Cath Lab RN Salary in 2026: What Cardiac Cath Lab Nurses Actually Earn

Cath Lab RN Salary in 2026

Cardiac catheterization laboratory (Cath Lab) nurses are among the most specialized and well-compensated RNs in the hospital setting. Cath Lab RNs assist with diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures — including cardiac catheterizations, angioplasty, stent placements, and electrophysiology studies — in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment alongside cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.

Demand for Cath Lab RNs has outpaced supply for several years, and 2026 is no exception. Here's what experienced Cath Lab nurses are actually earning, and where the jobs are.

Cath Lab RN Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Avg Annual Base Salary	Range
New grad / 0–2 years (with Cath Lab training)	$72,000–$85,000	$65K–$92K
Mid-level (3–7 years Cath Lab experience)	$90,000–$110,000	$82K–$125K
Experienced Cath Lab RN (8+ years)	$105,000–$125,000	$95K–$140K
Lead / Charge Cath Lab RN	$110,000–$135,000	$100K–$148K
Cath Lab Travel RN	$115,000–$160,000	$100K–$175K

Note on travel premium: Cath Lab travel nursing contracts command among the highest travel pay in the RN market because the specialty is consistently undersupplied. Staff RNs at high-demand facilities in growing markets can approach travel rates without the instability.

Cath Lab RN Salary by State (Top Markets)

State	Avg Cath Lab RN Salary	Notes
California	$120,000–$148,000	Highest base wages; unionized hospitals common
New York	$110,000–$135,000	NYC premium; COL adjustment required
Texas	$85,000–$110,000	No state income tax; large hospital systems
Florida	$88,000–$118,000	No state income tax; high COL coastal markets
Arizona	$88,000–$112,000	Banner, HonorHealth active Cath Lab hiring
Georgia	$82,000–$108,000	Emory + Piedmont systems; lower COL

Florida's no-state-income-tax advantage is meaningful for Cath Lab RNs. A Florida Cath Lab RN earning $100,000 retains more take-home than a comparable nurse in Illinois or New York earning $108,000–$112,000, depending on the state income tax rate.

What Does a Cath Lab RN Do?

Cath Lab RNs work in the cardiac catheterization lab, a specialized procedural area separate from the general nursing floor. Core responsibilities:

• Patient assessment and pre-procedure care (consent, IV placement, medication review)
• Circulating and scrub roles during cardiac catheterization, PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention), and electrophysiology procedures
• Contrast administration, anticoagulation management, hemodynamic monitoring
• IABP (intra-aortic balloon pump) and LVAD support management in complex cases
• Post-procedure recovery monitoring and sheath pull management
• Emergency response during procedure complications (cardiac arrest, tamponade, arrhythmia)

On-call requirements are common in Cath Lab positions. Most facilities have 24/7 STEMI coverage, which means Cath Lab RNs rotate on-call (typically with 30–60 minute call-back requirements). On-call pay and call-back premiums are factored into total compensation.

Cath Lab RN vs ICU RN: Which Pays More?

Factor	Cath Lab RN	ICU RN
Base salary (mid-level)	$90K–$110K	$88K–$108K
On-call requirement	Yes — STEMI call common	Less common; shift-based
Total compensation with call	Cath Lab typically higher	Lower without call premium
Specialty depth	Cardiac procedures, interventional	Broad critical care
Travel nursing premium	Very high; undersupplied	High; high-demand

Cath Lab RNs typically earn slightly more than ICU RNs in direct base comparisons, and significantly more when call pay is included. Total compensation advantage grows with seniority.

How to Become a Cath Lab RN

Cath Lab nursing is not typically a new-grad entry point. Most Cath Lab RN positions require:

• Active RN license (BSN preferred, ADN accepted at some facilities)
• Minimum 1–3 years of ICU, ED, OR, or cardiac step-down experience
• ACLS certification (required at most facilities)
• BLS certification

CCRN, CVRN, or RCIS credentials are valued but not universally required for staff RN roles. Some health systems run internal Cath Lab training programs that accept experienced cardiac nurses — ask about training tracks when applying.

Cath Lab RN Demand Outlook

Demand for Cath Lab RNs is driven by aging population demographics, increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, and expansion of cardiac service lines at regional hospitals. The American Heart Association projects that cardiovascular disease prevalence will continue rising through 2035, directly increasing demand for interventional cardiac services and the nurses who staff them.

Florida is one of the most active Cath Lab RN markets in the country due to the state's older population demographics — particularly in Southwest Florida, where cardiovascular disease prevalence is among the highest in the US. Coastal markets like Naples, Fort Myers, and Sarasota have among the oldest median-age populations of any US metro, and hospital systems in those markets are actively expanding cardiac catheterization capacity.

If you're an experienced cardiac RN — particularly with ICU, CCU, or step-down background — the Cath Lab nurse market in 2026 is one of the strongest hiring environments in nursing. Southwest Florida health systems are actively recruiting for multiple Cath Lab RN positions with competitive compensation, relocation assistance, and full benefits.