The average geriatric nurse earns between $79,000 and $95,000 per year depending on setting, state, and experience — a range anchored by the BLS national RN median of $86,070 (SOC 29-1141, May 2024). The BLS does not track geriatric nursing as a separate occupational code, so the specialty tracks closely to general RN wages by region; the differences that matter are driven by setting (hospital geriatric units pay more than SNFs), geography (California and Pacific Northwest at the top, Deep South at the bottom), and certification premium (GERO-BC-certified RNs report modestly higher compensation in most employer survey data).
This guide covers national salary ranges from multiple sources, a 25-state breakdown using BLS RN wage data, salary by work setting, the GERO-BC certification premium, experience-tier progression, travel SNF nurse rates, and the practical strategies for increasing earning potential in this specialty.
National salary overview
| Experience / credential tier | Typical annual range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (new to geriatric specialty, 1–2 yr RN experience) | $65,000–$78,000 | Salary.com reports entry-level geriatric RN at $82,129; most new-to-specialty nurses start below that in SNF/LTC; BSN commands a modest premium at entry |
| Mid-career (2–5 yr in geriatric specialty) | $78,000–$90,000 | Salary.com mid-level: $85,254; independent caseload established; GERO-BC eligibility window opens at 2,000 qualifying hours |
| Senior (5–10 yr geriatric experience) | $87,000–$97,000 | Salary.com senior-level: $89,325; GERO-BC certified; eligible for care coordinator, charge nurse, and clinical educator roles |
| GERO-BC certified / expert (8+ yr) | $89,000–$103,000+ | Salary.com expert level: $89,616; GERO-BC certification supports access to higher-tier roles; hospital geriatric units and PACE programs pay above SNF average; management roles push above $100,000 |
Methodology note: The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (SOC 29-1141) covers all registered nurses — there is no separate BLS code for geriatric nursing. The BLS national RN median of $86,070 (May 2024) serves as the most statistically rigorous benchmark. Salary.com figures reflect employer-reported data for the Staff Nurse – RN – Geriatric position query (data as of May 2026). For a baseline comparison across all RN specialties, see the RN salary guide.
Salary by work setting
Setting is the most significant compensation variable within the geriatric specialty. Hospital-based and PACE program roles pay above the SNF and ALF market for comparable experience levels.
| Setting | Typical annual range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled nursing facility (SNF) | $72,000–$88,000 | BLS outpatient/nursing care facility RN data: $79,280 mean for nursing care facilities (SOC 29-1141, May 2024); SNF is typically the lowest-paying geriatric setting; Vivian Health reports SNF RNs at $47.86/hr average nationally (staff and travel combined) |
| Memory care / assisted living facility (ALF) | $70,000–$85,000 | Comparable to or slightly below SNF rates; private-pay ALFs in high-cost states pay above average; director-of-nursing roles in ALF push above $90,000 |
| Hospital geriatric unit / ACE unit | $82,000–$100,000 | Hospital employment carries shift differentials, union coverage in many markets, and stronger benefits; BLS general medical/surgical hospital RN mean: $96,830; hospital geriatric units are a premium setting within the specialty |
| PACE program (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) | $82,000–$98,000 | PACE programs are generally managed-care funded with competitive salaries; RNs serve on interdisciplinary teams; comparable to hospital-based pay in most markets; NP roles in PACE programs significantly higher ($120,000–$164,000) |
| Home health (geriatric focus) | $78,000–$95,000 | BLS home health services RN mean: $87,430; home health geriatric nurses who carry complex caseloads earn above SNF baseline; per diem home health rates of $40–$55/hr available; see [home health nurse salary guide](/guides/home-health-nurse-salary/) |
| Outpatient geriatric clinic | $78,000–$95,000 | BLS outpatient care centers RN mean: $102,640; geriatric clinic roles tend toward lower end of outpatient range; limited nights/weekends; no shift differential structure |
| Hospice / palliative care (geriatric population) | $80,000–$97,000 | Salary.com hospice RN median: $90,878 (May 2026); hospice sits modestly above SNF baseline; on-call pay adds meaningfully to total compensation; see [hospice nurse salary guide](/guides/hospice-nurse-salary/) |
State-by-state salary comparison
The following data uses BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (SOC 29-1141, May 2024) state-level median annual wages for registered nurses. Geriatric nurse salaries track closely to general RN wages by region — there is no separate BLS code for the specialty. The figures below represent the most statistically rigorous available benchmark for each state.
Limitation note: BLS SOC 29-1141 covers all RNs in all settings. Geriatric-specific salary surveys have smaller sample sizes and less geographic coverage. State-level figures below are the best available proxy; they slightly overstate wages for SNF-heavy markets and slightly understate wages in states where geriatric nurses predominantly work in higher-paying hospital or PACE settings.
| State | BLS RN median annual (May 2024) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | $133,340 | Highest-paying state; strong union presence; SNF nurses also benefit from California's favorable nurse staffing ratios |
| Hawaii | $113,220 | Second highest; cost of living premium |
| Oregon | $106,610 | Pacific Northwest premium; union coverage in major health systems |
| Washington | $102,700 | Strong health system market; no state income tax |
| Alaska | $101,360 | Geographic premium; limited competition for positions |
| Massachusetts | $100,400 | High cost of living; strong academic medical center market |
| Nevada | $97,770 | No state income tax; growing geriatric population in Las Vegas metro |
| New York | $97,470 | NYC metro significantly above state average; unionized SNF market |
| Connecticut | $93,580 | New England market; strong long-term care sector |
| New Jersey | $92,100 | NYC/Philadelphia metro adjacency; dense SNF market |
| Minnesota | $90,160 | Above national median; strong health system market (Mayo, Allina, HealthPartners) |
| Arizona | $89,040 | Growing retiree population; Phoenix metro drives demand |
| Colorado | $88,920 | Denver metro strong; above national median |
| Maryland | $87,870 | DC metro adjacency; federal hospital presence |
| National median (BLS) | $86,070 | — |
| Texas | $82,750 | No state income tax; large geriatric population in Dallas/Houston; below national median at state level |
| Florida | $81,440 | No state income tax; largest concentrated elderly population in the US; below national median despite demand |
| Georgia | $80,960 | Atlanta metro significantly above state average |
| Michigan | $80,730 | Unionized markets in Detroit metro; rural areas below state average |
| Virginia | $80,200 | Northern Virginia/DC adjacency pushes up metro wages |
| Pennsylvania | $79,830 | Philadelphia/Pittsburgh metro; large SNF sector |
| Ohio | $78,950 | Large long-term care sector; rural-urban gap is significant |
| North Carolina | $78,400 | Growing health system market; Charlotte and Research Triangle above state average |
| Tennessee | $77,130 | No state income tax; below national median |
| Mississippi | $69,040 | Among lowest nationally; cost of living adjustment narrows the gap in practice |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 29-1141 (Registered Nurses), May 2024 reference period. Data reflects state-level median annual wages.
GERO-BC certification premium
GERO-BC certification is not associated with a formally documented, universally applied salary differential the way some hospital specialty certifications are. Most SNF and long-term care employers do not publish a specific GERO-BC pay differential in the way that hospital systems may publish a certification stipend.
The compensation impact of GERO-BC operates primarily through two channels:
Role eligibility: GERO-BC certification is listed as required or preferred for senior clinical positions — care coordinator roles, clinical educator positions, PACE program lead RN roles, and geriatric care manager positions — that pay $5,000–$15,000 more annually than staff RN positions. The certification does not produce a flat hourly differential so much as it opens access to higher-earning roles.
Negotiating leverage: In markets where GERO-BC-certified nurses are scarce, the credential supports salary negotiation. ANCC certification across specialties is generally associated with 5–10% salary premiums when controlling for experience, according to nursing workforce surveys, though geriatric-specific data is limited.
Salary.com data shows geriatric RNs in the expert tier (8+ years with certifications) earning $89,616 on average — approximately $5,000–$7,000 above the mid-career level ($85,254), with certification being one of several factors contributing to that progression.
The GERO-BC exam fee is $395 for non-ANA members ($295 for members). Renewal every 5 years costs $350 ($250 for ANA members).
Salary by experience level
| Experience tier | Typical annual range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New grad / 1–2 yr (RN with prior acute care, new to geriatric) | $65,000–$78,000 | Most geriatric nursing entry points require 1–2 yr prior RN experience; new-to-specialty nurses in SNF typically start at lower end of range; BSN adds $2,000–$4,000 at entry in most markets |
| 3–5 yr (established geriatric RN) | $78,000–$90,000 | Independent caseload; GERO-BC eligibility window opens; eligible for per diem and float pool premiums; above SNF baseline in home health or hospital roles |
| 6–10 yr (mid-senior geriatric RN) | $87,000–$97,000 | GERO-BC certified; eligible for charge nurse, care coordinator, and case manager roles; top of SNF/LTC individual contributor range |
| 10+ yr (expert / leadership) | $92,000–$115,000+ | Director of nursing (SNF/ALF), PACE program coordinator, clinical educator, or supervisor roles; further advancement requires BSN→MSN transition; hospital geriatric unit management significantly above this range |
Travel geriatric nursing
SNF travel nursing is an established and growing market segment. Skilled nursing facilities nationally face persistent staffing shortages, and major travel nursing agencies — AMN Healthcare, Aya Healthcare, Vivian Health, Medical Staffing Network — all place travel RNs in SNF and long-term care settings on 13-week contracts.
Vivian Health reports an average of $47.86/hour for SNF nurses nationally (active listings as of May 2026). The highest-paying states for SNF travel nurses include New York ($61/hour average), Wisconsin ($61/hour average), and Washington ($58/hour average). The lowest-paying SNF travel markets run $29–$34/hour in states including Arkansas, Iowa, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Travel SNF packages follow the same structure as hospital travel nursing — a combination of taxable hourly pay and tax-free stipends (housing, meals, incidentals). The total weekly package value for SNF travel is typically $1,800–$2,600/week, somewhat below ICU and OR travel rates but comparable to general medical-surgical travel.
Memory care and ALF facilities use travel nurses less frequently than SNFs. PACE program RN travel contracts exist in some markets but are less standardized. Hospice travel nursing is a more established segment — see the hospice nurse salary guide for travel hospice rates.
Geriatric nurse salary vs other specialties
Geriatric nursing sits near the RN median — it does not carry the premium associated with critical care, perioperative, or procedural specialties, but it is not at the bottom of the specialty distribution either.
| Specialty | Typical annual range | vs. geriatric |
|---|---|---|
| ICU / critical care | $88,000–$115,000 | +$10,000–$25,000; CCRN certification, 1:2 ratio, high acuity premium |
| Operating room | $88,000–$114,000 | +$10,000–$24,000; specialized skill set, lower portability |
| NICU | $82,000–$107,000 | +$5,000–$17,000; pediatric specialty premium in major metro systems |
| Geriatric nursing | $72,000–$103,000 | — |
| Home health | $75,000–$110,000 | Comparable; home health per diem and travel rates can exceed SNF-based geriatric |
| Hospice / palliative care | $80,000–$97,000 | Largely comparable; on-call premium adds to hospice total compensation |
| SNF / long-term care (non-geriatric-specialty) | $68,000–$85,000 | SNF baseline is the floor of geriatric nursing; GERO-BC + hospital/PACE setting raises it substantially |
The financial case for geriatric nursing is strongest in hospital geriatric units, PACE programs, and senior living management roles, where compensation is closer to the broader hospital/managed-care market than to the SNF floor. Geriatric nursing is unlikely to be the highest-earning path for a nurse whose primary motivation is maximizing income; it is a specialty where compensation is reasonable and the non-financial factors — patient relationships, clinical complexity, meaningful work — tend to be the primary drivers of career choice.
How to increase your salary as a geriatric nurse
Get GERO-BC certified. The certification itself may not produce an immediate pay differential, but it opens access to higher-paying clinical roles — care coordinator, PACE program lead RN, clinical educator, director of nursing. The 5-year payback on the $395 exam fee is short even with a modest role change.
Move toward hospital-based or PACE settings. The hospital geriatric unit and PACE program salary ranges are $10,000–$15,000 above SNF/LTC baselines for comparable experience. If your experience is in a SNF, demonstrating hospital-equivalent clinical competencies and obtaining GERO-BC certification strengthens your application to these higher-paying environments.
Pursue BSN to MSN completion. For nurses with an ADN or BSN working in SNF or long-term care, an MSN opens the door to clinical nurse specialist roles (AGCNS-BC) and director of nursing positions at larger facilities. MSN-prepared nurses in geriatric leadership typically earn $100,000–$130,000+. See the MSN guide for program options and cost-of-completion analysis.
Take charge and coordinator roles. Moving from staff RN to charge nurse, care coordinator, or case manager in a geriatric setting typically adds $5,000–$12,000 annually without requiring advanced education. These roles serve as the standard stepping stone to director of nursing and clinical educator positions.
Use travel SNF contracts strategically. A 13-week SNF travel contract in New York or Wisconsin at $61/hour gross generates substantially more than a permanent SNF staff role at the same experience level. Travel nursing requires a tax home and tolerance for relocation — but for geriatric nurses in the 3–8 year experience range, travel contracts can meaningfully accelerate savings or pay down student loans.
Consider PACE programs. PACE program RN salaries track the managed-care market rather than the SNF market, and PACE programs are expanding as states increasingly rely on PACE to serve Medicaid dual-eligible populations. If there is a PACE program in your region, it is worth exploring as a setting with better compensation than most SNF/LTC employers and a clinically rich interdisciplinary environment.
FAQ
Do geriatric nurses earn less than hospital nurses? Generally, yes, at the staff RN level when the comparison is SNF vs. hospital setting. BLS data shows nursing care facility RNs averaging $79,280 vs. general medical/surgical hospital RNs at $96,830 (May 2024 means). However, geriatric nurses in hospital geriatric units, PACE programs, or home health settings earn pay comparable to general hospital RN rates. The setting matters more than the geriatric specialty designation.
Does GERO-BC certification increase salary? Directly, GERO-BC does not produce a universal hourly differential the way some union hospital contracts specify a certification stipend. Indirectly, GERO-BC improves access to higher-paying roles — care coordinator, clinical educator, PACE program lead — that pay $5,000–$15,000 above staff RN positions. For nurses planning to stay in geriatric nursing long-term, certification is worth pursuing for role eligibility if not for an immediate pay bump.
Which state pays geriatric nurses the most? California ($133,340 BLS RN median), Hawaii ($113,220), and Oregon ($106,610) are consistently the top three states by RN median wage. California’s SNF sector also benefits from the state’s nurse staffing ratio requirements, which affect wages. Keep in mind that California has a state income tax of up to 13.3%, which reduces net pay relative to the gross figures. States with no income tax — Nevada, Washington, Texas, Florida — narrow the take-home gap with California at the gross salary level.
Does working in SNF vs. a hospital affect geriatric nurse pay? Yes, substantially. BLS May 2024 mean wages by setting: hospital RNs at $96,830 vs. nursing care facility RNs at $79,280 — a gap of roughly $17,500. That gap narrows somewhat when benefits, shift differentials, and overtime are factored in, but the hospital premium is real and consistent across data sources.
Is geriatric nursing worth it financially? The financial returns of geriatric nursing are reasonable — particularly in hospital, PACE, and home health settings — but the specialty is rarely chosen for income maximization. Nurses who stay in geriatric nursing long-term typically cite the quality of patient relationships, the clinical depth required, and the meaning of the work. If income maximization is the primary goal, ICU or OR nursing with CCRN or CNOR certification in a high-wage state produces better financial outcomes at the staff RN level. If geriatric nursing is the clinical fit, the financial pathway is viable — especially with GERO-BC certification and a move toward hospital-based or PACE settings.
What is the career ceiling for a geriatric nurse’s income? At the staff RN level, the ceiling is approximately $95,000–$103,000 in the best settings and states. Director of nursing roles in SNF and ALF settings run $90,000–$120,000. PACE program clinical directors and large-system geriatric program managers reach $120,000–$140,000 with MSN credentials. For the highest earning ceiling in aging-related nursing, the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) or Geriatric Psychiatry NP track produces significantly higher income — AGPCNP salaries typically range from $110,000 to $145,000+ depending on setting and geography.