How much do telemetry registered nurses make in the USA?
A telemetry nurse works with patients suffering from cardiac conditions and other patients who need round-the-clock monitoring. They use telemetric devices to observe their patients’ conditions and may perform some diagnostic tests prescribed by a physician.
As a telemetry registered nurse, your work in a hospital’s telemetry unit could help people who need immediate assistance and specialized care.
If you’re interested in becoming a telemetry registered nurse, this guide will help you learn more about how much they make and what you can expect as an average salary in this nursing specialty.
Telemetry registered nurse salaries in the United States
Salaries for telemetry registered nurses in the US range between $54,000 to $153,000 annually. The median annual salary for all registered telemetry nurses is $91,416. We collected this data from the latest information available on Zippa.com (August 2022).
How much does a telemetry registered nurse make a year?
Our research shows that out of all 50 US states, the median annual telemetry nurse salary is $97,884.98. We found this figure by finding the median salary in each state, then finding the median of that data set.
This means that, on average, a telemetry registered nurse can expect to earn close to six figures a year.
The lowest 10% of salaries are approximately $54,000, representing the typical starting salary for a new telemetry nurse. On the other end of the pay scale, the top 10% of earners make around $153,000 yearly.
We’ve decided to use the median rather than the average to get the best representation of all nurses’ earnings in the United States. The “average” is a number that represents the typical figure in a group of data. The median, on the other hand, is a mid-point. In any given data set, 50% of nurses will earn below the median, and 50% will earn more.
How much does a telemetry registered nurse make an hour?
The average hourly pay for a telemetry registered nurse is $47.06. This is the midpoint for all hourly telemetry nurse wages in the country. Pay per hour for telemetry nurses ranges from $33.81 in Iowa to $66.37 in Rhode Island.
As you’ll no doubt notice, location plays a large factor in the average nursing salary for any given specialty. Where you live and work significantly influences how much you’ll likely earn and the maximum amount you’re capable of earning throughout your career.
Telemetry registered nurse salaries by state
Below is a breakdown of telemetry nurse salaries by state. You’ll find each state’s hourly wage, as well as its median annual salary. You can also use the chart to compare your state’s median pay to the national telemetry registered nurse's median salary of $97,884.98.
State | Hourly median wage | Annual median wage | Compared To National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | $40.63 | $84,508.00 | -14% |
Alaska | $34.49 | $71,731.00 | -27% |
Arizona | $46.75 | $97,234.00 | -1% |
Arkansas | $39.97 | $83,144.00 | -15% |
California | $56.02 | $116,527.00 | 19% |
Colorado | $38.78 | $80,659.00 | -18% |
Connecticut | $63.53 | $132,132.00 | 35% |
Delaware | $55.14 | $114,693.00 | 17% |
District of Columbia | $59.13 | $122,981.00 | 26% |
Florida | $41.10 | $85,496.00 | -13% |
Georgia | $42.83 | $89,076.00 | -9% |
Hawaii | $57.61 | $119,833.00 | 22% |
Idaho | $46.68 | $97,090.00 | -1% |
Illinois | $50.89 | $105,852.00 | 8% |
Indiana | $43.95 | $91,408.00 | -7% |
Iowa | $33.81 | $70,321.00 | -28% |
Kansas | $41.01 | $85,296.00 | -13% |
Kentucky | $41.97 | $87,295.00 | -11% |
Louisiana | $39.51 | $82,191.00 | -16% |
Maine | $56.88 | $118,310.00 | 21% |
Maryland | $61.27 | $127,444.00 | 30% |
Massachusetts | $65.45 | $136,128.00 | 39% |
Michigan | $47.49 | $98,775.00 | 1% |
Minnesota | $52.15 | $108,471.00 | 11% |
Mississippi | $41.06 | $85,406.00 | -13% |
Missouri | $42.07 | $87,515.00 | -11% |
Montana | $46.23 | $96,149.00 | -2% |
Nebraska | $39.32 | $81,777.00 | -16% |
Nevada | $51.79 | $107,715.00 | 10% |
New Hampshire | $51.26 | $106,622.00 | 9% |
New Jersey | $64.17 | $133,469.00 | 36% |
New Mexico | $37.30 | $77,577.00 | -21% |
New York | $60.56 | $125,961.00 | 29% |
North Carolina | $39.65 | $82,462.00 | -16% |
North Dakota | $38.47 | $80,024.00 | -18% |
Ohio | $47.01 | $97,788.00 | 0% |
Oklahoma | $40.13 | $83,476.00 | -15% |
Oregon | $52.01 | $108,176.00 | 11% |
Pennsylvania | $55.93 | $116,343.00 | 19% |
Rhode Island | $66.37 | $138,054.00 | 41% |
South Carolina | $39.15 | $81,439.00 | -17% |
South Dakota | $35.75 | $74,362.00 | -24% |
Tennessee | $40.45 | $84,128.00 | -14% |
Texas | $39.79 | $82,767.00 | -15% |
Utah | $41.21 | $85,716.00 | -12% |
Vermont | $42.28 | $87,949.00 | -10% |
Virginia | $48.30 | $100,460.00 | 3% |
Washington | $42.37 | $88,128.00 | -10% |
West Virginia | $48.35 | $100,572.00 | 3% |
Wisconsin | $44.84 | $93,263.00 | -5% |
Wyoming | $47.23 | $98,241.00 | 0% |
National Average | $47.06 | $97,884.98 |
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Factors that affect how much a telemetry registered nurse makes
There are several factors that influence a telemetry registered nurse’s earning potential. Understanding each one better can help you make more informed choices for your career. Consider how each of these points may impact your current earnings or the role they may play in your future as a nurse
Location
The number-one influential factor in a nurse’s salary is where they live and where they work. Salaries vary greatly between states and can fluctuate between hospitals and private healthcare settings.
Nurses who work in areas with staff shortages can expect higher starting salaries and possible sign-on bonuses as well.
Throughout the US, telemetry registered nurse salaries range between $70,321 in Iowa to $138,054 in Rode Island.
Experience
As nurses gain more experience with patients, they become more valuable to healthcare facilities. As a result, they stand to earn more on average with every several years of experience. If you’re a new nurse grad, expect your starting salary to quickly raise within 2 years. It’s common to see another increase around 5 years, then again after 10 years.
The top-earning telemetry nurses are skilled in what they do; they’ve been working as registered nurses for a long time and have extensive patient care experience that makes them a major asset to their hospital.
Education
Nurses with bachelor’s degrees tend to have higher salaries than those without. Although nurses with ADNs can still be great RNs, many employers prefer candidates with BSNs, as they can scale up in their careers more easily.
For example, a nurse with a BSN can become a charge nurse or nurse manager after a few years on the floor. They’ve also spent more time doing clinical rotations, so they have more hands-on experience with patients after graduating.
If you want to further your career by earning a master’s degree, a BSN will make it easier to continue your studies. Nurses with advanced degrees and credentials can become APRNs (advanced practice registered nurses) and often double their salaries.
Schedule
Some telemetry registered nurses work full-time, and others only work part-time. Working the day or night shift can also affect your earnings. A nurse working three to four 12-hour shifts a week will earn the most.
Specialties
Telemetric nursing is a specialty, so it qualifies nurses to earn more. You could earn even more if you have additional clinical expertise, such as pediatric cardiology or senior cardiac care. Nurses with various backgrounds enter telemetry, including those who have worked in the ER or have a background in ICU nursing.
Your experience with specific types of patients can increase your earning potential; another good way to advance your career is by earning nursing specialty certifications. Holding advanced degrees or other credentials can qualify you for higher pay.
How quickly can you become a telemetry nurse and start earning?
It takes 3 to 5 years to become a registered telemetry nurse. You’ll have to complete a nursing associate’s or bachelor’s degree program. This takes 2 to 4 years, respectively. Some schools offer intensive accelerated paths for bachelor's of nursing students, which allow you to graduate in 3-and-a-half years.
Once you’ve earned your degree, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Then, you can complete your nursing license application and start looking for jobs in telemetry nursing. Most employers require at least 1 year of working as an RN before they allow a nurse to take on the additional responsibility of working with telemetry patients.
Compare how much a telemetry nurse makes against other nursing jobs
Telemetry nurses earn high salaries for nurses; in fact, the median salary for a telemetry nurse is over $20,000 more than the median salary for a registered nurse. Here is a quick comparison of how this career compares to other roles in nursing.
Registered nurses: $76,944.90
Emergency nurses: $78,451.61
Triage nurses: $69,283.65
ICU nurses: $84,281.06
Telemetry registered nurse salary FAQs
Am I being paid fairly as a telemetry registered nurse?
To determine fair pay, looking at the median telemetry nurse salary in your state is helpful. If your salary is around this figure, you will likely be compensated appropriately. If not, collect this data, and present it to your employer.
Remember that even the median figure is not a definitive number; nurses will earn differently based on their experience, education, location, and other factors.
You can use an online paycheck calculator to easily compare your annual income with the salaries of other nurses in your state.
Are telemetry registered nurses paid mostly hourly or annually?
Most telemetry registered nurses are paid hourly; annual salaries for nurses are more common when they work in an administrative position. If you work outside a hospital, such as in a long-term healthcare facility, you could be offered a salary instead of an hourly rate.
Do telemetry registered nurses get paid overtime?
Yes, telemetry registered nurses are legally entitled to overtime based on federal and state laws. Your employer should pay you overtime if you work over 40 hours a week.
Typical overtime pay for nurses is their hourly wage plus a half. So, if you make $47 an hour, your overtime pay would be $70.50 per hour.
Do telemetry registered nurses get paid more privately or in hospitals?
Telemetry nurses are trained to work in hospital telemetry units, so this is where they’ll find the greatest career opportunities and pay offers. Some may also find work outside the hospital in outpatient care centers, sleep centers, or long-term care facilities. However, expect to find the most jobs and pay offers in hospital settings.
What state pays telemetry registered nurses the most per hour?
The highest telemetry nurse salary is in Rode Island; the median annual salary there is $138,054, or $66.37. Other top-paying states for telemetry registered nurses are:
Massachusetts: $136,128/year, $65.45/hour
New Jersey: $133,469/year, $64.17/hour
Connecticut: $132,132/year, $63.53/hour
Maryland: $127,444/year, $61.27/hour
Can you live off a telemetry registered nurse’s salary in the USA?
In August 2022, the median household income in the United States was $78,075. The median telemetry nursing salary in the country is $97,884.98. The average salary for most nurses is higher than the US average for all careers, and unemployment rates for nurses are extremely low.
If you want to get a fair idea of how well you could live off a telemetry registered nurse’s salary, use the median figure in your state, and subtract your typical housing costs, insurance payments, bills, and living expenses.
Factors such as your lifestyle, housing, and education loans will influence how far your salary goes. As such, it's important to have realistic expectations and not compare your financial needs to others in the same position.
A note about our data. We use the median of the data gathered from The BLS at data.bls.gov and other salary data sources such as Salary.com, Indeed.com, and Zippia.com. We believe that this is the best average to follow rather than the mean or mode. The mean will find the average of all salaries in each state; the mode will favor the most frequently reported salaries. However, the median will find the middle. All data in this report will favor the middle salary from all ranges, which means 50% will fall below and 50% will be above the salary data reported below. On another note, we have removed data from Puerto Rico, Guam, and The Virgin Islands from the data we have sourced as we have focused on the 50 US States plus The District Of Colombia.