What to Pay a Registered Nurse in Salt Lake City, UT (2026)
How to set your RN pay range in Salt Lake City
Three pay positions, modeled against current Salt Lake City market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
RN salary percentile distribution in Salt Lake City, UT
Where the Salt Lake City market actually sits for RN base pay.
Most Salt Lake City employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($88,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $80,000 and a max of $100,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Utah pay transparency compliance for RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a RN in Utah.
For a RN role in Salt Lake City, a compliant good-faith range looks like $80,000 to $100,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $80,000–$100,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top RN employers in Salt Lake City — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring RNs in the Salt Lake City metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intermountain Healthcare | Integrated health system (UT-HQ) | $86K–$112K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| University of Utah Health | Academic medical center | $88K–$114K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| HCA MountainStar Healthcare | Health system | $84K–$108K | Very common ($12K–$22K) |
| Primary Children's Hospital (Intermountain) | Pediatric specialty | $86K–$112K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| St. Mark's Hospital (HCA) | Hospital | $82K–$106K | Very common ($12K–$22K) |
RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Salt Lake City
How hard is it to fill a RN role in Salt Lake City.
SLC RN market driven by Intermountain Healthcare (UT-headquartered), University of Utah Health, and HCA MountainStar.
Skill premiums RN candidates command in Salt Lake City, UT
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CCRN | +8–12% | Very high |
| CEN | +7–11% | Very high |
| CNOR | +8–12% | Very high |
| Pediatric (Primary Children's) | +6–10% | Very high |
RN total compensation in Salt Lake City — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for RNs in Salt Lake City. "Prevalence" reflects share of Salt Lake City disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Salt Lake City Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $88,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–18% premium | ~90% |
| Sign-on bonus | $10,000–$22,000 | ~76% |
| Certification pay | +5–12% premium | ~56% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $3,000–$5,000/yr | ~58% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$110K–$132K | — |
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.
RN pay by setting in Salt Lake City — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the RN range splits by employer type in the Salt Lake City metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute-care hospital (med-surg) | $84,000 | $76K–$98K | Tight |
| ICU / Critical care | $100,000 | $88K–$115K | Very high |
| Emergency department | $98,000 | $86K–$112K | Very high |
| Pediatric (Primary Children's) | $100,000 | $88K–$115K | Very high |
| Ambulatory / clinic | $76,000 | $68K–$88K | Moderate |
RN salary in Salt Lake City vs. other Utah and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Salt Lake City | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | $88,000 | — | Moderate |
| Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO | $100,000 | +13.6% | Tight |
| Boise City, ID | $78,000 | −11.4% | Moderate |
| Las Vegas–Henderson, NV | $88,000 | 0.0% | Above national avg |
| Utah statewide | $82,000 | −6.8% | — |
| U.S. national | $93,600 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Registered Nurse in Salt Lake City, UT
Related RN pay benchmarks — Utah 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.