Infusion Nurse Salary in 2025: IV Therapy and Chemotherapy Nursing Pay
By NurseCompensation Research Team · 2025-07-09 · 9 min read
Infusion nurses earn $71,565 to $105,278 annually depending on setting, with oncology infusion at the high end. See how CRNI certification, employer type, and location affect pay.
Infusion Nurse Salary in 2025: IV Therapy and Chemotherapy Nursing Pay
Infusion nursing is a growing specialty driven by the expansion of outpatient infusion centers, biologic medications, and chemotherapy delivery outside traditional hospital settings. This data breakdown covers compensation across settings, certifications, and geography.
National Salary Overview
| Source | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| ZipRecruiter (2026) | $85,803 | $41.25 |
| Glassdoor - Oncology Infusion (2026) | $105,278 | $50.61 |
| PayScale (2025) | $71,565 | $34.41 |
| BLS (RN general category) | $94,480 | $45.42 |
| NursingEducation/BLS | $94,480 | $45.42 |
| Incredible Health (Las Vegas) | $91,984 | $44.22 |
The variance reflects that "infusion nurse" encompasses both general IV therapy (lower end) and specialized oncology/biologic infusion (higher end).
Setting-Based Compensation
Hospital Outpatient Infusion Centers
- Average salary: $85,000 - $105,000
- Benefits: Full hospital benefits package, retirement, tuition reimbursement
- Schedule: Typically Monday-Friday, day shift (major lifestyle advantage)
- Acuity: Variable—chemotherapy, blood products, antibiotics, biologics
Freestanding Infusion Centers
- Average salary: $78,000 - $98,000
- Growth sector: Standalone infusion centers have grown 15%+ annually (Sg2 data)
- Key employers: Option Care Health, Orsini, PharMerica, BioMatrix
- Benefits: Often comparable to hospital but may lack pension/defined benefit
Oncology-Specific Infusion
- Average salary: $95,000 - $118,000
- Glassdoor national average: $105,278
- Premium over general infusion: 15-25%
- Requires: ONS/ONCC chemotherapy certification, OCN preferred
- Setting: Cancer centers, academic medical centers, community oncology practices
Home Infusion
- Average salary: $82,000 - $100,000
- Structure: Often per-visit pay ($75 - $150/visit) plus base
- Autonomy: High—independent practice in patient homes
- Growth driver: Shift from inpatient to home-based biologic infusion
Specialty Pharmacy/Biologic Infusion
- Average salary: $88,000 - $110,000
- Medications: Remicade, Entyvio, Rituxan, IVIG, enzyme replacements
- Employers: Optum Infusion, CVS Specialty, Amber Specialty Pharmacy
- Trend: Fastest-growing segment due to biologic pipeline expansion
Geographic Variation
Highest-Paying States
| State | Average Infusion RN Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $115,000 - $135,000 |
| Massachusetts | $100,000 - $120,000 |
| Washington | $98,000 - $115,000 |
| New York | $95,000 - $118,000 |
| New Jersey | $93,000 - $112,000 |
Metropolitan Premiums
- San Francisco: Highest nationally per BLS geographic data
- Las Vegas: $91,984 average (Incredible Health)
- New York City: $95,000 - $125,000
- Boston: $98,000 - $118,000
CRNI Certification Impact
The Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI) credential from the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) is the primary specialty certification:
- Pay premium: 5-12% over non-certified infusion nurses
- Dollar value: $4,000 - $11,000 additional annually
- Employer preference: Increasingly required by freestanding centers and home health agencies
- Eligibility: 1,600 hours of infusion therapy practice within the past 2 years
- Recertification: Every 3 years (CE requirements)
Additional Relevant Certifications
| Certification | Focus | Pay Impact |
|---|---|---|
| OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse) | Cancer care | +$5,000 - $12,000 |
| BMTCN (Blood & Marrow Transplant) | Stem cell/BMT | +$6,000 - $14,000 |
| VA-BC (Vascular Access Board Certified) | Line placement | +$3,000 - $8,000 |
| CRNI + OCN combined | Oncology infusion | +$10,000 - $18,000 |
Experience Progression
| Experience Level | General Infusion | Oncology Infusion |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (1-2 years) | $68,000 - $78,000 | $75,000 - $88,000 |
| Mid-career (3-7 years) | $78,000 - $95,000 | $90,000 - $110,000 |
| Experienced (8-15 years) | $90,000 - $108,000 | $105,000 - $125,000 |
| Senior/Lead (15+ years) | $100,000 - $120,000 | $115,000 - $135,000 |
Infusion Nurse vs. Other Specialties
| Specialty | Average Salary | Schedule Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Oncology Infusion RN | $105,000 | Excellent (M-F days) |
| ICU RN | $98,000 | Poor (rotating shifts) |
| Med-Surg RN | $88,000 | Poor (rotating shifts) |
| General Infusion RN | $86,000 | Excellent (M-F days) |
| Home Health RN | $82,000 | Good (flexible) |
| Clinic/Office RN | $78,000 | Excellent (M-F days) |
Infusion nursing offers a compelling combination of competitive pay with predictable Monday-Friday scheduling—a key factor in retention.
Industry Growth Drivers
The infusion nursing market is expanding due to several structural factors:
- Biologic medication pipeline: 40%+ of FDA approvals are infusion-delivered biologics (IQVIA)
- Site-of-care shift: Payers pushing infusion from hospitals to lower-cost freestanding centers
- IVIG demand: 10-15% annual growth in immunoglobulin therapies (PharmaCircle)
- Oncology drug expansion: New checkpoint inhibitors and immunotherapies requiring IV delivery
- Home infusion growth: CMS reimbursement expansion for home-administered infusions
These trends project continued demand for infusion-trained nurses through at least 2030.
Travel Infusion Nursing
- Weekly rates: $2,200 - $3,200/week (lower than acute care travel due to outpatient setting)
- Annualized equivalent: $114,400 - $166,400
- Common assignments: Cancer centers during staff shortages, new infusion center openings
- Requirements: 2+ years infusion experience, chemotherapy certification for oncology
Key Takeaways
- General infusion nurses earn $71,565 - $94,480 depending on data source and methodology
- Oncology infusion commands a 15-25% premium at $105,278 average (Glassdoor)
- CRNI certification adds 5-12% to base compensation
- The Monday-Friday day schedule represents significant lifestyle value not captured in salary alone
- Biologic pipeline expansion makes this one of the fastest-growing nursing subspecialties
- Freestanding infusion centers are the primary growth employer in this space
Data sources: ZipRecruiter (2026), Glassdoor (2026), PayScale (2025), Bureau of Labor Statistics OES (May 2024), Incredible Health (2025), NursingEducation (2025), Infusion Nurses Society (2024), IQVIA Institute (2024).