not provide state salary data specifically for cardiac nurses, RN pay rates show comparable compensation trends based on geographic location. Cardiac nursing is an RN specialty and, in most states, cardiac nurses earn similar wages to RNs overall.

The BLS lists the states with the highest average RN salaries as California ($124,000) and Hawaii ($106,530), followed by Oregon, Washington D.C., and Alaska, where RNs make over $97,000. Puerto Rico’s average annual wage for registered nurses is $35,690 as of 2021. RNs in Alabama, South Dakota, Mississippi, Iowa, and Arkansas all make less than $68,000.

Urban locales in top-ranked California fill the list of the 10 highest-paying metropolitan areas, led by cities in the San Jose-Sunnyvale, where RNs can earn around $155,230.

The chart below lists the average annual salaries of other popular nursing specialties. Cardiac nurses can expect to earn around $70,000 on average — similar to hospice nurses. Compensation rates also depend on education and certification.

The median RN salary for the top 10% of earners reaches $120,250 a year, with the bottom 10% earning a median salary around $59,450. Along with certification and education, average salary rates and ranges correlate with the amount and type of nursing experience. The following section explores the factors that affect salaries and how RNs, including cardiac nurses, can maximize their earning potential.

The 2020 workforce survey reports a median RN salary of $70,000, and the Medscape survey lists a base compensation rate of $77,000. The BLS cites a median annual pay of $77,600 for RNs, which includes cardiac nurses.

Working with cardiologists, cardiac nurses treat acute and chronic heart conditions, such as heart failure, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest. They assess patients and employ treatments like defibrillation, catheterization, and advanced cardiac life support. Cardiac nurses may also assist with heart surgeries.

Cardiac nurses with advanced degrees, along with individuals who work in California and Hawaii, can earn more than $100,000. APRNs and nurses in leadership positions, including nurse educators, administrators, and managers, also commonly earn six-figure salaries. RNs average well over $100,000 in cities like San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, and Los Angeles.

Cardiac nurses comprise a specialization of RNs who become eligible for licensure with a nursing diploma, associate degree in nursing (ADN), or BSN. Nursing diplomas and ADNs typically lead to entry-level RN positions, while individuals with BSNs or MSNs usually enter nursing in more advanced positions.