Interventional radiology nurses earn above the national RN median. Based on data from Salary.com, Vivian Health, and ZipRecruiter as of 2025–2026, the median annual salary for an interventional radiology nurse is approximately $91,000–$99,000, with a range from roughly $77,000 at the 10th percentile to $111,000 at the 90th percentile. CRN certification, geographic location, and experience level all shift the figure meaningfully — the gap between an entry-level IR nurse in Alabama and a CRN-certified, senior IR nurse in California approaches $75,000 annually.
At a glance
| Role / setting | Estimated annual compensation |
|---|---|
| IR RN, staff (national median estimate) | $91,000–$99,000 |
| IR RN, entry-level (under 2 years) | $65,000–$76,000 |
| IR RN, mid-career (5–9 years) | $90,000–$98,000 |
| IR RN, senior (10–19 years) | $110,000–$120,000 |
| IR RN, CRN-certified, academic center | $100,000–$125,000 |
| Travel IR RN (2025–2026 market) | ~$2,671/week ($139,000 annualized) |
| IR RN, California (top-paying state) | $149,000 |
National salary overview
Across multiple compensation platforms that track IR nurse-specific data, the national median salary for interventional radiology nurses sits in the $91,000–$99,000 range. Salary.com reports an average of $91,467 and a median of $91,467, with 25th–75th percentile range of $84,000–$101,000. ZipRecruiter reports a higher national average of $147,291 (though this figure reflects total compensation including premium contract and travel rates in its dataset). Vivian Health, which draws from active job listings, reports an average of $46.12/hour — approximately $96,000 annualized.
The variation across data sources reflects differences in methodology: platforms that include travel nursing contracts show higher averages than those tracking permanent staff salaries. The Salary.com figures are the most conservative; the ZipRecruiter figures include high-rate contract and travel positions.
| Percentile | Annual salary (Salary.com, June 2026) |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,301 |
| 25th | $84,052 |
| 50th (median) | $91,467 |
| 75th | $101,575 |
| 90th | $110,778 |
Source: Salary.com, “Interventional Radiology Nurse Salary,” accessed June 2026.
CRN certification salary premium
The Certified Radiology Nurse (CRN) credential — administered by the Radiologic Nursing Certification Board — has a measurable impact on IR nurse compensation, though the mechanism varies by employer.
Hourly differential: The most common structure at unionized and Magnet-designated hospitals is an hourly certification differential of $1.50–$3.00/hr. At $2/hr over a standard 36-hour week (1,872 contracted hours per year), that is approximately $3,744 in additional base pay before overtime multipliers. At hospitals where California daily overtime rules apply, the certification rate is multiplied for overtime hours, amplifying the annual figure.
Annual lump sum: Non-union hospitals often pay certification bonuses as a one-time annual amount — commonly $1,500–$3,000/year per certification held. Some health systems reward nurses who hold both CRN and a critical care or procedural certification (CCRN, CNOR, RCIS) with stacking bonuses.
Market positioning: CRN-certified IR nurses access better travel contracts, carry more negotiating leverage at hire, and are stronger candidates for charge and educator roles. The downstream career value of the credential exceeds the direct differential in most settings.
Based on available market data, CRN-certified IR nurses report earning approximately $5,000–$10,000 more annually than comparable non-certified IR nurses — with the premium highest at Magnet hospitals and large academic programs.
Salary by work setting
| Setting | Estimated annual salary range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Academic medical center IR suite | $95,000–$125,000 | Highest procedure volume and acuity; Magnet status common; competitive salaries to attract specialty nurses |
| Large community hospital IR suite | $88,000–$110,000 | Moderate volume; broad elective case mix; on-call typically required |
| Small/rural community hospital | $78,000–$95,000 | Lower base; lower cost of living markets; limited complex cases |
| Ambulatory surgical center (ASC) | $75,000–$95,000 | Elective cases only; typically no on-call; fewer differentials; better work-life balance trade |
| Travel IR RN | $130,000–$145,000 (annualized) | ~$2,671/week average; top contracts $3,400–$4,200/week in California, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest |
| Physician office / freestanding IR clinic | $70,000–$88,000 | Lower acuity; limited procedure scope; no on-call; less exposure to complex IR work |
Salary by experience
IR nurses follow a compensation curve similar to other procedural specialties — relatively flat early-career growth through years 1–4 while building procedure competency, then accelerating as senior-level certification and expertise command market premiums.
| Experience level | Estimated annual salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (under 2 years IR experience) | $65,830–$76,000 | Reflects orientation period and ramp to full IR competency; prior RN experience not always fully credited |
| Early career (2–4 years) | $76,000–$90,000 | Procedural competency established; approaching CRN eligibility |
| Mid-career (5–9 years) | $90,000–$98,000 | CRN typically held; senior-level proficiency; eligible for charge roles |
| Senior (10–19 years) | $110,000–$120,000 | Significant premium in competitive markets; charge, educator, or manager track |
| Expert (20+ years) | $130,000–$145,000 | Top of clinical ladder; academic or large program settings; includes differentials |
Sources: Salary.com experience breakdown; nursingprocess.org IR nurse salary data (2025).
Salary by state
IR nurse salaries vary substantially by state. The table below uses BLS SOC 29-1141 (registered nurses, all settings) mean annual wage data from nursa.com (reflecting 2025 BLS OEWS release) as the state baseline. IR nurses in procedurally specialized roles typically earn 5–15% above the state RN mean, depending on unit type, setting, and certification. The IR premium estimate uses 10%.
States with Salary.com IR-specific data show California at $100,888, District of Columbia at $101,272, and Massachusetts at $99,543 — figures that align closely with the 10% premium applied to the BLS state RN mean.
| State | State RN mean (BLS 2025) | IR nurse estimate (+10%) |
|---|---|---|
| California | $148,330 | ~$163,000 |
| Hawaii | $123,720 | ~$136,000 |
| Oregon | $120,470 | ~$132,000 |
| Washington | $115,740 | ~$127,000 |
| Alaska | $112,040 | ~$123,000 |
| New York | $110,490 | ~$121,000 |
| District of Columbia | $109,240 | ~$120,000 |
| New Jersey | $106,990 | ~$118,000 |
| Massachusetts | $112,610 | ~$124,000 |
| Connecticut | $103,670 | ~$114,000 |
| Nevada | $102,280 | ~$112,000 |
| Minnesota | $99,460 | ~$109,000 |
| Rhode Island | $99,770 | ~$110,000 |
| Maryland | $96,650 | ~$106,000 |
| Colorado | $95,470 | ~$105,000 |
| Arizona | $95,230 | ~$105,000 |
| Delaware | $95,450 | ~$105,000 |
| New Hampshire | $94,620 | ~$104,000 |
| New Mexico | $94,360 | ~$104,000 |
| Vermont | $92,710 | ~$102,000 |
| Texas | $91,690 | ~$101,000 |
| Georgia | $91,960 | ~$101,000 |
| Illinois | $91,130 | ~$100,000 |
| Virginia | $90,930 | ~$100,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $90,830 | ~$100,000 |
| Michigan | $90,580 | ~$100,000 |
| Wisconsin | $90,450 | ~$99,000 |
| Idaho | $89,770 | ~$99,000 |
| Florida | $88,200 | ~$97,000 |
| Utah | $88,240 | ~$97,000 |
| Montana | $88,480 | ~$97,000 |
| Wyoming | $88,020 | ~$97,000 |
| Maine | $87,440 | ~$96,000 |
| Indiana | $85,850 | ~$94,000 |
| Oklahoma | $85,800 | ~$94,000 |
| Ohio | $86,110 | ~$95,000 |
| North Carolina | $86,270 | ~$95,000 |
| Louisiana | $84,110 | ~$93,000 |
| South Carolina | $84,930 | ~$93,000 |
| Kentucky | $83,900 | ~$92,000 |
| Nebraska | $82,890 | ~$91,000 |
| Tennessee | $82,010 | ~$90,000 |
| Missouri | $81,950 | ~$90,000 |
| West Virginia | $80,650 | ~$89,000 |
| North Dakota | $81,900 | ~$90,000 |
| Kansas | $79,430 | ~$87,000 |
| Mississippi | $79,470 | ~$87,000 |
| Iowa | $77,780 | ~$86,000 |
| Arkansas | $77,720 | ~$85,000 |
| Alabama | $74,970 | ~$82,000 |
| South Dakota | $72,210 | ~$79,000 |
Sources: BLS OEWS 2025, SOC 29-1141, via nursa.com; Salary.com IR-specific state data for California, DC, and Massachusetts.
The IR premium estimate is illustrative. Actual compensation at any specific hospital depends on base pay scale, union status, on-call structure, certification bonuses, and shift mix. California IR nurses benefit from the highest state RN baseline in the country, union-negotiated scales at many major health systems, mandatory overtime rules, and intense competition for procedural specialty nurses.
For the full state-by-state RN salary baseline, see our RN salary guide.
How to increase your IR nurse salary
In rough order of leverage, from highest-to-lowest impact on total compensation:
1. State and employer selection. Geography is the largest single variable. California IR nurses earn roughly twice what Alabama IR nurses earn. Within any state, large academic medical centers and Magnet hospitals typically pay more than community or rural hospitals for the same IR role.
2. Travel nursing. Well-executed travel IR contracts add $30,000–$50,000+ per year over comparable staff positions. The average travel IR RN earns approximately $2,671/week (Vivian Health, June 2026), with top-contract locations in California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest reaching $3,400–$4,200/week. Travel nursing requires 2–3 years of IR experience before most staffing agencies will place you in IR-specific contracts. See our travel nurse salary guide for a full breakdown of how travel nurse compensation works, including the tax structure for housing and meal stipends.
3. CRN certification. Earns $1.50–$3.00/hr differential at most union and Magnet hospitals, or $1,500–$3,000 as an annual bonus. The direct effect is $3,000–$6,000/year in most markets. The indirect effect — better travel contracts, stronger negotiating position, faster promotion track — may be larger.
4. On-call and shift differentials. Hospital-based IR nurses who accept on-call shifts earn call pay (typically $3–$6/hr while on-call, even if not called in) plus callback rates (1.5x base when called in on off hours). Night shift differentials ($3–$7/hr extra) add $5,000–$13,000/year for nurses working consistent night rotations.
5. Academic center targeting. Academic IR programs pay above community hospitals in most markets and offer the most complex case mix — which also makes you more valuable for future contract negotiations.
IR nurse vs other procedural specialties
Interventional radiology nurses compete for compensation with nurses in adjacent procedural environments. The table below reflects available market data from multiple aggregators (2025–2026).
| Specialty | Estimated national median salary | Key credential | Salary notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interventional radiology nurse | $91,000–$99,000 | CRN (RNCB) | On-call and procedural differentials add $5,000–$15,000 at hospital programs |
| Cardiac cath lab nurse | $90,000–$102,000 | RCIS (CCI), CV-BC (ANCC) | STEMI call adds substantial differential; cardiac specialty premium at academic centers |
| OR nurse (perioperative) | $88,000–$105,000 | CNOR (CCI) | Wide range by specialty (cardiac vs general surgery); call differential significant |
| Electrophysiology (EP) lab nurse | $88,000–$96,000 | RCIS or CV-BC | Comparable to IR; EP labs typically higher at academic cardiac centers |
| Endoscopy nurse | $89,000–$105,000 | CGRN (ABCGN) | High California premium; ASC endoscopy can push toward lower range; limited on-call |
| PACU nurse | $82,000–$98,000 | CPAN or CAPA (ASPAN) | No direct procedural scope; post-anesthesia care; typically lower IR-equivalent premium |
IR and cath lab nurses sit at comparable salary levels nationally. The cath lab has a slight edge in some markets due to the STEMI call premium and the higher-acuity cardiac patient population. EP lab nurses — who work in a closely analogous environment — cluster at similar ranges. OR nurses show more variance depending on surgical subspecialty.
For procedural nurses considering lateral moves to maximize compensation, California is the most effective geographic target regardless of specialty. The state premium on top of a procedural specialty differential in a unionized academic center is where IR nurse total compensation reaches its ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
How much do IR nurses make? The national median is approximately $91,000–$99,000/year. Experienced IR nurses in California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts earn $115,000–$149,000. Travel IR nurses average $2,671/week.
What does CRN certification add to salary? Typically $3,000–$10,000/year, structured as an hourly differential ($1.50–$3.00/hr) or annual bonus ($1,500–$3,000). The premium is highest at union and Magnet-designated hospitals.
What is the highest-paying state for IR nurses? California, where the BLS mean RN wage is $148,330 (2025), and IR-specific data shows $100,888–$163,000 depending on experience, setting, and source. Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and Massachusetts are the next highest.
How do travel IR nurse rates compare to staff positions? Travel IR nurses average $2,671/week — approximately 20% above the national nursing travel average. Top-paying contracts in California and the Pacific Northwest reach $3,400–$4,200/week.
How does IR nursing compare to cath lab and OR nursing in pay? All three specialties cluster in the $90,000–$105,000 median range nationally. Cath lab nurses may earn slightly more in cardiac-specialty-premium markets. OR pay varies widely by surgical subspecialty.
For a full guide to the role, career path, and CRN certification, see our how to become an interventional radiology nurse guide. For the related specialty, see our radiology nurse salary guide and how to become a radiology nurse. For context on travel nursing pay structures, see our travel nurse salary guide.