The SkillGigs Money Story is your monthly go-to for verified salary trends across RN specialties and key healthcare roles. From ICU to OR to TeleHealth RNs, we examine over 3,000 verified bids nationwide from healthcare facilities to clarify nurse pay trends in an evolving job market.
For May 2025, we compare April and May data to help you navigate your market value and understand which specialties are trending upward and which ones may be stabilizing.
Acute Care RN
- Jan: $53.56
- Feb: $53.87
- Mar: $54.41
- Apr: $53.43
- May: $51.79
Trend: A slight dip in April broke a three-month rise. May’s data also showed a decline and closed at $51.79.
ER RN
- Jan: $60.43
- Feb: $63.90
- Mar: $60.95
- Apr: $61.60
- May: $59.36
Trend: ER RN rates continue to show strength after a bounce-back in April. May showed a little downward trend, but ER RN is a promising specialty for 2025 as it remains one of the highest-paying specialties.
ICU RN
- Jan: $62.97
- Feb: $61.99
- Mar: $62.20
- Apr: $62.42
- May: $62.50
Trend: ICU salaries are quietly climbing, and the April and May trends are almost consistent. Steady demand for critical care is keeping rates competitive across both urban and regional facilities.
Salary Trends For Labor & Delivery (L&D) RN
- Jan: $66.47
- Feb: $66.16
- Mar: $64.75
- Apr: $66.30
- May: $64.57
Trend: April’s rebound put L&D back on top. May’s data slightly declined, but L&D remained consistent and high-paying throughout 2025.
Med Surg RN Salary Trends
- Jan: $60.11
- Feb: $60.37
- Mar: $60.17
- Apr: $59.98
- May: $58.69
Trend: Med Surg continues to be the most stable RN specialty. However, May showed a slight downward trend, but slight shifts haven’t significantly moved the needle.
OR RN (Operating Room)
- Jan: $66.66
- Feb: $64.54
- Mar: $64.37
- Apr: $65.30
- May: $65.92
Trend: OR RNs experienced a minor decline through Q1. April and May showed a slight increase, which shows the potential of OR RN for the year 2025.
PCU RN (Progressive Care Unit)
- Jan: $62.37
- Feb: $62.09
- Mar: $62.09
- Apr: $62.49
- May: $61.14
Trend: PCU salaries are often influenced by ICU overflow and step-down unit demand. After a slight upward trend in April, May showed a slight decline.
Salary Trend For Physical Therapists
- Jan: $64.00
- Feb: $64.07
- Mar: $63.90
- Apr: $64.19
- May: $62.64
Trend: Therapy salaries have shown regional variability. Physical therapists are seeing modest growth, with an all-time high average salary in April but a slight decline in May.
TeleHealth RN Salary Trends
- Jan: $58.22
- Feb: $58.61
- Mar: $58.84
- Apr: $58.92
- May: $59.03
Trend: TeleHealth RN roles remain stable, with slight regional bumps. May’s data also remained consistent, just like the rest of the year.
Conclusion
As we enter the summer travel season, many hospitals prepare for fluctuations in staffing. May 2025 brought small but meaningful changes across RN specialties—some stabilizing, others rebounding, and a few preparing for demand surges.
Whether planning your next move or just keeping a pulse on salary trends, SkillGigs continues to bring you transparent, real-world insights powered by actual employer bids. If you are a travel nurse and want to get your dream high-paying gig, then download our app and sign up with SkillGigs now.
