Hello reader, Welcome to this informative article about Trauma Nurse Salary!
In this article, you will understand an average Trauma Nurse Salary, how Trauma Nurses are paid in different states, and what influences Trauma Nurse Salaries.
When you finish reading this article, your eyes would have been opened to the skills and certifications you should possess to earn more.
In this article, we will cover the following:
- Trauma Nurse Average Salary
- Average Trauma Nurse Salary Versus Average RN Salary
- Nursing Skills & Certifications That Influence Trauma Nurse Salaries
- Nursing Certifications That Determine Higher Trauma Nurse Salaries
Let’s get started ASAP!
Trauma Nurse Average Salary
The Trauma Nurse’s pay range is close to that of Emergency Room Nurses.
They are paid an average annual salary that ranges from $85,100 to $107,000, but this figure usually depends on the number of hours the Nurse has worked and if they have put in some overtime.
The state you live and work in as a Trauma Nurse and the additional education you have acquired, including the NCLEX-RN certification, will determine your salary as a Trauma Nurse.
The Trauma Nurse job you have been assigned and the number of years you have been in that position will also determine where your pay scale lies.
Additional factors such as subsidies and the cost of living in your state of residence will also be considered when determining your salary as a Trauma Nurse.
Trauma Nurses’ salaries are determined by the level of education, certifications earned, years of experience, and place of work.
Therefore the Trauma RN Salary varies based on these factors, but generally, Trauma Nurses happen to be one of the highest-paying nursing specialties!
The Starting Salary Range
The state of residence, past working experience, and education are the key factors that determine a Trauma Nurse’s starting salary.
The starting Trauma Nurse salary range is between $47,120 and $62,000.
Trauma Nurses with BSN often have an advantage because they can acquire certifications quickly and progress to a level where they will be earning an average salary.
Trauma Nurse Average Salary By State
Different states pay Trauma Nurses differently, thanks to the varying cost of living in these states.
In the states where transport and housing costs are high, like New York and California, the salary rates for these Nurses are higher.
However, in Texas, whose living costs are lower, the Trauma Nurses working in such states will receive a lower salary.
Here are a few states and the average salaries that Trauma Nurses receive:
- New York – $80,055 to $108, 407
- California – $96,470
- Texas – $76,909
- West Virginia – $94,184
- New Hampshire – $105,271
- Florida – $69,718
- Wyoming – 96,625
- North Carolina – $68,780
Average Trauma Nurse Salary Versus Average RN Salary
Trauma Nurses, of course, earn more than the Registered Nurses working in various departments.
This is because they have acquired additional certification and are experienced in working in fast-paced and high-stress surroundings.
The Registered Nurse’s average salary is about $75,510 annually.
But, this figure will always change when factors like years of experience and the state where the nurse works are considered.
As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the Nurses with specialties consistently earn more.
This is why Trauma Nurses will earn 15% more than General Registered Nurses, and this difference in earnings could be a whopping $10,770 yearly.
Nursing Skills & Certifications That Influence Trauma Nurse Salaries
Most Registered Nurses (RN) or Trauma Nurses initially wanted to find nursing positions with impressive pay.
Nursing graduates with an Associate Degree (ADN) or Bachelor’s Degree (BSN) can get nice entry-level positions with an impressive salary as soon as they graduate.
So can nursing graduates with MSN.
Some various benefits and subsidies come with most nursing jobs.
This is why as a Nurse Practitioner looking to grow your career, you must not only be satisfied with your nursing degree and RN license.
You must acquire additional certifications to improve your chances of snagging a great nursing position with competitive pay.
Still, acquiring other skills like leadership skills will be very important in making you attractive for a managerial position.
As a Trauma Nurse, you can still work as a coordinator or Nurse Manager in a hospital emergency room.
Remember that the earnings are different.
There is an ER Trauma Nurse Salary, Surgical Trauma ICU Nurse Salary, Shock Trauma Nurse Salary, and many salaries of other Trauma Nurse specializations.
It is up to you to decide what department you want to acquire skills for.
It is worth a shot with average earnings like $91,928 for a Trauma Nurse Coordinator.
If you have more people skills like encouraging and mentoring others, you might consider pursuing the education path.
You could pursue a Doctorate in Nursing, allowing you to be a professor, an assistant professor, or even a guest lecturer at a university.
You might also consider helping students gain clinical experience in the trauma department by becoming a Nurse Educator.
Pursuing these education career paths means more competitive salaries in the process.
Nursing Certifications That Determine Higher Trauma Nurse Salaries
Educational opportunities can help increase your Trauma Nurse Salary.
Consider pursuing one or more of the following nursing certifications if you want better earnings as a Trauma Nurse.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program( NRP)
Suppose you are a Trauma Nurse who intends to work with babies.
As per the American Heart Association directive, you can take the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), founded by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
This certification will equip you with emergency care skills for newborn babies, precisely how to resuscitate them.
It is an excellent option if you want to add to your existing experience and gives you opportunities to work in the wards of children’s hospitals, labor and delivery units, and neonatal intensive care.
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Registered Nurses and Trauma Nurses must acquire basic life support certification, which should be updated regularly.
As a Trauma Nurse working in acute care, ensure that your certification is always up-to-date.
You must also acquire this certification from an AHA (American Healthcare Association) approved organization.
After completing this program, you will acquire a certification to serve you for two years.
After the lapse of this period, you will have to retake the course to refresh your memory and ensure that your skills are as per requirements.
Emergency Room Pediatric Course
Suppose you love working in that fast-paced environment but wish to specialize in children and infant care.
In that case, you will need this ENPC certification certified by the board of certification for emergency nursing (BCEN).
This certificate will get you opportunities in emergency rooms that take in children and NICUs as well.
If you are already working as a Trauma Nurse, you might be lucky and get an employer willing to sponsor your this certification.
The certification of this course is only valid for four years, after which you will need to renew it.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
This is another AHA course suitable for Trauma Nurses who work in emergency rooms and intensive care units.
You can still take the course even when you haven’t been employed as a Trauma Nurse yet.
It will make you even more marketable and set you apart from other candidates seeking positions in ICU and emergency departments.
The course will equip you with skills to help you identify trauma patients’ heart rhythms with identifying basic arrhythmia included.
The certification of this course will last two years before renewal.
The STABLE Program
The STABLE program equips Nurses with the six parameters of assessment that have to be done when the overall patient stability is assessed.
STABLE is an acronym for Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood Pressure, Lab Work, and Emotional Support.
The certification will last two years before you take a renewal course.
National Institute Of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
Trauma Nurses will, at some point, work with patients with chronic illnesses such as stroke patients.
Having this NIHSS certification will be beneficial.
The best thing about this nursing program is that it is free for all Registered Nurses and can be done at one’s own pace.
The certification will equip you with the skills to assess a stroke patient and determine the severity of the stroke.
The certificate will last two years, and it will make you attractive to employers seeking Trauma Nurses with extra skills.
Acquiring these additional skills and certifications make you an attractive candidate in the nursing job market.
Not all certificates will increase your earnings because some are an important requirement for the job title.
Still, these additional certifications will portray you positively to the employer by showing them that you have the desire to improve yourself as a professional and further your education.
In most instances, these extra certifications give you the opportunity for higher Nurse positions, which means higher pay of about 10 to 20% more than other Trauma Nurses with no additional certifications.
In other instances, these specialized skills can earn Nurses promotions in the trauma centers they are working in.
Most Trauma Nurses starting salaries are usually considered low by the senior staff.
Still, more opportunities to gain higher pay the longer the Trauma Nurse stays in the same position.
There is no doubt that Trauma Nurses who further their education and equip themselves with additional skills have improved career prospects with higher salaries.
Trauma Nurse Practitioners with additional certification will have more opportunities to work in critical care units, emergency rooms, burn centers, and various trauma units with positions that offer competitive earnings.
Conclusion
We have looked at the various factors that influence a Trauma Nurse’s Salary.
It is clear that as a Trauma Nurse, you have the option to influence your salary.
You can decide to let your years of experience speak for you or go and earn additional certifications that will advance your nursing career and open new career opportunities in trauma care with competitive salaries.
FAQs
How much do Trauma Nurses make a year?
A Trauma-Certified Registered Nurse in the United States earns an average salary of $71,169 annually. Those Trauma Nurses with additional skills and certifications in patient care earn more. Various factors determine Trauma Nurse Salary, making the national average salary vary by state, years of experience, and employer.
What is the Average Salary of a Trauma Nurse?
Trauma Nurse Salaries are influenced by certain factors like education, employers, experience years, the state where you work, and certifications earned. While considering all those factors, the average salary for Trauma Nurses is $91,025, with other salaries going as high as $155,000 annually.
How much do Trauma Nurses make an hour?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the hourly earnings for all Registered Nurses specializing in trauma care as per 2020 reports is $36.22. However, these hourly earnings vary by state and factors like years of experience, certifications earned, and nursing roles.
What is the highest salary for a Trauma Nurse in the United States?
As per a survey conducted by BLS, the Trauma Nurses’ annual salaries range from $77,500 (25th percentile) to $117,000 (75 percentile), with the majority being Trauma ICU Nurse salaries. The top Trauma Nurse earners are in the 90th percentile, making $138,500 annually nationwide.
What is the lowest salary for a Trauma Nurse?
Entry-level Trauma Nurses are typically paid the lowest in most cases. However, the average starting salary will be determined by various factors such as education and past experience. This salary will range between $47,120 and $62,000 annually.
Which are the highest paying states for Trauma Nurses?
As per a 2020 report by BLS, the highest average paying states for Trauma Nurses were California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Alaska. The highest state of the above top five is the Trauma Nurse salaries in California which are a mean hourly wage of $57.96 and an annual mean wage of $120,560.
Where are Trauma Nurses most needed?
Most Trauma Nurses work in ER departments, ICUs, trauma units, and critical care divisions like cardiac, burn, and surgical units. The Trauma Nurse’s Salary is also very competitive in these departments where they are most needed.
