Forensic Registered Nurse pay range
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania · class code 30421
- Class code
- 30421
- Pay scale group
- ST 08
- Pay unit
- Year
- Bargaining unit
- P4
- State
- Pennsylvania
- The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania published pay range for Forensic Registered Nurse is $69,086 to $104,959 per year.
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration keys this classification as class code 30421.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Class specification
The Commonwealth job specification for this class is published by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration. The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications. It was last revised 09/05/2023.
What the state says the job is
This is professional nursing work in care, treatment, custody, and control of court committed forensic mental health patients at a forensic unit at a Commonwealth facility. An employee in this class performs as a charge nurse or staff nurse providing specialized nursing care and services in a secure treatment patient care or living area. As charge nurse the employee directs and coordinates the delivery of nursing care and treatment for forensic patients in patient care ward(s) or living area(s) usually on the evening or night shift. Charge nurses make assessments and decisions in regard to staff utilization and supplies and equipment needs.
Examples of the work
• Assesses forensic mental health patients' physical, psychosocial and/or mental health status. • Determines immediate and long-range nursing care and treatment plans, goals, staff utilization, supply and equipment needs, safety, and custody and control precautionary requirements. • Assigns and clinically directs the work efforts of assigned professional nursing staff. • Assigns work and directs the performance of clinical duties of Forensic Security Employees'. • Coordinates services, coverage of services and maintenance of records. • Administers prescribed medications and treatments and takes physician's orders.
Special requirements
• All positions require active authorization to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania. • All employees possessing an active temporary practice permit must obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse within the one (1) year period defined by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Quoted from the Commonwealth job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration publishes this figure in Classification and Pay Plan (online, current annual salary ranges). Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The Commonwealth also links this class code to its own job title and specification. That page is the official description of the classification; this page publishes its pay range.
The listed pay scale is available in the Commonwealth's current ST schedule.