The median hospice nurse salary sits between $91,000 and $97,000 depending on the data source – now bracketing rather than exceeding the national RN median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). But that headline figure obscures significant variation. A hospice RN in Oregon can earn $71/hour on Vivian Health job postings. A new-to-hospice RN in Mississippi is looking at a Salary.com median under $82,000. Travel hospice contracts average $2,330/week nationally, with top states pushing $2,800+.
This guide covers what hospice nurses earn across every dimension that matters: national averages from five data sources, a 50-state breakdown, experience-tier progression, CHPN certification premium, travel contract rates, on-call pay structure, and the career ceiling for nurses aiming higher.
At a glance
| Source | National average (annual) | Hourly | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLS (SOC 29-1141, May 2025) | $97,550 median / $101,420 mean | $46.90 median | All registered nurses – not hospice-specific; largest sample size; most statistically rigorous |
| Salary.com (May 2026) | $90,878 median | $44 | Employer compensation surveys and job postings; hospice RN-specific query |
| Glassdoor (2025, n=122) | $96,985 | $47 | Self-reported salaries from hospice RN employees; smaller sample, upward bias possible |
| Vivian Health (May 2026) | ~$148,262 annualized | $71.28 | Active hospice job postings; reflects current open-market rates including staff and high-demand positions; roughly 52% above the all-RN BLS median, which is a posting-rate artifact rather than a realized wage gap |
| ZipRecruiter (2026) | $91,118 annualized ($1,752/wk) | $44 | Job posting aggregation; hospice-specific search; geographic mix affects result |
Methodology note: The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (SOC 29-1141) covers all registered nurses across all settings. It does not break out hospice as a separate occupational code, making it a useful national RN benchmark but not a hospice-specific figure. Salary.com and Glassdoor use methodology that is more specific to hospice nursing but have smaller sample sizes. The Vivian Health figure reflects active posting rates, which tend to be higher than base salaries and are influenced by market tightness at time of data collection. The most defensible working range for a staff hospice RN is $88,000–$97,000/year, depending on experience, geography, and employer – read against the $97,550 all-RN median rather than assumed to sit above it.
For a full breakdown of RN salaries across all specialties, see the RN salary guide.
National RN median for context
The BLS national RN median across all settings and specialties is $97,550/year (SOC 29-1141, May 2025). Hospice-specific datasets now cluster at or just below this figure rather than above it – Salary.com puts the hospice RN median at $90,878 and Glassdoor at $96,985, both under the all-RN median.
That is a change in the comparison, not in hospice pay. The May 2025 OEWS release raised the all-RN median by about 4% in a single vintage, with much larger gains in previously low-wage states, so the benchmark moved rather than the specialty falling behind. The autonomy premium associated with independent case management, on-call expectations, and end-of-life symptom management is still real – it shows up in on-call stipends, callback pay, and mileage reimbursement, which sit outside base salary and outside the BLS figure entirely.
Salary by experience level
| Experience tier | Typical annual range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (first 1–2 years in hospice; typically 1–2 yr prior acute care experience) | $72,000–$85,000 | Salary.com entry-level hospice RN: $87,546; most nurses entering hospice have prior experience, so true new-to-hospice rates may start lower; orientation period often comes with lower base |
| Early career (2–4 years in hospice) | $85,000–$92,000 | Salary.com mid-level: $90,878; independent caseload established; CHPN eligibility window opens |
| Mid-career (4–8 years) | $91,000–$98,000 | Salary.com senior level: $95,217; CHPN certified; eligible for case management, charge, or educator roles |
| Senior / expert (8+ years) | $96,000–$108,000 | Salary.com expert: $95,527; growth flattens without advancement to management or NP; leadership roles push above $100,000 |
Salary by employment setting
Hospice nursing spans multiple settings, and the employment structure affects compensation in ways that are not fully captured in national averages.
| Setting | Typical annual range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home hospice (staff RN) | $80,000–$100,000 | Most common hospice setting; Vivian Health perm staff average: $57/hr ($118,560 annualized for full-time, though actual base salaries typically lower); caseload 12–18 patients |
| Inpatient hospice unit (IPU) | $85,000–$105,000 | Hospital-based or freestanding IPU; shift differentials for nights and weekends increase effective compensation; higher acuity than home hospice |
| Hospital-based palliative care | $88,000–$110,000 | Hospital employment typically carries stronger benefits and shift differential structures; palliative consult teams may have ACHPN NPs as primary clinicians |
| SNF hospice overlay | $78,000–$95,000 | Facility-based; RN visits patients in skilled nursing facility; some agencies pay slightly lower for this setting vs home hospice |
| Travel hospice (contract) | $2,330/week avg; $2,800+/wk top states | See travel section below; reported separately because total package structure differs from salaried employment |
CHPN certification premium
The CHPN® (Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse) credential from HPCC is associated with a measurable compensation premium in hospice organizations. PayScale data shows CHPN-certified nurses reporting a salary range of $67,000–$116,000, with the upper range significantly above non-certified peers. Most hospice employers offer a differentiated pay rate for CHPN-certified RNs.
The premium typically takes two forms:
- Direct pay differential: $1.00–$3.00/hour for CHPN certification, documented by employer job postings across major hospice agencies
- Role eligibility: CHPN certification is often listed as a requirement (not just preferred) for senior case manager, IDT coordinator, and clinical educator roles – positions that command $5,000–$15,000 more annually than staff RN roles
The CHPN exam costs $445 for non-HPNA members ($305 for members). At a $2/hour differential on a 40-hour week the differential covers the non-member exam fee in about six weeks, and the member fee in four. For nurses planning to stay in hospice long-term, certification is straightforward return on investment.
Travel hospice nurse salary
Travel hospice nursing is a real and growing market segment. The profile differs from most travel nursing specialties – hospice travel contracts are typically tied to agency census surges, temporary staffing gaps in smaller markets, or coverage during community disasters. Most placements are home-based hospice roles with some travel IPU positions.
| Source | Weekly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vivian Health (2026) | $2,330/week avg; max $3,192/week | Active travel hospice postings; 7% above general nursing travel average ($2,170/wk) |
| AMN Healthcare (2026) | Up to $3,432/week | Highest posted rate; reflects premium markets and crisis rates |
| ZipRecruiter (2026) | $91,118/year annualized | Equivalent to $1,752/week; likely reflects a mix of staff and travel data |
Top-paying states for travel hospice (Vivian Health):
| State | Average weekly rate |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $2,848 |
| California | $2,828 |
| Vermont | $2,662 |
| Massachusetts | $2,596 |
| New Jersey | $2,589 |
Travel packages include housing stipends, meal/incidental per diems, and benefits – these components are non-taxable under IRS rules when the nurse maintains a tax home. The headline weekly rate reflects the full package value, not base wages alone.
For more on travel nursing compensation structures, see the travel nurse salary guide.
On-call pay structure
On-call rotation is standard in home hospice nursing, not optional. Most hospice agencies cover 24/7 phone triage and bedside visits through on-call RN assignments, typically rotating among the case manager team.
Typical structure:
- On-call stipend: $3–$6/hour for hours on standby (phone available, not actively working)
- Active callback pay: standard hourly rate (typically time-and-a-half) for phone calls handled and for any bedside visit, starting from call receipt
- Mileage reimbursement: on-call mileage typically reimbursed from home to patient and back, at approximately $0.45–$0.70/mile
On-call contribution to total compensation is meaningful for home hospice RNs. A nurse carrying a 12-hour overnight on-call shift at $4/stipend earns $48 in standby pay before any calls – plus full active pay if called out. High-volume markets or agencies with thin staffing can generate significant on-call income, though at a personal cost in schedule disruption.
50-state salary table
Data from Salary.com (May 2026). Reflects hospice registered nurse median annual compensation. States with limited employer survey coverage are flagged.
| State | Median annual salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $100,620 |
| California | $100,238 |
| Massachusetts | $98,902 |
| Washington | $98,539 |
| New Jersey | $98,502 |
| Alaska | $98,375 |
| Connecticut | $97,121 |
| New York | $96,612 |
| Hawaii | $94,985 |
| Rhode Island | $94,222 |
| Maryland | $93,704 |
| Minnesota | $92,995 |
| Colorado | $92,722 |
| Illinois | $92,632 |
| Oregon | $92,286 |
| Delaware | $92,032 |
| New Hampshire | $91,872 |
| Virginia | $91,514 |
| Pennsylvania | $90,469 |
| Nevada | $89,942 |
| North Dakota | $89,769 |
| Michigan | $89,496 |
| Wisconsin | $89,396 |
| Vermont | $89,196 |
| Texas | $88,642 |
| Maine | $88,606 |
| Arizona | $88,551 |
| Ohio | $88,488 |
| Georgia | $87,651 |
| Indiana | $87,233 |
| Wyoming | $87,152 |
| Utah | $87,024 |
| Iowa | $86,970 |
| Kansas | $86,534 |
| Louisiana | $86,406 |
| North Carolina | $86,361 |
| Missouri | $86,343 |
| Florida | $85,988 |
| Montana | $85,798 |
| Nebraska | $85,616 |
| Kentucky | $85,516 |
| South Carolina | $85,152 |
| Tennessee | $84,925 |
| Idaho | $84,834 |
| New Mexico | $84,171 |
| Oklahoma | $84,025 |
| Alabama | $83,489 |
| South Dakota | $82,590 |
| Arkansas | $82,099 |
| West Virginia | $81,835 |
| Mississippi | $81,045 |
Note on state figures: Salary.com uses employer compensation surveys and job posting data. States with smaller healthcare markets (Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota) have thinner survey coverage, meaning state-level estimates carry more uncertainty. Treat figures for these states as directional. The top-5 and bottom-5 rankings are consistent across multiple data sources.
Career ceiling: where hospice compensation ends
Staff hospice RN salary growth tends to flatten after the $95,000–$100,000 range without a move into leadership or advanced practice.
| Role | Typical annual range |
|---|---|
| Hospice case manager RN (CHPN) | $85,000–$100,000 |
| IDT coordinator / clinical coordinator | $88,000–$108,000 |
| Hospice clinical educator / OASIS specialist | $85,000–$100,000 |
| Hospice clinical manager / director of nursing | $100,000–$135,000 |
| VP of clinical services (large hospice organization) | $120,000–$155,000 |
| Palliative care NP (ACHPN) – outpatient or hospital-based | $120,000–$155,000 |
| CRNA (ultimate ceiling via anesthesia transition) | $236,590 median / $248,320 mean (BLS May 2025) |
For nurses targeting the NP track, the palliative care NP guide covers the ACHPN pathway and NP salary in detail.
FAQ
Does CHPN certification increase salary? Yes, measurably. Most hospice organizations pay a $1–$3/hour differential for CHPN-certified RNs. More significantly, CHPN certification is a requirement for many senior case manager, IDT coordinator, and educator roles that pay $5,000–$15,000 more than staff RN positions. PayScale data shows CHPN-certified nurses earning up to $116,000 at the upper range.
Do hospice nurses earn more than home health nurses? The two specialties are comparably compensated. Home health RN median from Salary.com (May 2026) is $90,694 vs. $90,878 for hospice RN – a difference of less than $200 annually at the median. Geography and employer matter far more than the specialty distinction at the base salary level.
Why does the Vivian Health figure look so much higher than other sources? Vivian Health’s $71.28/hour figure ($148,262 annualized) reflects active open-market job postings as of May 2026 – the rates employers are currently advertising to attract nurses in a competitive market. This is higher than realized base salaries in most payroll surveys. It represents what employers are willing to pay now, which may or may not match actual take-home rates after accounting for posting inflation and geographic spread.
Is hospice travel nursing a real option? Yes. Travel hospice nursing exists and is placed by the major agencies – AMN Healthcare, Vivian, Aya Healthcare, and staffing firms specializing in home health and hospice. Contracts average 13 weeks and typically involve home-based hospice roles, though some IPU travel positions are posted. At $2,330/week average, travel hospice pays comparably to hospital-based travel nursing.
How does on-call pay affect total compensation? On-call rotation is standard in home hospice. Stipend pay of $3–$6/hour during standby, plus active callback pay, adds meaningful income for nurses willing to carry a call schedule. For a nurse doing one 12-hour overnight on-call shift per week at $4/hour standby, that alone adds roughly $2,500/year in stipend before any active calls. High call-volume markets or thin-staffed agencies can generate substantially more.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses,” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), SOC 29-1141, May 2025. National median annual wage $97,550; mean $101,420; median hourly $46.90. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 projections (5% growth, approximately 189,100 annual openings). Employment, job outlook, and work-setting data. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists,” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), SOC 29-1151, May 2025. National median annual wage $236,590, mean $248,320. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291151.htm
- Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), “CHPN – Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse,” certification eligibility and examination information, 2025. https://advancingexpertcare.org/certification/chpn/
- Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), “CHPN Certification,” exam fee schedule ($305 HPNA member / $445 non-member), 2026. https://www.advancingexpertcare.org/hpcc/credentials/chpn/
- Salary.com, “Hospice RN Salary,” employer compensation survey and job-posting data, May 2026. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/listing/hospice-rn-salary
- Internal Revenue Service, “Publication 463: Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses,” tax-home rules governing non-taxable travel stipends, 2025. https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “Medicare Hospice Benefit,” coverage and conditions of participation for hospice care, 2025. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-for-service-providers/hospice
Related guides
- How to become a hospice nurse – qualifications, CHPN certification, and career pathway
- RN salary guide – national RN compensation across all specialties and settings
- How to become a palliative care NP – the advanced practice ceiling for hospice nurses
- Palliative care NP salary – what NPs earn in palliative and hospice settings
- Travel nurse salary guide – travel contract structures, agency comparison, and tax-home optimization
- How to become a registered nurse – education and licensure path for aspiring RNs