What to Pay an Emergency Room Registered Nurse in St. Louis, MO (2026)
How to set your ER RN pay range in St. Louis
Three pay positions, modeled against current St. Louis market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
ER RN salary percentile distribution in St. Louis, MO
Where the St. Louis market actually sits for ER RN base pay.
Most St. Louis employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($96,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $84,000 and a max of $110,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Missouri pay transparency compliance for ER RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a ER RN in Missouri.
For a ER RN role in St. Louis, a compliant good-faith range looks like $84,000 to $110,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $84,000–$110,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top ER RN employers in St. Louis — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring ER RNs in the St. Louis metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| BJC HealthCare | Health system | $90K–$113K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Mercy | Health system | $90K–$113K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| SSM Health | Health system | $90K–$113K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Ascension Missouri | Health system | $90K–$113K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| St. Louis Children's Hospital | Pediatric specialty | $90K–$113K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
ER RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in St. Louis
How hard is it to fill a ER RN role in St. Louis.
St. Louis ER RN market reflects broader RN supply constraints, with emergency specialty demand elevated by post-COVID staffing gaps.
Skill premiums ER RN candidates command in St. Louis, MO
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CEN | Required baseline | Standard |
| Cardiac subspecialty | +7–11% | Very high |
| Trauma / Level I experience | +6–10% | Very high |
| BSN (vs ADN) | +5–8% | Standard at Magnet hospitals |
ER RN total compensation in St. Louis — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for ER RNs in St. Louis. "Prevalence" reflects share of St. Louis disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in St. Louis Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $96,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +16–24% premium | ~94% |
| Sign-on bonus | $10K–$19K | ~80% |
| CEN certification pay | +8–12% on base | ~72% |
| Overtime opportunity | $11K–$21K annualized | ~94% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$117K–$138K | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
ER RN pay by setting in St. Louis — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the ER RN range splits by employer type in the St. Louis metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult ED (community) | $92,000 | $83K–$106K | Very high |
| Adult ED (academic) | $96,000 | $86K–$109K | Very high |
| Level I trauma | $104,000 | $92K–$117K | Very high |
| Pediatric ED | $100,000 | $90K–$115K | Very high |
| Freestanding ER | $86,000 | $79K–$100K | Tight |
FAQ: hiring a Emergency Room Registered Nurse in St. Louis, MO
Related ER RN pay benchmarks — Missouri metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.