Wondering how much PCU nurses are making in 2025? If you are a nurse and curious about PCU nurses’ salaries, then you are at the right place. In this blog, we will break down the PCU nurse salary and factors that affect PCU nurse income. PCU nursing acts as a bridge between ICU nursing and med-surg nursing, which involves fast paced environment and high-stress decisions. In 2025, their paychecks are finally catching up to the complexity of their jobs. In this blog, we will also discuss the tips and tricks on how to boost your PCU nursing/ PCU RN Salary.
Important: if you are already a PCU nurse and want to make more money, then stop searching for PCU nurse jobs near me and join SkillGigs, where you can find high-paying travel nursing jobs and get the pay you deserve. Quit the travel nursing agencies that take your cut.
What is PCU nursing? Responsibilities and Roles:
PCU stands for Progressive Care Unit, and PCI nurses are registered nurses who take care of patients who are less critical than ICU patients but need more monitoring than general medical-surgical floor patients. PCU nurses are also known as intermediate nurses or step-down nurses. Some of the roles and duties of PCU nurses are as follows:
- Monitor patients and their vital signs, such as heartbeat, etc.
- Administer medications and IVs safely.
- PCU nurses also manage telemetry and cardiac monitoring.
- Educate patients and their families about treatments, procedures, and care.
- Communicate with other healthcare team members to make a care plan.
How much PCU RN are making in 2025? Salary Breakdown
The healthcare industry is evolving faster than ever, and if you are thinking of becoming a PCU nurse, then it is important to understand how much PCU nurses are making in 2025. Here is the detailed breakdown of the PCU (Progressive Care Unit) nurse salary so you can make an informed decision.
What is the average salary of a PCU nurse?
Many factors affect the salary of a PCU nurse, but the average salary in the US is $58.24 per hour in 2025.
Experience plays an important role in the salary of PCU nurses; here is the breakdown:
- Entry-level PCU RN ( 0-2 years of experience): $26–$40/hr or $55K–$80K annually
- Average staff PCU RN (3-5 years of experience): $40–$50/hr or $80K–$100K annually
- Specialized PCU RN (5-10 plus years of experience): $50–$65+/hr or $105K–$130K+ annually
How much PCU travel nurses making in 2025?
If you are already a PCU nurse who has at least 2 years of experience, then you can level up your career with Skill Gigs and become a travel nurse. There are many factors that affect travel nursing pay, such as location, experience, facility type, etc. The typical travel nurse’s pay consists of base pay, stipends, bonuses, etc. But travel nurses can make between $1500 to $4000 per week. Travel nurses’ hourly pay is higher than that of staff nurses because they work on assignments (typically 8 to 13 weeks).
Sign up and explore PCU travel nursing jobs
How much PCU per diem nurses are making in 2025?
Pere diem PCU nurses work on a daily basis when needed. The pay of per diem PCU nurses varies, but it is between $34–$80/hr, depending on the assignment.
What are the factors that affect PCU nurse salaries?
PCU travel nurses do not remain the same, but there are a lot of factors that affect their salaries, both staff nurses and travel nurses.
For staff PCU nurse:
Shift type:
One of the factors that affects PCU nurses’ salaries is the shift type. Nurses working night shifts, on weekends, and on holidays get higher pay as compared to those working day shifts.
Location:
Cities that have a cost of living, such as California, pay more than low-cost areas, such as San Antonio.
Experience and certification:
Another factor that affects the PCU RN salary is education, experience, and certification. Additional certification will boost your pay, and the more experience you have, the higher the pay will be.
For travel PCU nurses:
Length and location of assignments
For travel PCU nurses, the length and location of the assignments play an important role in their salary. Typically, travel nurse assignments are 8 to 13 weeks, but they can extend longer. Also, the demand for travel nurses will increase their salaries too.
Travel agencies
SkillGigs is the platform that allows travel nurses to choose their own pay rate. They can bid on jobs and negotiate their pay directly with employers. Travel agencies take their cut, keeping larger portions of the bill rate, whereas SkillGigs offer more transparent pay packages.
Other benefits
Travel nurses get other benefits that boost their paycheck, such as travel stipends, housing stipends, bonuses, etc.
Here is the complete list of factors that affect PCU nurse pay
- Location
- Facility type
- Demand and seasonal fluctuations.
- Experience level
- Certifications
- Shift types
- Contract length
- Travel agencies
How to boost your PCU salary?
Here are some tips and tricks that you can use to boost your salary as a PCU nurse:
- Get certifications such as PCCN, NIHSS, BLS, ACLS, etc.
- Specialize in cardiac and step-down roles.
- Seek leadership roles, such as becoming a charge nurse or educator.
- Get advanced degrees to boost your pay.
What is the difference between ICU, PCU, and Med-Surg?
- ICU (Intensive Care Unit): ICU nurses take care of patients who are in critical condition and need continuous monitoring.
- PCU (Progressive Care Unit): Level between ICU and med-surg floor. The patients here are not as serious as the ICU but need more monitoring than med-surg floor patients.
- Med-surg: Patients who are stable and just recovering are on med surg floor.
Are PCU nurses making good money in PCU?
Yes, PCU nurses are making an average of $58.24 per hour. Travel nurse PCU nurses even make more than staff nurses. many factors play an important role in the overall pay of the PCU nurses.
What are the states that pay the highest for PCU travel nurses?
The top states that pay the highest to PCU nurses are:
- California
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- New York
- Oregon
Conclusion
In 2025, PCU nurses are finally seeing pay that reflects the critical nature of their job. PCU nurses are making an average of $58 per hour. PCU travel nursing is also in high demand, and hospitals are ready to pay to fill the gaps. Many factors affect the PCU nurses’ salaries, such as location, assignment, shift types, facility, travel nursing agency, etc. You can always boost your pay by gaining experience, getting certifications, and exploring jobs through SkillGigs that promise you high pay without middlemen taking your cut.
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