What to Pay an ICU Registered Nurse in Houston, TX (2026)
How to set your ICU RN pay range in Houston
Three pay positions, modeled against current Houston market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
ICU RN salary percentile distribution in Houston, TX
Where the Houston market actually sits for ICU RN base pay.
Most Houston employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($112,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $98,000 and a max of $128,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Texas pay transparency compliance for ICU RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a ICU RN in Texas.
For a ICU RN role in Houston, a compliant good-faith range looks like $98,000 to $128,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $98,000–$128,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top ICU RN employers in Houston — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring ICU RNs in the Houston metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Methodist | Academic medical center | $110K–$140K | Very common ($12K–$22K) |
| Memorial Hermann | Health system | $105K–$135K | Very common ($12K–$20K) |
| MD Anderson | Specialty academic | $115K–$145K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Texas Children's Hospital (PICU) | Pediatric specialty | $110K–$140K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| HCA Houston Healthcare | Health system | $102K–$132K | Very common ($15K–$22K) |
ICU RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Houston
How hard is it to fill a ICU RN role in Houston.
Skill premiums ICU RN candidates command in Houston, TX
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CCRN | Required baseline | Standard |
| Cardiac ICU (Methodist) | +7–11% | Very high |
| PICU (Texas Children's) | +6–10% | Very high |
| Oncology ICU (MD Anderson) | +6–10% | High |
ICU RN total compensation in Houston — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for ICU RNs in Houston. "Prevalence" reflects share of Houston disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Houston Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $112,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +16–24% premium | ~94% |
| Sign-on bonus | $12,000–$22,000 | ~82% |
| CCRN certification pay | +8–12% on base | ~72% |
| Overtime opportunity | $12K–$22K annualized | ~94% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$148K–$178K | — |
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 Houston — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the ICU RN range splits by employer type in the Houston metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical ICU (MICU) | $108,000 | $96K–$125K | Very high |
| Surgical ICU (SICU) | $112,000 | $100K–$130K | Very high |
| Cardiac ICU (Methodist) | $118,000 | $105K–$138K | Very high |
| PICU (Texas Children's) | $118,000 | $105K–$138K | Very high |
| Oncology ICU (MD Anderson) | $120,000 | $108K–$140K | Very high |
ICU RN salary in Houston vs. other Texas and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Houston | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land, TX | $112,000 | — | Tight |
| Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX | $108,000 | −3.6% | Tight |
| Austin–Round Rock, TX | $110,000 | −1.8% | Tight |
| San Antonio, TX | $102,000 | −8.9% | Tight |
| Texas statewide | $105,000 | −6.3% | — |
| U.S. national | $108,000 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a ICU Registered Nurse in Houston, TX
Related ICU RN pay benchmarks — Texas metros and nearby nursing roles
One page. One job. One city.
If you're modeling pay ranges across hundreds of roles and dozens of locations, doing this manually is the merit-cycle scramble that ate your last quarter. BetterComp keeps your full range structure current against live market data — without the survey lag.
See how it works →
Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.