Gastroenterology nurses earn salaries that track closely with the broader RN market but carry meaningful premiums for specialty certification and procedural experience. Expect roughly $90,000–$105,000 per year for a staff GI nurse in a typical market, against a national all-RN median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Total compensation runs from about $80,000 for early-career nurses in lower-wage states to $135,000 or more for experienced, CGRN-certified nurses in California, Oregon, or Washington – or for those working travel GI nursing contracts.
The two variables that move GI nurse pay the most are geography and CGRN certification. Geography because state RN wage floors vary by more than $70,000 between the lowest and highest-paying states. Certification because the CGRN credential carries a measurable hourly differential at most facilities that formally recognize it.
At a glance
| Role / setting | Estimated annual compensation |
|---|---|
| GI RN, staff – national median estimate | $90,000–$100,000 |
| GI RN, CGRN-certified, hospital unit | $98,000–$118,000 |
| GI RN, outpatient ASC (no nights/weekends) | $85,000–$104,000 |
| Travel GI / endoscopy RN | $100,000–$132,000 (all-in) |
| GI charge nurse / lead RN | $103,000–$121,000 |
| Gastroenterology NP (advanced practice) | ~$120,000–$155,000 |
National salary overview
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks registered nurse compensation under SOC 29-1141 (Registered Nurses, all settings) with a national median of $97,550 per year and a mean of $101,420 (OEWS May 2025, released 2026). GI nursing falls within this category – BLS does not publish a separate SOC code for GI or endoscopy nurses specifically. The national percentile spread for all RNs runs $68,940 at the 10th percentile to $137,470 at the 90th.
Specialty-level sources provide a tighter picture, though they measure something different from OEWS:
- Vivian Health reports a GI nurse average of $48.21/hour from active job postings (August 2026), which annualizes to roughly $100,000 at 2,080 hours – about 3% above Vivian’s all-nursing average of $46.73/hour.
- Salary.com reports a median of approximately $85,600 for registered nurse gastroenterology positions, with a 75th percentile near $93,600 and a 90th percentile near $100,900.
- Glassdoor reports a wider distribution, with a 25th percentile near $108,000 and a 75th percentile near $169,000 – a range that almost certainly blends advanced practice roles into the RN sample and should be treated with caution.
These sources disagree by a wide margin, and the reason is methodological rather than a matter of one being wrong. Commercial aggregators survey posted base salary for a job title, while OEWS captures gross wages including shift differentials, overtime, and call pay – which is precisely where a hospital-based GI nurse working nights and weekends earns the difference. Read the Salary.com figure as a base-rate benchmark and the OEWS median as total wages.
Against the OEWS all-RN median of $97,550, GI nursing sits broadly in line with the general RN market rather than clearly above it. The procedural specialty premium is real at the individual facility level, but it does not lift the specialty as a whole to the level of critical care or the CRNA pathway, where acuity differentials and pipeline premiums push wages substantially higher.
How setting affects pay
The single biggest setting variable is whether you work in a hospital GI unit or an outpatient ambulatory surgery center (ASC).
| Setting | Estimated annual range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital GI / endoscopy unit | $93,000–$124,000 | Access to night/weekend differentials; full acuity range; union coverage at some facilities |
| Outpatient ASC (ambulatory surgery center) | $85,000–$104,000 | Daytime hours only; no night differential; high-volume elective procedures; typically no weekend work |
| Academic medical center | $96,000–$121,000 | Complex cases; may include ERCP, EUS, advanced procedures; research involvement possible |
| IBD / colorectal specialty clinic | $87,000–$108,000 | Disease management focus; lower procedural intensity; infusion therapy |
| Travel GI / endoscopy RN | $100,000–$132,000 (all-in) | Base + tax-free stipends; requires minimum 2 years GI experience; CGRN preferred |
Hospital GI units pay more in total compensation than ASCs primarily because of shift differentials. A hospital GI nurse working a rotation that includes nights and weekends will earn $8,000–$15,000 more per year in differential pay than an ASC nurse at the same base rate. ASC nurses gain predictable daytime schedules and Monday-through-Friday work in exchange for that differential income.
Academic medical centers sit between these extremes – they run complex cases (ERCP, EUS, advanced therapeutic procedures) and are often in urban high-wage markets, but may have academic pay scales that are slightly more rigid than private hospital systems.
CGRN certification salary premium
The CGRN (Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse) credential from the ABCGN has a documented salary premium at most facilities that formally recognize it.
Hourly differential: The most common structure is $1–$3/hr above base for CGRN holders. At $2/hr over a standard 36-hour week (three 12-hour shifts), that adds approximately $3,744 per year before overtime. Overtime applied on top of a certified rate amplifies the effect – particularly in California, where state law requires daily overtime after eight hours, meaning every 12-hour shift pays 1.5x for the final four hours.
Annual lump sum: Some facilities pay a one-time annual certification bonus rather than a per-hour differential – commonly $1,500–$3,000/year. This is more common at non-union facilities.
Market access: CGRN certification expands the travel nursing contracts available to you, improves salary negotiation at hire, and positions you for charge nurse roles that carry their own differential. The downstream career impact of the credential is larger than the direct differential suggests.
Study investment: The ABCGN exam costs $430 for SGNA members and $520 for non-members. SGNA membership ($145–$195/year) pays for itself within the first year through the exam fee savings alone – set aside the CE requirements and the curriculum access that come with membership.
Based on available specialty data and BLS certification premium research, CGRN certification typically adds $5,000–$10,000 per year to total compensation when you account for the direct differential, the preference at Magnet hospitals, and the access to better travel contracts.
Salary by experience level
Experience is the second largest within-market driver of GI nurse compensation after geography.
| Experience tier | Annual salary range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level / new to GI (0–1 year) | $72,000–$85,000 | Around the 10th–25th percentile of all-RN wages; still building procedural competency; no CGRN yet |
| Early career (1–3 years) | $83,000–$97,000 | Competent; approaching CGRN eligibility; increasing procedural autonomy |
| Mid-career (3–7 years) | $94,000–$110,000 | Spans the all-RN median; CGRN typically held; lead procedural role; precepting newer staff |
| Experienced (7–15 years) | $105,000–$125,000 | Charge nurse or senior staff; advanced procedures; potentially CGRN renewal cycle 2 |
| Senior / lead (15+ years) | $115,000–$137,000+ | Approaching the all-RN 90th percentile of $137,470; unit leadership; educator track or travel nursing |
Note: these ranges represent national estimates. In California, Oregon, and Washington, all tiers shift $15,000–$30,000 upward. In southern and central states with lower RN wage floors, the top of the experienced-tier range may be at or below the national median.
State-by-state salary data
GI nursing salaries track state RN wage floors closely, since BLS does not publish a separate SOC code for GI nurses. The table below uses BLS SOC 29-1141 (Registered Nurses, all settings) median annual wages from OEWS May 2025.
Read the second column as a modeled scenario, not as measured GI wage data. The BLS column is survey data. The GI column is this guide’s own estimate, built by applying an 8–12% uplift to each state median to represent a specific profile: an experienced (7+ years), CGRN-certified staff nurse in a hospital GI unit with access to shift differentials. No agency publishes state-level GI-specific wage estimates, so there is no independent series to check it against. The uplift describes that senior, certified, hospital-based profile rather than the GI specialty as a whole – consistent with the national picture above, where the specialty sits broadly level with the general RN market. A nurse new to GI, or working an outpatient ASC without differentials, should expect to land at or below the state RN median rather than above it.
| State | State RN median (BLS, May 2025) | GI nurse modeled estimate (experienced, CGRN, hospital) |
|---|---|---|
| California | $140,270 | ~$152,000–$157,000 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | ~$139,000–$145,000 |
| Washington | $124,200 | ~$134,000–$139,000 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | ~$118,000–$123,000 |
| New York | $109,440 | ~$118,000–$123,000 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | ~$115,000–$119,000 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | ~$113,000–$117,000 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | ~$112,000–$116,000 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | ~$111,000–$115,000 |
| Minnesota | $101,510 | ~$110,000–$114,000 |
| Colorado | $100,260 | ~$108,000–$112,000 |
| Maryland | $99,790 | ~$108,000–$112,000 |
| Arizona | $99,500 | ~$107,000–$111,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,430 | ~$104,000–$108,000 |
| Illinois | $95,990 | ~$104,000–$108,000 |
| Texas | $95,970 | ~$104,000–$107,000 |
| Wisconsin | $95,530 | ~$103,000–$107,000 |
| Michigan | $94,300 | ~$102,000–$106,000 |
| Virginia | $93,600 | ~$101,000–$105,000 |
| Georgia | $93,550 | ~$101,000–$105,000 |
| North Carolina | $84,350 | ~$91,000–$94,000 |
| Florida | $84,190 | ~$91,000–$94,000 |
| Indiana | $83,500 | ~$90,000–$94,000 |
| Ohio | $82,510 | ~$89,000–$92,000 |
| Missouri | $81,780 | ~$88,000–$92,000 |
| Tennessee | $81,500 | ~$88,000–$91,000 |
The premium is smaller in outpatient ASC settings and larger in travel nursing contracts. Use the modeled column to frame a negotiation, and the BLS column as the figure you can cite.
California’s figure deserves specific attention: the state’s aggressive RN wage floor, driven by union coverage (California Nurses Association) and state-level staffing ratios, means California GI nurses earn roughly 72% more in base pay than their counterparts in Tennessee and about 82% more than in Alabama, the lowest-paying state at a $77,080 RN median. When you account for California’s daily overtime law – which triggers 1.5x pay after eight hours, making every 12-hour GI shift substantially more expensive – total compensation diverges even further.
Travel GI nurse salary
Travel nursing in GI/endoscopy is a viable income accelerator for nurses with two or more years of GI experience and CGRN certification.
Current (2025–2026) realistic package for travel GI nurses:
- Total all-in compensation: $100,000–$132,000/year
- Taxable base rate: $30–$42/hr (what appears on W-2)
- Tax-free stipends: Housing ($1,200–$2,000/month) and meals/incidentals ($300–$500/month) – not included in W-2 income if you maintain a qualifying tax home
- High-demand locations: California, Pacific Northwest, New England, Hawaii – 15–25% above average rates
ASCs use travel GI nurses heavily to manage colonoscopy and EGD volume fluctuations, particularly around open-access endoscopy program expansions. Hospital GI units use travelers to cover staffing gaps. Both settings mean consistent demand for experienced GI travel nurses.
CGRN certification is not universally required by staffing agencies, but it opens higher-rate contracts and gives you leverage to negotiate. Non-certified travel GI nurses may find themselves limited to lower-volume facilities or offered lower rates.
The critical tax issue: to receive housing and meal stipends tax-free, you must maintain a legitimate “tax home” – a primary residence you return to between contracts and where you incur duplicate living expenses. Consult a tax professional who specializes in travel nursing before your first contract. Getting this wrong creates significant tax liability.
How to increase your GI nursing salary
In order of leverage, from highest-to-lowest impact on take-home pay:
1. Move to a higher-wage state. Geography is the largest single variable. A CGRN-certified GI nurse earning $90,000 in Tennessee could reasonably earn $150,000–$160,000 in California at the same career stage – the two states’ RN medians sit $58,770 apart. This is a large decision with lifestyle implications – but it is the most powerful salary lever available.
2. Pursue travel nursing. Experienced GI nurses with CGRN certification and flexibility to relocate can add $20,000–$40,000 per year over a comparable staff position. Travel contracts in California, Oregon, and Washington pay the most. The financial tradeoff is stability and schedule predictability.
3. Earn the CGRN credential. The direct differential ($3,000–$7,000/year at most facilities) understates the full impact. CGRN certification also qualifies you for better travel contracts, charge nurse positions, and roles in academic medical centers that pay above community hospital scales.
4. Work nights and weekends strategically. Night shift differentials ($3–$7/hr) and weekend premiums ($2–$4/hr) add $5,000–$15,000 per year at many facilities for nurses who work a rotation that includes regular nights. Hospital GI units that operate extended hours give you access to these differentials that ASC nurses cannot access.
5. Move to a hospital GI unit from an ASC. If you currently work in an outpatient ASC and are leaving $8,000–$15,000/year in differential income on the table, a hospital GI unit position may pay significantly more in total compensation even at the same base rate – particularly if the unit includes evenings or weekend coverage.
6. Advance to GI NP. The most significant salary step in GI nursing is from RN to nurse practitioner. Gastroenterology NPs earn approximately $120,000–$155,000 nationally against an all-NP median of $132,300 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with hepatology and liver transplant NPs at major centers reaching $175,000 or more. The path requires an MSN or DNP program (2–4 years) and NP certification. See our gastroenterology NP salary guide for the full picture.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gastroenterology nurse make per year? Expect roughly $90,000–$105,000 per year for a staff GI nurse, against a national all-RN median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The typical range runs from about $80,000 for early-career nurses in lower-wage states to $135,000 or more for experienced, CGRN-certified nurses in California, Oregon, and Washington, or those working travel GI contracts.
Does CGRN certification increase salary? Yes. CGRN typically adds $1–$3/hr in differential pay ($3,000–$7,000/year) at facilities that recognize it formally. The indirect impact – better travel contracts, charge nurse eligibility, preference at Magnet hospitals – is larger than the direct differential alone. See our how to become a gastroenterology nurse guide for full certification details.
What states pay GI nurses the most? California ($140,270 state RN median), Oregon ($129,010), Washington ($124,200), Alaska ($109,480), and New York ($109,440) are consistently the highest-paying states for RNs including GI nurses, using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
How much more do experienced GI nurses earn than entry-level? Approximately $30,000–$40,000 more per year in the same market, from the $72,000–$85,000 range for nurses new to GI up to $105,000–$125,000 for those with 7–15 years and CGRN certification.
How much do travel GI nurses earn? $100,000–$132,000 per year in total all-in compensation (base plus tax-free stipends) in 2026 market conditions. CGRN certification improves access to higher-rate contracts.
Do hospital GI nurses earn more than ASC nurses? In total compensation, typically yes. Night and weekend differentials available in hospital units add $8,000–$15,000/year over ASC base rates. ASC nurses trade that differential income for predictable daytime, weekday schedules.
For the career path that leads to GI nursing, see our how to become a gastroenterology nurse guide. For the advanced practice salary ceiling in this specialty, see our gastroenterology NP salary guide.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), May 2025. National median annual wage $97,550 (mean $101,420); national percentiles $68,940 (10th) to $137,470 (90th); state-level median annual wage estimates. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm
- O*NET OnLine, Registered Nurses (29-1141.00), state wage data (BLS OEWS May 2025 mirror). Source used for the state-level medians in this guide. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/29-1141.00
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses. Job outlook (5% growth, 2024–2034; approximately 189,100 annual openings) and entry requirements. Note the OOH wage page lags the OEWS release; wage figures in this guide come from OEWS May 2025. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
- American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses (ABCGN), CGRN certification eligibility requirements. Two years full-time, or the part-time equivalent of 4,000 hours, in GI/endoscopy within the past five years; unrestricted US or Canadian RN license. https://www.abcgn.org/Certify/EligibilityRequirements
- American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses (ABCGN), CGRN deadlines and fees. Exam fee $430 SGNA member, $520 non-member; two application windows annually (Jan 1–Feb 28 for the May exam, Jun 1–Jul 31 for the October exam); fees non-refundable once the window closes. https://www.abcgn.org/Certify/Deadlines-Fees
- American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses (ABCGN), CGRN recertification. Five-year certification cycle; recertification by examination or by 75 contact hours (minimum 60 GI-specific, of which 30 must come from CE-approved seminars and workshops), plus the same two-year/4,000-hour employment requirement. https://www.abcgn.org/Recertification/Recertification-Handbook
- Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA), certification resources and membership. https://www.sgna.org/Practice-Resources/Certification
- Salary.com, Registered Nurse – Gastroenterology salary percentile data (employer-reported, national aggregate), 2026. https://www.salary.com/
- Vivian Health, gastrointestinal nurse hourly rate data from active job postings (average $48.21/hour, August 2026). https://www.vivian.com/nursing/gastroenterology/salary/
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Magnet Recognition Program – background on specialty certification preference at Magnet-designated facilities. https://www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/magnet/
Related guides
- How to become a gastroenterology nurse – certification path and clinical training
- Gastroenterology NP salary guide – advanced practice salary ceiling in GI