A cath lab nurse salary calculator adds your base pay, on-call standby pay, call-back pay, certification pay and overtime into total annual gross pay. BLS publishes no wage figure for cardiac catheterization lab nurses alone. It counts them as registered nurses, code 29-1141, with a median wage of $46.90 an hour, or $97,550 a year, in May 2025.
Total annual gross pay
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How to Use the Cath Lab Nurse Salary Calculator
- Choose hourly or annual pay. Enter your base pay, your regular hours per week and your weeks per year.
- Add your weekly on-call hours and on-call rate. Then enter call-backs per week and the paid hours per call-back, plus certification pay and overtime.
- Read your total annual gross pay, the breakdown table and where your base rate sits among all registered nurses.
What each result tells you:
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Total annual gross pay | Base pay plus every extra pay component you entered, before tax. |
| Base annual pay | Straight-time pay for your regular hours. No differentials, call pay or overtime. |
| Extra pay a year | The sum of the extra components. The breakdown table lists each one. |
| On-call standby row | Standby hours times your on-call rate, for the weeks you entered. |
| Call-back row | Call-backs times paid hours each, times base rate times your multiplier. |
| Certification or charge pay row | Extra dollars per hour times all regular hours. |
| Overtime row | Overtime hours times the overtime rate. That rate is base plus certification pay plus the average differential, times your multiplier. |
| Monthly, biweekly, weekly | Total annual gross pay divided by 12, 26 and 52. |
| Base hourly rate | Base pay per regular hour. Only this number is compared with BLS. |
| BLS band and approximate percentile | Where your base rate falls among all registered nurses. It is not a ranking among cath lab nurses. |
| Gap to RN median | Your base rate minus the BLS median hourly wage for all registered nurses. |
| Extra pay share | Extra pay as a percent of total pay. |
| Second offer rows | The second offer as annual and hourly base pay, its percentile and the yearly difference. |
The first preset is an example, not a typical cath lab wage. It shows $50.00 an hour for 40 hours a week, 30 standby hours at $5.00, 2 call-backs a week paid 2 hours each at 1.5 times and $1.50 of certification pay. That totals $130,520.00 a year. The $50.00 base rate sits near the 61st percentile for all registered nurses.
What Is a Cath Lab Nurse Salary?
A cath lab nurse salary is the gross pay a registered nurse earns in a year for work in a cardiac catheterization laboratory. Pay combines a base rate with standby pay, call-back pay, certification pay and overtime.
BLS describes the wider group this way: cardiovascular nurses care for patients who have heart disease or heart conditions and people who have had heart surgery. It lists them as one type of registered nurse.
BLS publishes no wage figure for cath lab nurses. Every BLS number on this page covers all 3,379,720 registered nurse jobs in code 29-1141. The tool shows where your base rate sits in that group.
| Pay component | What you enter | Counted in the BLS comparison? |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate | Hourly rate or salary | Yes |
| On-call standby pay | Standby hours a week and the dollar rate | No |
| Call-back pay | Call-backs a week, paid hours each, multiplier | No |
| Certification or charge pay | Dollars per hour | No |
| Overtime | Hours a week and multiplier | No. BLS excludes overtime pay. |
Not everyone in a cath lab is a nurse. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians have a separate occupation code, 29-2031. This page covers registered nurses only and shows no figures for that code.
This tool is for cath lab nurses checking an offer or a call schedule. It is not a pay quote from any employer. For LPN and nurse practitioner tables, use the nurse salary calculator.
How Does the Cath Lab Nurse Salary Calculator Work?
The calculator builds annual pay from your own pay components. It then places your base hourly rate in the BLS wage distribution for all registered nurses.
Total gross pay = base pay + extra payBase pay = hourly rate x regular hours per week x weeks per yearOn-call pay = standby hours x on-call rate x weeksCall-back pay = call-backs x paid hours each x base rate x multiplier x weeksCertification pay = dollars per hour x regular hoursOvertime pay = overtime hours x (base + certification pay + average differential) x multiplier x weeksApproximate percentile = P1 + (base rate - W1) / (W2 - W1) x (P2 - P1)- Convert. An hourly rate is multiplied by regular hours and weeks. A salary is divided by them to get the base rate.
- Add each extra. Every component uses only the numbers you typed. A blank field counts as zero.
- Find the band. The base rate is checked against the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile wages for registered nurses.
- Interpolate. W1 and W2 are the two BLS wages around your rate. P1 and P2 are their percentiles.
This page prices call-backs one by one. Call-backs per week times paid hours each gives weekly call-back hours. Those hours earn the base rate times your multiplier.
| All registered nurses (SOC 29-1141) | Hourly wage | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33.14 | $68,940 |
| 25th percentile | $38.62 | $80,330 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46.90 | $97,550 |
| 75th percentile | $54.02 | $112,350 |
| 90th percentile | $66.09 | $137,470 |
| Mean (average) | $48.76 | $101,420 |
| Employment | 3,379,720 jobs | |
This table covers every registered nurse, not cath lab nurses alone. BLS publishes no separate wage figure for cath lab nurses. Source: BLS OEWS, national estimates, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
BLS annual wages equal the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. BLS wages are straight-time pay. They exclude overtime pay and shift differentials, so the tool keeps those out of the comparison.
Cath Lab Nurse Salary Example: 40 Hours Plus Emergency Call
A cath lab nurse earns a base rate of $51.00 an hour for four 10-hour shifts a week. He is on call 30 hours a week at $5.00 an hour. He is called back twice a week, and each call-back pays 2.5 hours at 1.5 times base. His credential pays $1.50 an hour, and he averages 2 overtime hours a week. Another lab offers a base rate of $55.00. These figures are an example, not survey data.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Base annual pay | 51 x 40 x 52 | $106,080.00 |
| On-call standby pay | 30 x 5.00 x 52 | $7,800.00 |
| Call-back hours a week | 2 call-backs x 2.5 hours | 5 hours |
| Call-back pay | 5 x (51 x 1.5) x 52 | $19,890.00 |
| Certification pay | 1.50 x 2,080 hours | $3,120.00 |
| Overtime pay | 2 x (51 + 1.50) x 1.5 x 52 | $8,190.00 |
| Total annual gross pay | Base plus the four extras | $145,080.00 |
| Extra pay share | 39,000.00 / 145,080.00 | 26.9% |
| BLS band for the base rate | 51 is between 46.90 and 54.02 | 50th to 75th percentile, all registered nurses |
| Approximate percentile | 50 + (51 - 46.90) / (54.02 - 46.90) x 25 | About the 64th |
| Second offer | 55 x 40 x 52 | $114,400.00, +$8,320.00 a year in base pay |
Call adds $27,690.00 a year, which is more than the $8,320.00 base raise in the second offer. He needs the call terms of the second lab before he can compare totals. At $55.00 his base rate would sit above the 75th percentile wage of $54.02 for all registered nurses.
Factors That Change Cath Lab Nurse Pay
Call Burden
Standby hours and call-backs set the size of the two call lines. In the example, weekly call pays $27,690.00 a year. Half that call, 15 standby hours and one call-back a week, pays $13,845.00.
Paid Hours per Call-Back
A policy with a minimum pays that minimum for a short case. Enter the paid hours, not the worked hours. The comparison section below shows how much one extra paid hour is worth.
How Call-Back Pay Is Treated in Overtime Math
The U.S. Department of Labor defines call-back pay as extra pay for answering a call to do work the employer did not anticipate. It is paid on top of pay for the time worked. The department says it is left out of the regular rate only when the call-back was not prearranged. The tool keeps call-back pay out of its overtime rate. The overtime pay calculator handles a single week in detail.
Certification Pay
An hourly certification rate applies to every regular hour and raises the overtime rate in this tool. At $1.50 an hour it adds $3,120.00 a year on 2,080 hours. Employers decide whether to pay it.
State
State averages for all registered nurses differ by tens of thousands of dollars. California has the highest annual mean wage at $150,280. The national mean is $101,420. These are not cath lab figures.
| State | Annual mean wage, all registered nurses | Versus national mean |
|---|---|---|
| California | $150,280 | +$48,860 |
| Hawaii | $124,340 | +$22,920 |
| Oregon | $123,140 | +$21,720 |
| Washington | $121,540 | +$20,120 |
| Massachusetts | $117,960 | +$16,540 |
The five states with the highest annual mean wage for all registered nurses (SOC 29-1141). Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
Call-Back Guarantee vs Hours Actually Worked
The paid hours per call-back decide the call-back line, not the minutes spent on the case. A guaranteed minimum raises pay for every short call-in.
The table uses the worked example: a $51.00 base rate, a 1.5 multiplier and 2 call-backs a week for 52 weeks.
| Paid hours per call-back | Call-back hours a year | Call-back pay a year | Change from 1 hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 104 | $7,956.00 | -- |
| 2 | 208 | $15,912.00 | +$7,956.00 |
| 2.5 | 260 | $19,890.00 | +$11,934.00 |
| 3 | 312 | $23,868.00 | +$15,912.00 |
Each extra paid hour per call-back is worth $7,956.00 a year in this example. Two labs with the same base rate differ by that much when one guarantees 2 hours and the other pays 1.
BLS data cannot compare cath lab nurses with other registered nurses. It reports one wage distribution for the whole occupation.
When to Use the Cath Lab Nurse Salary Calculator
Joining a Call Team
Enter the standby hours and the call-back terms from the job posting. The extra pay line shows what the call duty is worth before you accept it.
Comparing Two Labs
Run each lab as its own calculation and compare the totals. Use the second offer field for a quick base-rate check. In the example, call pays more than the base raise in the second offer.
Weighing the RCIS Credential
The Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist exam from Cardiovascular Credentialing International costs $365. It has 170 questions and lasts three hours. One pathway accepts health science graduates, including nurses, with one year of full-time invasive cardiovascular work and 600 procedures. Enter any certification pay to see its yearly value.
Budgeting from the Result
The result is gross pay. Read the gross vs net income guide before you plan a household budget from it. The salary calculator converts pay periods without the BLS comparison.
Common Mistakes with Cath Lab Pay Comparisons
1. Entering Worked Hours When the Policy Pays a Minimum
A 40-minute case under a 2-hour guarantee pays 2 hours. Entering 0.67 hours understates call-back pay by two thirds.
2. Counting Standby Hours at the Base Rate
Thirty standby hours at $5.00 pay $150.00 a week. They do not pay 30 times the $51.00 base rate. Use the on-call rate from your policy.
3. Treating Total Pay as the Wage BLS Measures
The example total of $145,080.00 includes $39,000.00 of extras. BLS wages are straight-time pay, so only the $51.00 base rate is compared.
4. Assuming Call Runs All 52 Weeks
Vacation weeks and rotation gaps carry no call. Average your call hours and call-backs over the full year.
5. Using a Technologist Wage for a Nurse Role
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians are a different BLS occupation. A registered nurse in the same lab is compared with registered nurses.
Accuracy and Limitations
The pay arithmetic is exact for the numbers you enter. The percentile is an estimate, and it describes all registered nurses.
What it calculates accurately
- Base, extra and total annual gross pay from your own figures.
- Monthly, biweekly and weekly gross amounts.
- The BLS percentile band for your base rate among all registered nurses.
- The yearly base-pay difference between two offers on the same schedule.
- On-call standby, call-back, certification and overtime pay for the hours you enter.
What it does not account for
- Any pay difference between cath lab nurses and other registered nurses. BLS does not measure it.
- Federal, state and local tax, or any payroll deduction.
- Your state, metro area, employer, union contract or experience.
- Benefits such as health insurance, retirement match and paid leave.
- Wages after May 2025. BLS updates the survey once a year.
- Whether a call-back also counts toward your overtime threshold. Payroll decides that.
- Wages for cardiovascular technologists, who have a separate BLS code.
Your pay stub is the final check. Payroll rules for overtime and call pay differ by employer and by state.
How We Calculate Cath Lab Nurse Pay and the RN Percentile
Frequently Asked Questions About Cath Lab Nurse Salaries
How much do cath lab nurses make a year?
BLS does not publish a figure for cath lab nurses. It counts them as registered nurses, whose median annual wage was $97,550 and mean annual wage was $101,420 in May 2025. Those figures exclude overtime and call premiums.
Do cath lab nurses earn more than other registered nurses?
No official data answers that. BLS reports one wage distribution for all registered nurses and does not split it by department. Call pay is the part you can measure yourself, and this calculator adds it from your own terms.
How much does on-call pay add for a cath lab nurse?
It adds standby hours times the on-call rate. As an example, 30 standby hours a week at $5.00 an hour for 52 weeks add $7,800 a year, before any call-back pay. Your employer sets the rate.
How is call-back pay calculated?
This calculator multiplies call-backs per week by paid hours per call-back, then by your base rate and your multiplier. Two call-backs of 2.5 paid hours at $76.50 an hour pay $382.50 a week.
What is call-back pay under federal wage rules?
The U.S. Department of Labor describes call-back pay as extra compensation for responding to a call to perform work the employer did not anticipate. It is paid in addition to pay for the time actually worked.
Which state pays registered nurses the most?
California pays the most, with an annual mean wage of $150,280 for all registered nurses in May 2025. Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Massachusetts follow. BLS publishes no state figure for cath lab nurses.
Can a nurse take the RCIS exam?
Yes, through one of the qualification pathways. Cardiovascular Credentialing International accepts graduates of a health science program, including nursing, who have one year of full-time work in invasive cardiovascular technology and 600 cardiac diagnostic or interventional procedures.
What does the RCIS exam cost?
The RCIS exam fee is $365, which includes a $100 non-refundable processing fee. The exam is computer based, lasts three hours and contains 170 questions, according to Cardiovascular Credentialing International.
Is a cath lab nurse the same as a cardiovascular technologist?
No. A cath lab nurse holds a registered nurse licence and falls in BLS code 29-1141. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians have their own code, 29-2031. This page uses the registered nurse figures only.
Why does the calculator not show take-home pay?
Take-home pay depends on your tax filing status, state and deductions, and this tool does not estimate tax. It shows gross pay only, so that you can check each line against your pay stub.
Is my pay information saved?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing is sent to a server. The Save button stores a result only on your own device.
Sources
- BLS OEWS Profiles, May 2025 national estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Select occupation 29-1141, Registered Nurses. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS technical notes for the May 2025 OEWS estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Defines the wage: straight-time gross pay without overtime or shift differentials, 2,080-hour year. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nurse types, employers, work schedules and 2025 to 2035 outlook. Read 2026-10-02.)
- Cardiovascular Credentialing International: Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) (Exam fee, format and qualification pathways. Read 2026-10-02.)
- U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet 56A: Overview of the Regular Rate of Pay Under the FLSA (Wage and Hour Division. Defines call-back pay and its treatment in the regular rate. Read 2026-10-02.)
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Explore all career calculatorsThis cath lab nurse salary calculator gives an estimate for planning. It uses your own pay figures and BLS survey data for all registered nurses. It is not a pay offer, and it is not financial, tax, legal or career advice. BLS publishes no wage series for cath lab nurses. BLS figures are national estimates for May 2025, read on 2026-10-02. All amounts are gross pay before tax. Confirm pay rules with the employer before you decide. Spotted an error? Let us know.
Author
Shakeel Muzaffar is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MultiCalculators.com, bringing over 15 years of experience in digital publishing, product strategy, and online tool development. He leads the platform's editorial vision, ensuring every calculator meets strict standards for accuracy, usability, and real-world value. Shakeel personally oversees content quality, formula verification workflows, and the platform's commitment to publishing tools that are genuinely useful for students, professionals, and everyday users worldwide.
