Utilization Review Nurse Salary Guide

A Utilization Review Nurse (UR Nurse) is a registered nurse who evaluates clinical necessity, appropriateness and efficiency of healthcare services. They review patient records, coordinate with providers and payers, approve or deny authorizations, and ensure care aligns with evidence-based guidelines and payer policies to control costs and optimize patient outcomes.

Free resume check

A number is easier to defend when the resume proves it

Review whether your resume explains your actual responsibilities and achievements. Use verified examples alongside pay research when preparing for a salary discussion.

Check my resume free — no signup

Free · No signup

What is the average Utilization Review Nurse salary?

Entry Level

$60,000 - $75,000

Mid Level

$75,000 - $95,000

Senior Level

$95,000 - $125,000+

How does Utilization Review Nurse salary grow with experience?

$60,000 - $70,000
0-2
$70,000 - $85,000
3-5
$85,000 - $100,000
6-10
$95,000 - $125,000++
10+
Base (min)
Top of range (max)
Max: $125k

Utilization Review Nurse salary by location

New York, NY$70,000 - $115,000
Los Angeles, CA$68,000 - $110,000
Chicago, IL$65,000 - $105,000
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX$62,000 - $100,000
San Francisco Bay Area, CA$75,000 - $125,000
Base (min)
Top of range (max)

What factors affect a Utilization Review Nurse's salary?

  • Clinical background and specialty (e.g., oncology, behavioral health, surgical services)
  • Employer type (health insurer, hospital, case management firm, third-party vendor)
  • Certifications and credentials (RN, CCM, Certified Case Manager, URAC training)
  • Geographic location and local cost of living
  • Experience level and managerial responsibilities

How to compare Utilization Review Nurse pay figures

The generated ranges in this guide have not been independently source-verified. Check the underlying occupation, location and data period before using a range as a market benchmark. Keep the original source alongside any figure you save. A page updated recently can still contain wages measured in an earlier year, and a broad occupational category may cover several different job titles.

Compare the work as well as the title

Read a vacancy's responsibilities, required experience, working hours and location before placing it beside another role. Two positions called Utilization Review Nurse can have different scope. Record the duties you would own, the team or customers you would support, and any supervisory expectations. Use those details to decide whether a comparison is relevant instead of assuming that a matching title means matching pay.

Keep compensation definitions consistent

Confirm the currency and whether a figure is hourly, monthly or annual. Check the paid hours before converting between periods. Separate guaranteed base pay from bonuses, commissions, overtime, equity and benefits. Ask which parts are guaranteed and which depend on targets, company results or vesting conditions. Compare the same components across offers; a total-compensation figure and a base-salary figure answer different questions.

Identify the statistic too. A median divides the measured workforce into two equal halves. A percentile describes a point in that distribution; it does not automatically describe an entry-level or senior employee. Do not turn national survey percentiles into a personal experience-based pay prediction. Use local, role-relevant evidence when it is available and record any mismatch in coverage.

Build a comparison you can check later

For each job listing, survey or offer, save the role, responsibilities, location, currency, pay period, compensation components, source link and date checked. Mark missing information as unknown. Keep the employer's stated range separate from any expectation you calculate yourself. If the figures differ, first check their definitions and scope rather than averaging incompatible numbers into a new estimate.

When discussing an offer, prepare clear examples of the responsibilities and results you can support with your experience. Ask the recruiter about the role's level, the approved range and how the package is structured. Keep those answers with your comparison so you can assess the offer using confirmed information. This guide gives you questions to investigate; the employer's written terms establish the actual package being offered.

Read the salary source and comparison checklist

Frequently Asked Questions About Utilization Review Nurse Salaries

What is the average salary for a Utilization Review Nurse?

Average salaries typically range from about $60,000 at entry level to $95,000 mid-career and $95,000–$125,000+ for senior UR nurses, depending on location, specialty and payer type.

How can I increase my Utilization Review Nurse salary?

Increase pay by gaining clinical experience, obtaining relevant certifications (e.g., RN, CCM, URAC training), specializing in high-demand areas (oncology, behavioral health), moving to higher-cost regions or working for insurers or large health systems.

Do remote Utilization Review Nurse jobs pay less than on-site roles?

Remote roles can pay comparably but may vary by employer: some adjust pay for local cost-of-living while others offer national pay bands; remote positions often include flexible schedules and lower commute costs as compensation.

What benefits commonly accompany a Utilization Review Nurse salary?

Common benefits include medical/dental/vision insurance, retirement contributions (401k), paid time off, continuing education allowances, licensure reimbursement, and sometimes performance bonuses or shift differentials.

Earn what you're worth as a Utilization Review Nurse

A strong resume gets you to the negotiation table. Build one tailored to your role and level.

Build my Utilization Review Nurse resume free

Free to start · No card

Explore Related Salary Guides

See how salaries compare across similar roles in the same field.