Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse Salary 2026: What Interventional Cardiology RNs Actually Earn
By NurseCompensation Research Team · 2026-07-01 · 11 min read
Cath lab nurses earn $48.21/hour on average — 2% above the national nursing mean — with Glassdoor reporting total compensation of $105,083 and travel contracts reaching $57-$72/hour. Here is the complete compensation picture for one of nursing's most technically demanding specialties.
Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nursing: The Compensation Data
The cardiac catheterization laboratory is one of the most technically specialized environments in nursing — combining high-acuity patient care with interventional procedures, radiation exposure, and procedural expertise. Cath lab nurses assist with coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI/stenting), electrophysiology studies, structural heart procedures, and increasingly complex interventional techniques. Here is what the pay data shows.
Salary Overview
Multiple data sources paint a consistent picture of above-average compensation:
- Vivian Health average hourly (June 2026): $48.21 (2% above nursing national average of $47.38)
- Glassdoor total compensation (2026): $105,083/year
- PayScale average hourly (2026): $41.59
- Salary.com (Columbus, OH example): $94,100
- Research.com average (2025): $91,102 (range: $73,526-$111,544)
- BLS equivalent category: ~$94,480/year ($45.42/hour)
- Indeed weekly average: $2,559/week ($133,068 annualized — likely includes OT/call)
The wide range ($73,526-$133,068) reflects differences in geography, call compensation, overtime patterns, and whether the role is staff versus travel.
Travel Cath Lab Nurse Pay
Travel assignments for cath lab nurses command premium rates:
- Taxable hourly range: $57-$72/hour (Travel Nurse Calc 2026)
- Average travel hourly: $62/hour
- Weekly gross (with stipends): $2,500-$3,500
- Annualized travel income: $130,000-$180,000
- Highest-paying states for travel: California, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon
Cath lab travel nurses are in high demand because the specialty requires extensive training and credentialing that limits the available pool.
How Cath Lab Compares to Other Specialties
| Specialty | Average Hourly | Annual Equivalent | vs. Cath Lab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cath Lab/Interventional | $48.21 | $100,277 | Baseline |
| ICU/Critical Care | $47.00-$50.00 | $97,760-$104,000 | Similar |
| Operating Room (Circulator) | $46.00-$49.00 | $95,680-$101,920 | Slightly less |
| Emergency Department | $45.00-$48.00 | $93,600-$99,840 | 3-5% less |
| Med-Surg | $40.00-$44.00 | $83,200-$91,520 | 10-15% less |
| Interventional Radiology | $47.00-$51.00 | $97,760-$106,080 | Similar |
| Electrophysiology (EP) Lab | $48.00-$52.00 | $99,840-$108,160 | Slightly more |
Cath lab nursing consistently pays in the top tier of non-APRN bedside roles, comparable to ICU and IR nursing.
Call Pay: The Hidden Compensation
Call requirements are a defining feature of cath lab nursing — and significantly impact total compensation:
- On-call hourly rate: $3-$8/hour (varies by facility)
- Call-back pay (when activated): 1.5x-2x base rate, minimum 2-4 hour guarantee
- Typical call schedule: Every 3rd-4th night, every 3rd-4th weekend
- Annual call compensation impact: $8,000-$25,000 added to base salary
Example calculation:
- Base salary: $95,000
- Call hours (10 shifts/month x 12 hours x $5/hr): $7,200
- Call activations (8/month x 3 hours x $72 OT rate): $20,736
- Total with call: $122,936
This is why Indeed's weekly average of $2,559 ($133K annualized) makes sense — it likely includes call compensation for active cath labs.
Factors That Increase Cath Lab Nurse Pay
1. RCIS or RCES certification
- Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) or Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES)
- Premium: $3,000-$7,000/year over non-certified peers
- Demonstrates procedural competency and professional commitment
2. STEMI center designation
- Level 1 STEMI receiving centers have 24/7 cath lab activation
- More call, more overtime, more total compensation
- These facilities typically pay $5,000-$10,000 more than elective-only labs
3. Structural heart/TAVR experience
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) programs are expanding rapidly
- Nurses with structural heart experience command $2-$5/hour premium
- These are among the most complex catheter-based procedures
4. Multiple procedure competencies
- Nurses cross-trained in diagnostic cath, PCI, EP, and structural heart are most valuable
- Single-competency nurses may be limited to lower-paying facilities
5. High-volume centers
- Labs performing 1,000+ procedures/year generate more revenue and typically pay more
- Academic medical centers and large cardiac programs lead compensation
Geographic Variation
Cath lab nurse pay follows general geographic patterns with cardiac-volume concentration:
- Highest-paying metros: San Francisco ($55-$65/hr), New York ($52-$60/hr), Boston ($50-$58/hr)
- Mid-range metros: Atlanta ($47-$52/hr), Chicago ($46-$52/hr), Dallas ($44-$50/hr)
- Lower-paying areas: Rural South and Midwest ($38-$44/hr)
States with high concentrations of cardiovascular disease (Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia) have high procedural volume but lower wage scales — creating potential for nurses willing to work in underserved cardiac markets.
The Path to Cath Lab Nursing
Typical requirements:
- BSN preferred (some facilities accept ADN with experience)
- 1-2 years ICU, ER, or critical care experience (standard prerequisite)
- ACLS, BLS certification
- Hemodynamic monitoring competency
- Ability to interpret cardiac rhythms and 12-lead ECGs
Training period:
- 6-12 months of orientation in most programs
- Gradual progression from diagnostic cases to interventional
- Full competency typically achieved at 12-18 months
Radiation safety:
- Required ALARA training and dosimetry monitoring
- Lead aprons, thyroid shields, and leaded glasses
- Some facilities offer hazard pay ($1-$2/hour radiation differential)
Industry Trends Affecting Demand
- Procedure migration from OR to cath lab: Structural heart procedures (TAVR, MitraClip, left atrial appendage closure) are growing, increasing demand for experienced cath lab nurses
- PCI volume remains stable: Despite optimal medical therapy debates, interventional volume maintains baseline
- EP lab expansion: Ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation are growing 10-15% annually
- Ambulatory cath labs: Some diagnostic-only procedures moving to ASC settings
- Aging population: Cardiovascular disease remains the #1 cause of death, sustaining procedural demand
Key Takeaways
- Total compensation exceeds posted base salary by $15K-$30K — call pay is the hidden multiplier in cath lab nursing
- The $48.21/hour average understates actual earnings — experienced cath lab nurses with call routinely exceed $120K total
- Travel cath lab is one of the highest-paid RN specialties — $57-$72/hour taxable plus stipends
- RCIS certification has clear ROI — $3,000-$7,000/year premium for a $300-$400 exam investment
- Cross-training maximizes value — nurses competent in diagnostic, PCI, EP, and structural heart are most marketable
Sources
- Vivian Health, Cath Lab Nurse Salary Data (June 2026)
- Glassdoor, Cardiac Cath Lab Registered Nurse Salary 2026
- PayScale, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory RN Hourly Rate 2026
- Salary.com, Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse Compensation Benchmarks
- Research.com, How to Become a Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse (Salary Data 2025)
- Indeed, Registered Nurse Catheterization Lab Salary Data
- Travel Nurse Calc, Cath Lab Travel Nurse Pay Calculator 2026
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
- NursingEducation.org, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurse Salary