Welcome to the April 2026 edition of the SkillGigs Money Story, your monthly, data-driven overview of verified RN salary trends across the U.S. healthcare market. Powered by insights from 3,000+ verified employer bids, this report helps travel nurses track how compensation trends are evolving as healthcare systems move deeper into spring staffing cycles.
April is an important month for healthcare staffing trends as hospitals begin preparing for summer demand, vacation coverage gaps, and shifting patient volumes. This month’s RN salary trends reveal which specialties are gaining momentum, where compensation is stabilizing, and how facilities are positioning themselves heading into Q2.
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Acute Care RN
- May: $51.79
- June: $53.43
- July: $54.82
- Aug: $55.72
- Sept: $55.38
- Oct: $55.26
- Nov: $53.73
- Dec: $52.88
- Jan: $56.85
- Feb: $61.42
- Mar: $55.71
- Apr: $52.56
Trend: Acute Care RN salaries showed a slight correction in March after February’s strong spike. April data shows that the downward trend continues but the summer surge from the next month will hopefully stabilize this downward spiral.
ER RN
- May: $59.36
- June: $58.51
- July: $60.44
- Aug: $60.77
- Sept: $59.71
- Oct: $58.53
- Nov: $57.45
- Dec: $58.53
- Jan: $61.79
- Feb: $59.58
- Mar: $61.40
- Apr: $61.12
Trend: ER RN salaries regained stability in March as emergency departments maintained steady staffing levels. April trends indicate that the facilities continue offering competitive compensation heading into warmer months.
ICU RN
- May: $62.50
- June: $62.71
- July: $63.63
- Aug: $62.99
- Sept: $63.17
- Oct: $60.79
- Nov: $60.43
- Dec: $61.10
- Jan: $62.32
- Feb: $63.09
- Mar: $59.15
- Apr: $60.69
Trend: ICU RN salaries saw a slight correction in March after months of strong consistency. April data indicate that critical care demand stabilizes compensation once again.
Labor & Delivery (L&D) RN
- May: $64.57
- June: $65.82
- July: $66.39
- Aug: $65.39
- Sept: $65.98
- Oct: $69.00
- Nov: $69.99
- Dec: $67.04
- Jan: $66.32
- Feb: $64.08
- Mar: $65.89
- Apr: $66.60
Trend: L&D RN salaries rebounded strongly in March after February’s decline. April figures show whether this upward trend continues as one of the highest-paying RN specialties in 2026.
Med Surg RN
- May: $58.69
- June: $58.33
- July: $57.44
- Aug: $56.38
- Sept: $52.34
- Oct: $55.70
- Nov: $52.78
- Dec: $53.22
- Jan: $53.97
- Feb: $55.42
- Mar: $61.03
- Apr: $57.03
Trend: Med Surg RN salaries surged in March, reaching their strongest levels of the year. April trends show a slight correction, but hospitals still continue to increase compensation as patient volumes remain elevated.
OR RN (Operating Room)
- May: $65.92
- June: $64.18
- July: $63.29
- Aug: $61.92
- Sept: $62.82
- Oct: $61.41
- Nov: $61.43
- Dec: $63.46
- Jan: $69.10
- Feb: $65.62
- Mar: $66.02
- Apr: $62.13
Trend: OR RN salaries continued to recover in March following February’s slight correction. April data indicates a little downward trend but the summer season looks promising for OR RN.
PCU RN (Progressive Care Unit)
- May: $61.14
- June: $60.11
- July: $60.67
- Aug: $61.15
- Sept: $60.70
- Oct: $58.24
- Nov: $59.50
- Dec: $58.56
- Jan: $60.01
- Feb: $61.58
- Mar: $60.70
- Apr: $59.16
Trend: PCU RN salaries remained relatively stable in March after recovering earlier in the year. April trends show a slight correction and stabilize at $59.
Physical Therapist
- May: $62.64
- June: $62.51
- July: $61.28
- Aug: $61.71
- Sept: $60.31
- Oct: $60.97
- Nov: $62.96
- Dec: $64.20
- Jan: $64.67
- Feb: $63.51
- Mar: $64.40
- Apr: $62.53
Trend: Physical Therapist salaries remained stable through March as outpatient and rehabilitation demand stayed strong. April figures indicate that this stability continues into Q2 with a slight correction in April.
TeleHealth RN
- May: $59.03
- June: $58.19
- July: $61.30
- Aug: $59.62
- Sept: $59.65
- Oct: $57.29
- Nov: $58.90
- Dec: $64.14
- Jan: $65.59
- Feb: $62.27
- Mar: $63.85
- Apr: $64.94
Trend: TeleHealth RN salaries regained momentum in March following February’s correction. April data revealed virtual care demand continues strengthening across healthcare systems.
Conclusion
April marks another important phase in the 2026 RN salary trends cycle as healthcare systems transition fully into spring staffing strategies and begin preparing for summer demand fluctuations.
From the continued strength of Med Surg and L&D roles to the evolving trends across ICU, ER, and TeleHealth specialties, the April Money Story gives travel nurses valuable insight into where earning potential and market demand are heading next.
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