Electrophysiology lab nursing is one of the higher-paying RN specialties in procedural cardiac care. Staff EP lab nurses earn in the range of $85,000–$115,000 per year depending on location, experience, and shift mix. Travel EP lab contracts average about $2,800 a week in posted pay (roughly $145,000 if worked for a full 52 weeks, which few travelers do). At the career ceiling, device company clinical specialist roles at companies such as Medtronic, Abbott, Boston Scientific, and Johnson & Johnson MedTech pay $100,000–$150,000+ in total compensation.
A methodology note upfront: the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks registered nurses as SOC 29-1141 – a single aggregate that includes all RN specialties from med-surg to EP lab. BLS does not publish EP-lab-specific RN salary data. The figures in this guide draw on Salary.com’s cardiovascular/cath lab RN data (the closest BLS-mapped equivalent), Vivian Health’s EP lab nurse marketplace data, and ZipRecruiter and Indeed aggregate listings. Where sources conflict, ranges are presented with their provenance noted.
At a glance
| Role / setting | Estimated annual compensation |
|---|---|
| Staff cath lab / cardiovascular RN, national average (Salary.com, Sept 2026) | $96,500 (P10–P90 $75,867–$112,357) |
| Staff EP lab RN with RCES or CV-BC certification | Employer-dependent; typical differentials of $1–$3/hr ($2,080–$6,240/year) |
| Travel EP lab RN (Vivian Health, 25 Sept 2026) | $2,793/week average; posted contracts up to $4,015/week |
| EP lab charge nurse (editorial estimate) | $100,000–$115,000 |
| Device company EP clinical specialist (editorial estimate) | $85,000–$120,000 base + $15,000–$30,000 bonus |
| AGACNP in cardiac electrophysiology (editorial estimate) | $115,000–$140,000 |
| CRNA (requires ICU background; EP anesthesia path) | ~$236,590 median / $248,320 mean (BLS May 2025) |
Understanding the data sources
EP lab nursing is a specialized subset of cardiovascular nursing, and the salary data landscape reflects that. The BLS aggregates all RNs under one SOC code, which makes its state-level data structurally useful for benchmarking but not EP-specific. Here is how the major sources differ:
| Source | What it measures | Sample size / methodology | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLS OEWS (SOC 29-1141) | All RNs, all settings | Semiannual employer survey; about 1.1 million establishments across a rolling three-year sample | Largest sample, state-level granularity | Not specialty-specific; includes all RN types |
| Salary.com (cath lab / cardiovascular RN) | Cardiovascular procedural RNs | Job posting + compensation survey data | Specialty-segmented; experience-level breakdown | Maps cath lab RN as proxy; EP is a subset |
| Vivian Health | Active job postings for EP lab nurses | Real-time marketplace; 718 active travel EP listings in the 7 days to 25 Sept 2026 | Real posted rates; updated continuously | Posted travel-contract pay, not staff salaries |
| Indeed / ZipRecruiter | Self-reported + job posting aggregate | 829 salaries from Indeed job postings over 36 months; ZipRecruiter posting-based estimates | Wide geographic coverage | Postings include travel staffing agencies; variable quality |
National average salary
The most defensible national salary range for staff EP lab nurses, synthesizing across sources:
- Salary.com cardiac cath lab nurse average: $96,500/year ($46/hr) as of 1 September 2026, with a 25th–75th percentile range of $85,700–$104,800. EP lab nurses are generally comparable to cath lab nurses in base compensation
- Indeed (registered nurse, cardiac electrophysiology lab): $128,855/year based on 829 salaries from job postings over 36 months (updated December 2025). The highest-paying posters include travel staffing agencies, which pulls the average above staff pay
- ZipRecruiter EP lab nurse aggregate (August 2026): Average $41.89/hour (about $87,100/year), with 25th percentile at $30.53 ($63,500) and 75th percentile at $50.48 ($105,000)
- Vivian Health travel EP lab RN: $2,793/week average (25 September 2026). This is posted travel-contract pay and should not be read as a staff salary
A reasonable national staff salary estimate for an experienced EP lab RN is $90,000–$115,000 per year in base compensation, before differentials and call pay. The wide range reflects real geographic and hospital-type variation.
Salary by experience level
Salary.com’s own experience bands for cath lab nurses are narrow: $92,954 for under one year, $94,888 at 2–4 years, $96,748 at 5–8 years, and $99,225 for over 8 years (1 September 2026). The table below is an editorial estimate for EP-specific career stages, and its upper rows include differentials and call pay that Salary.com’s base-pay figures exclude:
| Career stage | EP lab experience | Estimated annual salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New EP lab RN | 2–4 years total RN; just transitioned to EP lab | $85,000–$95,000 | Usually arrives with a cardiac or critical care background, so the move is lateral rather than entry-level |
| Established EP lab RN | 2–5 years in EP specifically | $93,000–$103,000 | Independently competent across all EP procedure types |
| Senior EP lab RN | 6+ years in EP; often RCES-certified | $98,000–$115,000 | Charge-eligible; preceptor; vendor relationship experience |
| Expert / lead | 8+ years; may hold charge or coordinator role | $105,000–$125,000 | Typically includes differential and call pay in total figure |
Note: most EP lab hires come in with 1–3 years of prior cardiac, ICU, or telemetry experience, although some programs train newer nurses. The “new EP lab RN” in the table is a nurse with a cardiac foundation making their first EP lab move.
Salary by setting
| Setting | Typical base salary range (editorial estimate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Academic medical center | $95,000–$120,000 | Highest base pay; most complex cases; call is heavier; more structured certification support |
| Community hospital | $88,000–$108,000 | Standard EP volume; more common SVT, AFib, and device implant cases; lighter call in most programs |
| Heart hospital / cardiac specialty center | $92,000–$115,000 | High case volume; competitive pay to attract procedural specialists; often above community hospital rates |
| Ambulatory surgical center (outpatient EP) | $85,000–$105,000 | Lower-acuity cases (primarily elective cardioversions, SVT ablation, device follow-up); typically no call; lower pay ceiling |
Academic medical centers consistently pay the highest base rates and offer the most robust benefits packages, but they carry the heaviest call burden and the most complex case mix. For nurses prioritizing work-life structure, community programs often offer more predictable schedules at modestly lower pay.
Call pay: what EP lab nurses earn beyond base salary
EP labs are on-call environments – even at programs that run Monday–Friday daytime schedules, most carry 24-hour emergency coverage for VT storms, emergent device implantation (complete heart block, asystole), and ICD storm management.
Call compensation structure varies by hospital, but standard arrangements:
- On-call stipend: $2–$5/hour while on call but not working. For a nurse carrying 4–6 on-call nights per month (96–144 hours), this adds $2,300–$8,600/year on top of base salary.
- Callback pay: 1.5x–2x base hourly rate for hours worked when called in. At a base rate of $48/hour, callback pay runs $72–$96/hour. A nurse averaging 2 callbacks per month at 4 hours each earns an additional $6,900–$9,200/year in callback alone.
- Weekend call rotation: Shared across the EP lab staff; frequency depends on team size and program volume.
Combined, call pay can add $8,000–$18,000 annually to a senior EP lab nurse’s total compensation – a component that salary averages frequently undercount because it varies so much by program.
Cath labs that offer primary PCI generally keep a STEMI team on call around the clock, and EP emergencies are less frequent than STEMIs. But when they do occur – a patient presenting with VT storm at 2 AM – they require a fully competent EP team on-site quickly.
Certification premium
Board certification generates a salary premium at most hospital systems. The specific dollar value depends on the hospital’s certification incentive program structure.
Common certification incentive models:
- Hourly differential: $1–$3/hour added to base rate (generates $2,080–$6,240/year at full-time hours)
- Annual lump sum: $1,500–$4,000/year, paid as a bonus upon active certification verification
- Magnet hospital programs: Magnet designation rewards certified nursing staff, so Magnet hospitals commonly run formal certification incentive programs; the dollar value still varies by employer
For EP lab nurses, the most relevant certifications are RCES (from CCI, directly EP-focused) and CV-BC (ANCC board certification, broader cardiovascular credential recognized across nursing). RCES is $365 to sit (including a $100 non-refundable filing fee) and $165 per triennial renewal, with 36 CEUs (30 cardiovascular) per cycle after the first renewal. CV-BC runs $395, $340 for members of partner associations such as AACN, SVN, or PCNA, or $295 for ANA members, and renews every 5 years. CV-BC eligibility requires 2 years as a full-time RN, 2,000 hours of cardiac-vascular practice in the last 3 years, and 30 hours of cardiac-vascular CE.
A nurse who earns RCES and works at a hospital with a $2/hr certification differential – a conservative figure – generates $4,160 in additional annual pay. The credential pays for itself in the first month.
Travel EP lab nurse rates
Travel nursing in the EP lab is a specialized niche. EP lab travel contracts are less common than ICU or ED travel contracts, but demand is consistent at programs managing staffing shortages or covering leave.
Travel EP lab nurse rates from Vivian Health (last updated 25 September 2026, based on 718 active jobs in the prior 7 days):
- National average: $2,793/week
- Vermont: $3,416/week average
- New York: $3,368/week average
- Massachusetts: $3,347/week average
- Illinois: $3,344/week average
- Mississippi: $3,268/week average
- High-end contracts: Up to $4,015/week (Vivian Health posted maximum)
State averages rest on small numbers of listings and move month to month; Pennsylvania led this list in May 2026. Travel rates run about 21% above Vivian’s all-specialty travel nurse average of $2,200/week. The specialized nature of EP lab nursing – not every travel nurse can step into an EP lab – supports this premium.
Standard EP lab travel contracts are 13 weeks long. Total compensation for a travel EP lab nurse typically breaks down into:
- Taxable base hourly rate (reportable wages)
- Non-taxable housing and meal stipend (for nurses maintaining a permanent tax home outside the assignment location)
The published weekly total comp figures include both components. Stipends are tax-free only if you are traveling away from your tax home, which the IRS defines by your regular place of work; a traveler with no regular work location must maintain a permanent home with ongoing duplicated living costs to qualify (IRS Publication 463). This rule comes from federal tax law, and agencies apply it rather than set it.
For nurses interested in travel nursing broadly, see our how to become a travel nurse guide.
EP lab nurse salary by state
The table below uses Salary.com data for cath lab / cardiovascular nurses (the closest specialty-specific proxy available for EP lab RNs), as of 1 September 2026. BLS does not publish EP-lab-specific state data. These figures represent the cardiovascular procedural RN salary range for each state and closely approximate what staff EP lab nurses in those states earn.
| State | Annual salary (cath lab / cardiovascular RN proxy) |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $106,800 |
| California | $106,400 |
| Massachusetts | $105,000 |
| Washington | $104,600 |
| New Jersey | $104,600 |
| Alaska | $104,500 |
| Connecticut | $103,100 |
| New York | $102,600 |
| Hawaii | $100,900 |
| Rhode Island | $100,100 |
| Maryland | $99,500 |
| Minnesota | $98,800 |
| Colorado | $98,500 |
| Illinois | $98,400 |
| Oregon | $98,000 |
| Delaware | $97,700 |
| New Hampshire | $97,600 |
| Virginia | $97,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,100 |
| Nevada | $95,500 |
| North Dakota | $95,300 |
| Michigan | $95,000 |
| Wisconsin | $94,900 |
| Vermont | $94,700 |
| Maine | $94,100 |
| Texas | $94,100 |
| Arizona | $94,000 |
| Ohio | $94,000 |
| Georgia | $93,100 |
| Indiana | $92,600 |
| Wyoming | $92,600 |
| Utah | $92,400 |
| Iowa | $92,400 |
| Kansas | $91,900 |
| Louisiana | $91,800 |
| Missouri | $91,700 |
| North Carolina | $91,700 |
| Florida | $91,300 |
| Montana | $91,100 |
| Nebraska | $90,900 |
| Kentucky | $90,800 |
| South Carolina | $90,400 |
| Tennessee | $90,200 |
| Idaho | $90,100 |
| New Mexico | $89,400 |
| Oklahoma | $89,200 |
| Alabama | $88,700 |
| South Dakota | $87,700 |
| Arkansas | $87,200 |
| West Virginia | $86,900 |
| Mississippi | $86,100 |
Source: Salary.com cardiac cath lab nurse, state pages as of 1 September 2026. EP lab nurses are a subset of this category; actual EP lab salaries in each state may vary. Data represents base compensation before shift differentials and call pay.
The geographic spread from bottom (Mississippi, $86,100) to top (DC, $106,800) is about 24%. However, state salary differences are only part of the compensation picture – union coverage, hospital system pay scales, and call pay structure can create larger gaps between two nurses in the same state than the average difference between states.
DC, California, Massachusetts, Washington, New Jersey, and Alaska lead this proxy table. Salary.com’s state figures are modeled and compressed; BLS data for all RNs shows a much wider gap: California’s May 2025 RN median of $140,270 is the highest of any state, while Massachusetts, third in this table, has an RN median of $104,550. Treat the table as a relative ranking and check local postings.
Career ceiling: the highest-earning paths out of the EP lab
Device company clinical specialist
The most common and financially significant career transition available to experienced EP lab nurses is a clinical specialist role with a cardiac electrophysiology device company. Medtronic, Abbott (electrophysiology division, which absorbed St. Jude Medical in 2017), Boston Scientific (CRM/EP division), and Johnson & Johnson MedTech (the former Biosense Webster) all employ clinical specialists whose job is exactly what the device reps in the EP lab are already doing.
Compensation data (2026):
- Aggregator-reported base pay for clinical specialists at these companies generally falls in the $80,000–$120,000 range (PayScale and Levels.fyi self-reports, 2026)
- Total compensation packages (base + performance bonus): $100,000–$150,000 is realistic for experienced EP clinical specialists
The bonus component is substantial in device industry roles and is tied to device utilization and territory performance. Experienced EP nurses who move into these roles often build territories that support six-figure total compensation within 2–3 years.
EP lab nursing background is specifically valued by these companies because clinical specialists must be able to communicate credibly in an EP procedure setting, troubleshoot device behavior in real time, and work constructively with electrophysiologists and EP nurses. Candidates with 3–5 years of EP lab RN experience are competitive applicants; the nurses who regularly work with specific device reps during procedures are often the first ones asked if they’re interested.
Cardiology NP in electrophysiology
AGACNP or ACNP-credentialed NPs working in EP manage arrhythmia patients across the full care continuum: device clinic (interrogation and programming), outpatient arrhythmia management, pre-procedure workup, post-ablation follow-up, and inpatient EP consults. EP NP roles exist at academic centers and high-volume EP programs.
Compensation range: $115,000–$140,000, depending on geographic market and practice setting. For the full NP career path, see our how to become a cardiology NP guide.
CRNA
Cardiac and EP procedures – particularly complex AFib ablations, epicardial VT ablations, and lead extractions – often use monitored anesthesia care (MAC) or general anesthesia rather than procedural sedation. CRNAs provide anesthesia services in these cases.
The CRNA pathway requires at least one year of full-time critical care experience (competitive applicants usually have two to three; cardiac ICU is highly valued), completion of an accredited doctoral CRNA program (36 months or longer – COA sets a 36-month minimum and US programs vary in length above it), and passing the CRNA board exam. The financial return is substantial:
- BLS median CRNA salary (May 2025): $236,590/year (mean $248,320)
- Top 10% of CRNAs: Above $339,500/year
For EP nurses with a prior cardiac ICU background, the CRNA pathway is both financially compelling and clinically natural – you already understand cardiac physiology, hemodynamic management, and the procedural environment. For a full breakdown, see our how to become a CRNA guide.
Related salary guides
- Cardiac cath lab nurse salary – the most common predecessor role to EP lab nursing; comparable pay structure
- How to become an EP lab nurse – career path, certifications, and experience requirements
- Cardiology NP salary – compensation data for the advanced practice ceiling
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141),” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (released 2026), via BLS Public API. National median annual wage $97,550; California median $140,270, Hawaii $136,320, Massachusetts $104,550.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists (SOC 29-1151),” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, via BLS Public API (accessed 26 September 2026). National median $236,590, mean $248,320, 90th percentile $339,500.
- Salary.com, “Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse Salary,” as of 1 September 2026. National average $96,500; P10–P90 $75,867–$112,357; experience bands; state averages. Used as the closest specialty-mapped proxy for staff EP lab RN base pay.
- Vivian Health, “Average Travel Electrophysiology Lab Nurse Salary by State & Nationally,” last updated 25 September 2026. $2,793/week national average, 718 active jobs, state averages; all-travel average $2,200/week.
- ZipRecruiter, “Ep Lab Nurse Salary,” August 2026. Average $41.89/hr; 25th percentile $63,500, 75th percentile $105,000.
- Indeed, “Registered nurse – cardiac electrophysiology lab salary in United States,” updated 15 December 2025. $128,855/year from 829 job-posting salaries over 36 months.
- Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), “Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES)” and “Renew Credentials,” cci-online.org, accessed September 2026. $365 exam fee incl. $100 filing fee; $165 triennial renewal; 36 CEUs (30 cardiovascular).
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), “Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC),” nursingworld.org, accessed September 2026. Fees $395 / $340 partner-association / $295 ANA member; 5-year validity; 2 years RN, 2,000 hours, 30 CE hours.
- Internal Revenue Service, “Publication 463: Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses,” 2025. Tax home and traveling-away-from-home rules.