From saving lives in the ER to guiding mothers in L&D, nurses are known to be the heroes of the healthcare industry. There are different types of nursing specialties, each with its own unique roles, salaries, and career outlook. In this blog, we will discuss which nursing career fits you the best and what you can expect in 2026. If you love adventure and high pay, then become a travel nurse with SkillGigs, where you can get matched to travel nursing assignments that best match your skills. Get a $500 bonus once you sign your first contract with SkillGigs.
2026 Nursing Specialties: Salaries, Roles, Career Outlook
Whether you want to work in an ICU, help patients remotely via telehealth or want to travel across the US as a travel nurse, here is the ultimate 2026 nursing specialty guide. Here is the list of types of nurses and their salaries.
Acute Care Nurses
Acute nurses, also known as critical care nurses, take care of patients with serious, sudden, and often life-threatening conditions. They work in ICUs, ER departments, progressive care units (PCU), trauma centers, med-surg units, etc. It is one of the most rewarding and respected nursing specialties. Some of the roles and duties of acute care nurses are:
- Noticing and managing sudden illness in a patient’s condition, such as stroke, heart attack, etc.
- Administering medications, IV products, and complex treatments.
- Responding to emergencies such as code blue.
Salary:
The salary of acute nurses is $36.34 per hour to $46/hr, but the salary varies according to location, experience, shift type, etc.
Travel acute nurses are making $54.02/hour, or more, depending on the location, demand, bonuses, shift types, etc. If you are an acute travel nurse and want to make more money, then join SkillGigs and explore high paying Acute care travel nursing contracts.
Career outlook:
The demand for these types of nurses is very strong in 2026. Hospitals are facing staff shortages due to an aging population and rising chronic illnesses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth in registered nurse jobs is expected to be 9% from 2024 to 2034. Travel nursing is booming due to staffing shortages nationwide, especially during peak seasons such as flu, Covid, etc.
Emergency Room (ER) Nurses
Emergency room nurses are registered nurses who work in the emergency department. These types of nurses work in fast-paced environments, handling everything from minor injuries to life-threatening emergencies. ER RNs require quick thinking and excellent clinical skills, and it is one of the most rewarding nursing specialties. Some of the roles and duties of ER nurses
- Assessing and stabilizing a patient with trauma or sudden illness.
- Using triage to prioritize patients based on the urgency of their condition.
- Coordinating with doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare team members during critical situations.
Salary:
Most ER RNs’ salaries fall roughly between $30 – $60+ per hour, but it ranges widely by experience, hospital type, location, shift differentials, etc. ER RNs working night shift have a slightly higher hourly rate than those working day shift.
ER travel nurses work on contracts (typically 13 weeks), and their hourly rate is higher than that of staff nurses. The average salary of travel ER RNs is $61.79/ hour, but the overall salary depends on bonuses, housing stipends, incentives, etc.
ER nurses continue to be in solid demand in 2026. ER RN jobs are projected to grow about 6% from 2023 to 2033. ER operates 24/7 and, therefore, the demand for ER nurses is high. Hospitals are also paying high hourly rates to travel ER nurses to solve the problem of the shortage of staff to provide effective care to the patients.
Labor and Delivery (L&D) Nurse
Labor and delivery nurses are registered nurses who specialize in providing care to mothers and newborns during childbirth and help mothers and families during one of the most important moments of their lives. L&D nurses are found in birthing centers and maternity units. Some of the roles and duties of labor and delivery nurses are:
- Monitoring mothers and babies during labor to make sure they are doing okay, such as checking their vital signs, etc.
- Assisting with deliveries.
- Responding to obstetric emergencies such as fetal distress.
Salary:
These types of nurses and their salaries differ depending on location, shift type, experience, etc., but the typical salary of L&D staff nurses is around $41-$47 per hour.
Travel labor and delivery nurse (L&D RN) makes more hourly pay than staff nurses, but they work on contracts. In Jan 2026, the hourly rate of L&D nurses is 66.32/hour.
Career outlook:
Due to steady birth rates and staff shortages, the demand for L&D nurses is high in 2026. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of RNs is projected to grow by about 5–6 % from 2024 to 2034. The demand for travel L&D nurses is also high, especially in regions where there is high patient volume but low staff. If you are a travel L&D nurse, then join SkillGigs and explore high-paying travel nursing L&D assignments.
Progressive Care Nurse (PCU RN)
PCU nurses, also known as Stepdown nurses, provide care to patients who are not as serious as ICU patients but require more monitoring than the med-surg patients. They work in the intermediate care unit of the hospital. Key roles and duties of PCU nurses (Progressive Care Unit) are:
- Providing advanced monitoring to patients with complex medical conditions.
- Responding to patients with changing status and providing life-saving interventions.
- Educating patients and their families about the treatment plan.
Salary:
The average salary of staff PCU nurses is $39/hr, and some also list it to be 43/hr, but the salary of staff PCUA nurses depends on location, experience, hospital types, shift differentials, etc.
As we all know that hourly pay of travel nurses is more than that of staff nurses because they work on contracts. The average salary of travel PCU nurses in Jan 2026 is $60.01/ hour
Career outlook:
Due to the increased need for immediate and acute care in hospitals, the demand for PCU nurses is high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand is expected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, and we see a lot of new job openings in 2026. PCU serves as an important bridge between ICU and med-surg; their demand is always high. Hospitals hire travel nurses to solve the problem of a shortage of staff. If you want to explore high-paying PCU travel nursing contracts, then join SkillGigs and become part of our travel nursing world.
Physical therapist:
Another type of nursing specialty is a physical therapist. Nurses who help patients recover their overall physical function after injuries, surgeries, etc. They work with patients of all ages, including adults and children, and help them recover their mobility. They play an important role in rehabilitation and long-term wellness. Some of the duties of a Physical Therapist are as follows:
- Developed personalized exercises for patients to improve their mobility.
- Using therapy techniques, therapeutic exercises, and assistive devices to help patient gain their mobility.
- Evaluating patient strength, range of motion, and functional abilities.
Salary:
The average salary for staff physical therapists is roughly $48.57/hour. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the lowest salary pf physical therapist is $74,420/year, and the highest is roughly $132,500/year or more. The hourly salary of a travel Physical therapist is around $64.67/ hour. If you want detailed salary insights, read (money story)
Outlook:
Due to an increase in the aging population and demand for rehabilitation services, the demand for physical therapists is projected to grow by about 11 % from 2024 to 2034, according to the BLS. If you want to advance your career and want to make more than become a travel Physical therapist with SkillGigs and explore high-paying contracts.
Telehealth nurse
One other specialty that we see in high demand is a telehealth nurse. The healthcare industry is now adopting telehealth as a permanent care model and not just a temporary pandemic service. The healthcare world is changing in 2026, and technology plays an important role. It is easy for nurses to provide remote patient care. Telehealth nurses are registered nurses who provide care to patients remotely through digital technology. Some of the duties and roles of telehealth care nurses are:
- Evaluating patients through phone or video call.
- Monitoring patients with diabetes and COPD, etc., using digital health data.
- Providing patient education by teaching patients how to use health devices.
Salary:
As of early 2026, the average salary for a staff physical therapist is roughly $48.57/hr to $51/hour, but the overall salary depends on experience, location, etc. For travel nurses, the average salary in Jan 2026 is $65.59/hour.
Career outlook:
As health care systems continue to adopt virtual care models, the demand for telehealth nurses is increasing to provide care to more patients. Telehealth nursing isn’t just one job, but they have many roles, such as working as triage nurses, remotely monitoring patients, virtually follow-up care, etc., and due to that, we see more and more job openings for telehealth nurses in 2026.
What type of nursing specialty has faster career growth?
If you are thinking to become a nurse, then it is important to understand that some types of nursing specialties have faster career growth and their demand is high in 2026, such as ICU, ER, and travel nursing.
How do salaries differ across different nursing specialties?
Some nursing roles are more demanding and require special skills, and therefore, their pay is often higher. Nurse salaries vary depending on specialty, shift differentials, travel nursing, location, contract types, etc. Some of the common nursing specialties and their typical salaries are as follows:
- Med-surg nurse: They provide general care to the patients, and their pay is usually lower than that of ICU or ER nurses. Most Med surg nurses earn about $46 and $56 per hour, with even higher wages up to $61/hour.
- ICU (Intensive Care Unit) Nurse: These types of nurses take care of very sick patients who need constant monitoring. The salary of ICU nurses ranges from $40–$49/hour and sometimes even more, like $53/hour.
- Pediatric Nurse: These types of nurses take care of children in hospitals and clinics. The average salary of pediatric nurses is $38 to $46/hour or even more, depending on location, state, demand, shift differentials, etc.
Conclusion
Nurses have a variety of career paths to choose from, and every specialty has its own unique roles, salaries, and rewards. Therefore, it is very important to understand the different types of nursing specialties and their salaries, so you can choose a career path that matches your skills, lifestyle, and financial goals. In 2026, if you want to advance your career, then join SkillGigs and become a travel nurse with us, where you can find high-paying travel nursing assignments at your dream locations. Also, get a $500 bonus once you sign your first contract with us.
