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What to Pay an ICU Registered Nurse in Cleveland, OH (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings
Market Median
$102,000
base, annual
Competitive Range
$89K–$117K
25th–75th percentile
YoY Movement
+4.1%
trailing 12 months
Days to Fill
~32
Cleveland metro average
To hire a ICU Registered Nurse in Cleveland at market, plan on a base salary range of $89,000 to $117,000, with $102,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 32 days, expect to lead at $117K–$135K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Ohio does not currently require pay range disclosure in job postings.

How to set your ICU RN pay range in Cleveland

Three pay positions, modeled against current Cleveland market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market
Pay Below Median
$78K–$89K
Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Cleveland average.
Match Market — recommended
Pay at Median
$96.8K–$108K
Default for most Cleveland employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~32 days. A range width of ~30% (min $89,000 to max $117,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a ICU RN's typical 8–12 year tenure.
Lead Market
Pay Above Median
$111K–$135K
Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

ICU RN salary percentile distribution in Cleveland, OH

Where the Cleveland market actually sits for ICU RN base pay.

10th $78K
25th $89K
Median $102K
75th $117K
90th $135K

Most Cleveland employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($102,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $89,000 and a max of $117,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Ohio pay transparency compliance for ICU RN job postings

What you must post when hiring a ICU RN in Ohio.

Not required statewide. Ohio has no statewide pay transparency law. Posting a range is optional — but roughly half of healthcare employers in the market now disclose ranges voluntarily, and candidates increasingly skip postings without one.

For a ICU RN role in Cleveland, a compliant good-faith range looks like $89,000 to $117,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $89,000–$117,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.

Top ICU RN employers in Cleveland — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring ICU RNs in the Cleveland metro and what they're posting.

Employer Type Disclosed Range Sign-on Bonus
Cleveland Clinic Academic medical center $96K–$120K Very common ($10K–$18K)
University Hospitals Health system $96K–$120K Very common ($10K–$18K)
MetroHealth Public health system $96K–$120K Very common ($10K–$18K)
Summa Health Health system $96K–$120K Very common ($10K–$18K)
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Hospital $92K–$116K Very common ($10K–$18K)

ICU RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Cleveland

How hard is it to fill a ICU RN role in Cleveland.

~32
Avg Days to Fill
~850
Active Postings
~816,000
Cleveland ICU RN Workforce
Very tight
Supply : Demand

Cleveland ICU RN market reflects broader RN supply constraints, with critical care specialty demand elevated by post-COVID staffing gaps.

Skill premiums ICU RN candidates command in Cleveland, OH

Skill / Credential Pay Premium Demand Signal
CCRN 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

ICU RN total compensation in Cleveland — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for ICU RNs in Cleveland. "Prevalence" reflects share of Cleveland disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component Typical Value Prevalence in Cleveland Postings
Base salary $102,000 (median) 100%
Shift differential +16–24% premium ~94%
Sign-on bonus $10K–$20K ~80%
CCRN certification pay +8–12% on base ~72%
Overtime opportunity $11K–$22K annualized ~94%
Estimated total comp benchmark ~$124K–$147K —

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.

ICU RN pay by setting in Cleveland — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the ICU RN range splits by employer type in the Cleveland metro.

Setting Median Competitive Range Hiring Difficulty
MICU $98,000 $88K–$112K Very high
SICU $102,000 $92K–$116K Very high
Cardiac ICU (CICU) $108,000 $96K–$122K Very high
Neuro ICU $106,000 $94K–$120K Very high
PICU $104,000 $94K–$118K Very high

FAQ: hiring a ICU Registered Nurse in Cleveland, OH

Market median is $102,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $102,000 — typically $89,000 to $117,000. To lead the market, plan on $117K–$135K base plus a sign-on bonus.
No statewide law requires a posted range in Ohio. Disclosing one voluntarily — a good-faith range such as $89,000–$117,000 — is increasingly the market norm and improves application rates.
$91,000 falls below the Cleveland market median of $102,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.
Roughly 80% of Cleveland ICU RN postings include a sign-on bonus ($10K–$20K).
Average fill time is approximately 32 days in the Cleveland metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($117K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($89K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.
By Cleveland-metro posting volume: Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth, Summa Health, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center lead the pack.
A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for ICU RN in Cleveland — for example, $89,000 to $117,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.
No. Ohio has no pay transparency law covering internal or external postings. Note that remote roles open to candidates in states like Colorado or California may still trigger those states' disclosure requirements.

Related ICU RN pay benchmarks — Ohio metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros
ICU RN pay benchmark — Columbus, OH → ICU RN pay benchmark — Cincinnati, OH → ICU RN pay benchmark — Pittsburgh, PA → All ICU RN pay benchmarks →
Related roles in Cleveland
Certified Nursing Assistant pay benchmark — Cleveland → Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist pay benchmark — Cleveland → Licensed Practical Nurse pay benchmark — Cleveland → Nurse Practitioner pay benchmark — Cleveland → Physical Therapist pay benchmark — Cleveland → Physician Assistant pay benchmark — Cleveland → Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Cleveland → Respiratory Therapist pay benchmark — Cleveland → Surgical Technologist pay benchmark — Cleveland → Travel Nurse pay benchmark — Cleveland → Emergency Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Cleveland → Operating Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Cleveland → All roles' pay benchmarks →

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.