Welcome to the October 2025 edition of the SkillGigs Money Story, your trusted monthly overview of verified RN Salary Trends. This data-driven report, compiled from over 3,000 verified employer bids, helps travel nurses and healthcare professionals stay informed on where pay is rising, stabilizing, or adjusting as we move into the final quarter of the year.
With market conditions shifting and seasonal contracts picking up ahead of the holidays, this month’s hourly average salary highlights which specialties are sustaining growth and which are adapting to Q4 demand cycles.
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Acute Care RN Salary Trend
- Jan: $53.56
- Feb: $53.87
- Mar: $54.41
- Apr: $53.43
- May: $51.79
- June: $53.43
- July: $54.82
- Aug: $55.72
- Sept: $55.38
- Oct: $55.26
Trend: After a stable Q3, October data revealed Acute Care RNs maintain momentum as hospitals prepare for winter patient surges.
ER RN
- Jan: $60.43
- Feb: $63.90
- Mar: $60.95
- Apr: $61.60
- May: $59.36
- June: $58.51
- July: $60.44
- Aug: $60.77
- Sept: $59.71
- Oct: $58.53
Trend: ER RN salaries have remained steady throughout late summer. October data shows a slight decline, but still shows a promising end to the year.
ICU RN Salary Trend
- Jan: $62.97
- Feb: $61.99
- Mar: $62.20
- Apr: $62.42
- May: $62.50
- June: $62.71
- July: $63.63
- Aug: $62.99
- Sept: $63.17
- Oct: $60.79
Trend: ICU RN pay has been one of the most stable across 2025. October figures show a decline in ICU RN salary trend but we are hopeful for a strong comeback as critical care staffing remains a national priority.
Labor & Delivery (L&D) RN
- Jan: $66.47
- Feb: $66.16
- Mar: $64.75
- Apr: $66.30
- May: $64.57
- June: $65.82
- July: $66.39
- Aug: $65.39
- Sept: $65.98
- Oct: $69.00
Trend: L&D salaries continue to rank among the highest-paying RN specialties. October data confirms that this trend strengthens heading into the end of the year.
Med Surg RN
- Jan: $60.11
- Feb: $60.37
- Mar: $60.17
- Apr: $59.98
- May: $58.69
- June: $58.33
- July: $57.44
- Aug: $56.38
- Sept: $52.34
- Oct: $55.70
Trend: Med Surg RN salaries saw a continued decline through September. October data showed an incline, showing the downward pressure stabilized as hospitals rebalance budgets.
OR RN (Operating Room)
- Jan: $66.66
- Feb: $64.54
- Mar: $64.37
- Apr: $65.30
- May: $65.92
- June: $64.18
- July: $63.29
- Aug: $61.92
- Sept: $62.82
- Oct: $61.41
Trend: OR RN salaries began to rebound slightly in September. October data shows a slight decline again, but as suggested by the previous month, OR RN has the potential to bounce back in the last quarter.
PCU RN (Progressive Care Unit)
- Jan: $62.37
- Feb: $62.09
- Mar: $62.09
- Apr: $62.49
- May: $61.14
- June: $60.11
- July: $60.67
- Aug: $61.15
- Sept: $60.70
- Oct: $58.24
Trend: PCU RN salaries have shown a gradual movement since midsummer. October data shows a slight decline, reaching the lowest average salary of this year. Next month’s money story will tell us if this downward trend continues or if the trend stabilizes.
Physical Therapist
- Jan: $64.00
- Feb: $64.07
- Mar: $63.90
- Apr: $64.19
- May: $62.64
- June: $62.51
- July: $61.28
- Aug: $61.71
- Sept: $60.31
- Oct: $60.97
Trend: Physical Therapist salaries have faced minor fluctuations across Q3. October’s numbers are showing a slight bounce back and the physical therapist
TeleHealth RN Salary Trends
- Jan: $58.22
- Feb: $58.61
- Mar: $58.84
- Apr: $58.92
- May: $59.03
- June: $58.19
- July: $61.30
- Aug: $59.62
- Sept: $59.65
- Oct: $57.29
Trend: TeleHealth RN salaries have remained steady through Q3. October shows a slight decline, again showing virtual care demand getting a slight hit into late 2025.
Conclusion
October marks the official start of Q4, a key period for healthcare pay trends as facilities prepare for the high-demand winter season. From ICU and ER resilience to steady pay in L&D and a hopeful rebound in OR roles, these RN Salary Trends provide travel nurses a clear look into evolving market dynamics.
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