What to Pay an ICU Registered Nurse in Raleigh, NC (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings

Market Median

$100,000

base, annual

Competitive Range

$87K–$115K

25th–75th percentile

YoY Movement

+4.1%

trailing 12 months

Days to Fill

~32

Raleigh metro average

To hire a ICU Registered Nurse in Raleigh at market, plan on a base salary range of $87,000 to $115,000, with $100,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 32 days, expect to lead at $115K–$132K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. North Carolina does not currently require pay range disclosure in job postings.

How to set your ICU RN pay range in Raleigh

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

Lag Market

Pay Below Median

$76K–$87K

Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Raleigh average.

Match Market — recommended

Pay at Median

$94.8K–$106K

Default for most Raleigh employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~32 days. A range width of ~30% (min $87,000 to max $115,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a ICU RN's typical 8–12 year tenure.

Lead Market

Pay Above Median

$109K–$132K

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 Raleigh, NC

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

10th $76K

25th $87K

Median $100K

75th $115K

90th $132K

Most Raleigh employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($100,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $87,000 and a max of $115,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

North Carolina pay transparency compliance for ICU RN job postings

What you must post when hiring a ICU RN in North Carolina.

Not required statewide. North Carolina 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 Raleigh, a compliant good-faith range looks like $87,000 to $115,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $87,000–$115,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.

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

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

Employer	Type	Disclosed Range	Sign-on Bonus
Duke Health (Raleigh)	Academic medical center system	$94K–$118K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
WakeMed	Health system	$94K–$118K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
UNC Rex Healthcare	Academic medical center system	$94K–$118K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
Duke Raleigh Hospital	Hospital	$92K–$118K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
Novant Health Rex	Health system	$94K–$118K	Very common ($10K–$18K)

ICU RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Raleigh

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

~32

Avg Days to Fill

~833

Active Postings

~800,000

Raleigh ICU RN Workforce

Very tight

Supply : Demand

Raleigh 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 Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh — what candidates expect beyond base

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

Component	Typical Value	Prevalence in Raleigh Postings
Base salary	$100,000 (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	~$122K–$144K	—

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 Raleigh — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

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

Setting	Median	Competitive Range	Hiring Difficulty
MICU	$96,000	$86K–$110K	Very high
SICU	$100,000	$90K–$114K	Very high
Cardiac ICU (CICU)	$106,000	$94K–$120K	Very high
Neuro ICU	$104,000	$92K–$118K	Very high
PICU	$102,000	$92K–$116K	Very high

FAQ: hiring a ICU Registered Nurse in Raleigh, NC

How much should I pay a ICU Registered Nurse in Raleigh, NC?

Market median is $100,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $100,000 — typically $87,000 to $115,000. To lead the market, plan on $115K–$132K base plus a sign-on bonus.

What pay range must I post for a ICU RN job in North Carolina?

No statewide law requires a posted range in North Carolina. Disclosing one voluntarily — a good-faith range such as $87,000–$115,000 — is increasingly the market norm and improves application rates.

Is offering $90,000 competitive for a ICU RN in Raleigh?

$90,000 falls below the Raleigh market median of $100,000 — 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.

What sign-on bonuses are typical for ICU RNs in Raleigh?

Roughly 80% of Raleigh ICU RN postings include a sign-on bonus ($10K–$20K).

How long does it take to fill a ICU RN role in Raleigh?

Average fill time is approximately 32 days in the Raleigh metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($115K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($87K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.

Which employers are we competing against for ICU RN talent in Raleigh?

By Raleigh-metro posting volume: Duke Health (Raleigh), WakeMed, UNC Rex Healthcare, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Novant Health Rex lead the pack.

How wide should my pay range be for a ICU RN in Raleigh?

A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for ICU RN in Raleigh — for example, $87,000 to $115,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.

Does North Carolina require ICU RN pay range disclosure for internal postings?

No. North Carolina 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 — North Carolina metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros

ICU RN pay benchmark — Charlotte, NC → ICU RN pay benchmark — Richmond, VA → ICU RN pay benchmark — Atlanta, GA → All ICU RN pay benchmarks →

Related roles in Raleigh

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