How much do NICU nurses make?
About these figures: BLS does not publish separate pay for NICU nurses. The pay figures on this page are for all registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), the occupation NICU nurses belong to. What differs for NICU nurses.
Answer
BLS does not publish pay for NICU nurses separately. Registered nurses, the occupation NICU nurses belong to, earned a median of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $80,330 to $112,350.
- Median annual pay
- $97,550
- Mean $101,420
- Median hourly pay
- $46.90
- Mean $48.76
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $68.9K–$137K
- $68,940 to $137,470
- US jobs
- 3,379,720
- +5.6% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026; figures for all registered nurses. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become a NICU nurse: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: California
Pay range for all registered nurses
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$68,940
- 25th percentile$80,330
- Median$97,550
- 75th percentile$112,350
- 90th percentile$137,470
Half of all registered nurses earned more than $97,550 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $68,940; the top 10% made over $137,470. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $80,330 to $112,350.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $68,940 | $33.14 | $5,745 |
| 25th | $80,330 | $38.62 | $6,694 |
| Median (50th) | $97,550 | $46.90 | $8,129 |
| 75th | $112,350 | $54.02 | $9,363 |
| 90th | $137,470 | $66.09 | $11,456 |
| Mean (average) | $101,420 | $48.76 | $8,452 |
NICU Nurse salary by state: pay for all registered nurses
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. California $140,270
- 2. Hawaii $136,320
- 3. Oregon $129,010
- 4. Washington $124,200
- 5. Alaska $109,480
Lowest-paying states
- 51. Alabama $77,080
- 50. Mississippi $77,090
- 49. South Dakota $78,060
- 48. Iowa $78,630
- 47. Arkansas $78,940
Best after cost of living: California. Its median of $140,270 is worth about $126,689 at national-average prices.
| Alabama | $77,080 | 51 | $86,779 | 49 | $37.06 | 54,340 | 25.71 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $109,480 | 5 | $106,957 | 5 | $52.64 | 7,510 | 23.06 |
| Arizona | $99,500 | 18 | $98,831 | 16 | $47.84 | 73,150 | 22.58 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | 47 | $90,801 | 32 | $37.95 | 29,400 | 22.55 |
| California | $140,270 | 1 | $126,689 | 1 | $67.44 | 338,940 | 18.61 |
| Colorado | $100,260 | 14 | $97,291 | 21 | $48.20 | 54,490 | 18.96 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | 10 | $99,160 | 13 | $49.39 | 40,110 | 23.65 |
| Delaware | $99,520 | 17 | $99,711 | 11 | $47.85 | 14,290 | 29.48 |
| District of Columbia | $102,540 | 11 | $93,302 | 29 | $49.30 | 11,440 | 16.30 |
| Florida | $84,190 | 34 | $81,411 | 51 | $40.48 | 229,940 | 23.16 |
| Georgia | $93,550 | 27 | $97,151 | 22 | $44.98 | 100,950 | 20.65 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | 2 | $123,983 | 3 | $65.54 | 12,940 | 20.62 |
| Idaho | $92,460 | 28 | $96,823 | 23 | $44.45 | 16,880 | 19.69 |
| Illinois | $95,990 | 21 | $96,030 | 24 | $46.15 | 138,910 | 22.78 |
| Indiana | $83,500 | 36 | $89,468 | 41 | $40.14 | 68,980 | 21.55 |
| Iowa | $78,630 | 48 | $89,595 | 39 | $37.80 | 34,420 | 22.08 |
| Kansas | $79,320 | 46 | $88,067 | 47 | $38.14 | 33,800 | 23.51 |
| Kentucky | $81,040 | 42 | $89,886 | 37 | $38.96 | 50,300 | 25.14 |
| Louisiana | $80,230 | 44 | $90,957 | 31 | $38.57 | 48,970 | 25.31 |
| Maine | $86,990 | 29 | $89,634 | 38 | $41.82 | 16,540 | 25.83 |
| Maryland | $99,790 | 15 | $95,075 | 26 | $47.98 | 52,910 | 19.15 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | 8 | $98,859 | 15 | $50.27 | 88,200 | 24.25 |
| Michigan | $94,300 | 25 | $98,008 | 19 | $45.34 | 104,950 | 23.83 |
| Minnesota | $101,510 | 12 | $102,929 | 7 | $48.80 | 70,110 | 23.77 |
| Mississippi | $77,090 | 50 | $88,657 | 45 | $37.06 | 29,060 | 24.99 |
| Missouri | $81,780 | 40 | $90,049 | 36 | $39.32 | 76,310 | 25.99 |
| Montana | $85,280 | 30 | $90,105 | 35 | $41.00 | 10,950 | 21.41 |
| Nebraska | $84,730 | 31 | $94,037 | 28 | $40.74 | 24,720 | 24.14 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | 9 | $103,692 | 6 | $49.84 | 27,070 | 17.45 |
| New Hampshire | $99,700 | 16 | $95,714 | 25 | $47.93 | 15,390 | 22.52 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | 7 | $97,882 | 20 | $51.20 | 92,680 | 21.62 |
| New Mexico | $94,340 | 24 | $102,308 | 8 | $45.36 | 17,980 | 20.65 |
| New York | $109,440 | 6 | $101,408 | 10 | $52.62 | 205,810 | 21.24 |
| North Carolina | $84,350 | 33 | $89,424 | 42 | $40.56 | 111,120 | 22.49 |
| North Dakota | $80,730 | 43 | $90,750 | 33 | $38.81 | 11,340 | 26.40 |
| Ohio | $82,510 | 38 | $88,937 | 43 | $39.67 | 143,730 | 25.90 |
| Oklahoma | $82,920 | 37 | $94,396 | 27 | $39.87 | 38,270 | 22.41 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | 3 | $124,815 | 2 | $62.02 | 39,730 | 20.20 |
| Pennsylvania | $96,430 | 20 | $98,830 | 17 | $46.36 | 146,520 | 24.16 |
| Rhode Island | $100,640 | 13 | $98,397 | 18 | $48.39 | 10,090 | 20.13 |
| South Carolina | $82,360 | 39 | $87,852 | 48 | $39.60 | 49,750 | 21.58 |
| South Dakota | $78,060 | 49 | $88,118 | 46 | $37.53 | 14,710 | 32.17 |
| Tennessee | $81,500 | 41 | $88,712 | 44 | $39.18 | 72,200 | 22.02 |
| Texas | $95,970 | 22 | $98,880 | 14 | $46.14 | 271,380 | 19.29 |
| Utah | $84,600 | 32 | $85,572 | 50 | $40.67 | 27,420 | 15.80 |
| Vermont | $97,460 | 19 | $99,492 | 12 | $46.86 | 7,410 | 24.39 |
| Virginia | $93,600 | 26 | $92,578 | 30 | $45.00 | 77,490 | 18.86 |
| Washington | $124,200 | 4 | $116,061 | 4 | $59.71 | 69,260 | 19.51 |
| West Virginia | $80,130 | 45 | $89,534 | 40 | $38.52 | 23,430 | 33.39 |
| Wisconsin | $95,530 | 23 | $101,525 | 9 | $45.93 | 68,060 | 23.14 |
| Wyoming | $83,760 | 35 | $90,365 | 34 | $40.27 | 5,330 | 19.00 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure. State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for registered nurses
374 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $216,740 | $196,282 | 22,930 |
| Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $187,400 | 4,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,610 | $161,409 | 41,750 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $174,550 | $161,944 | 3,720 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $171,460 | $160,739 | 23,590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $170,960 | $155,565 | 1,750 |
| Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $143,256 | 1,080 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $144,350 | $131,955 | 1,270 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $139,520 | $124,697 | 28,680 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $139,260 | $125,504 | 9,680 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 197,740 | $119,720 | $106,358 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 109,360 | $135,560 | $119,367 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 100,240 | $100,490 | $97,003 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 76,680 | $101,420 | $98,380 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 73,790 | $101,180 | $98,660 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 65,910 | $99,830 | $101,218 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 64,240 | $106,180 | $98,073 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 61,670 | $91,380 | $80,049 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 56,460 | $100,490 | $100,432 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 53,700 | $100,830 | $97,594 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves NICU nurse pay: employers and settings
BLS does not publish separate pay for NICU nurses or neonatal nurses. Every figure on this page is for registered nurses as a whole, the parent occupation, which includes NICU nurses along with emergency, surgical, clinic, school and every other kind of RN.
Because NICUs are inside hospitals, the hospital figures are the most relevant. RNs in general medical and surgical hospitals have a median of $100,210 for that setting, above the all-RN median of $97,550, and those in outpatient care centers have a median of $99,350 for that group. Employer type also matters: federal government RNs have a median of $121,240 for that group, and state government RNs a median of $102,440 for that group.
Location also moves RN pay. California has the highest state median at $140,270, while the lowest listed is Alabama at $77,080. Across all RNs the 10th percentile is $68,940, and the 90th percentile is $137,470, for this occupation. Hospital nurses work shifts that cover nights, weekends and holidays, and some employers pay differentials for those hours; BLS notes that some employers require specialty certification.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 56.3% | $100,210 |
| Offices of Physicians | 6.9% | $85,000 |
| Home Health Care Services | 5.9% | $84,930 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 5.1% | $99,350 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 4.2% | $85,510 |
| Employment Services | 3% | $90,840 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 2,841,730 | $97,170 |
| Federal government (incl. Postal Service) | 101,140 | $121,240 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 157,270 | $102,440 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 279,580 | $85,420 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
Registered nurses pay over time
Median annual pay, 2015–2025
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $67,490 in 2015 to $97,550 in 2025, up 45% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $91,233 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay grew 7% over the period.
BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.
What differs for NICU nurses
NICU nursing uses the standard RN license and NCLEX-RN; there is no separate neonatal license. What sets the specialty apart is the setting and the extra training. Hospital newborn units are graded by level, and the American Academy of Pediatrics publishes national standards for Levels II, III and IV, from special care nurseries up to Level IV units that offer the most complex care. Nurses in higher-level units care for the smallest and sickest babies.
Hospitals train new NICU nurses through orientation or residency programs and set their own rules for the AAP's Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), which mixes online learning with an in-person skills session. Some new graduates are hired straight into the NICU; others move over after working in mother-baby, labor and delivery or pediatrics.
After gaining experience, nurses can earn the RNC-NIC from the National Certification Corporation, which requires 24 months and at least 2,000 hours of specialty practice, or the CCRN (Neonatal) from AACN, which requires 1,750 hours of direct neonatal critical care in two years.
What NICU nurses do
A NICU nurse, also called a neonatal nurse, is a registered nurse who cares for newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit. Most patients are premature babies, some born months early and weighing a pound or two, and full-term infants with breathing problems, infections, heart defects, low blood sugar, drug withdrawal or conditions that need surgery. The sickest babies may need a nurse almost entirely to themselves.
The work is detailed and technical. NICU nurses manage ventilators and other breathing support, keep babies warm in incubators, give medications and IV nutrition dosed by weight, draw blood through tiny lines and watch monitors for subtle changes. They work with neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, dietitians and lactation consultants. Parents are part of the care team too: NICU nurses teach them to hold, feed and bathe a fragile baby, support them through bad days and prepare them to take their infant home. Some NICU nurses join transport teams that bring critically ill newborns from other hospitals.
A typical day
- Check vital signs, breathing and temperature on each baby and record every finding
- Adjust ventilators, CPAP and oxygen with respiratory therapists
- Give medications, IV fluids and feedings calculated to the baby's weight
- Respond to alarms and help resuscitate babies who stop breathing
- Attend high-risk deliveries to receive and stabilize newborns
- Teach parents feeding, skin-to-skin care and how to handle equipment at home
- Report changes to neonatologists and nurse practitioners during rounds and hand-offs
Also called: neonatal nurse.
How to become a NICU nurse
Full guideTo become a NICU nurse, you earn an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing, pass the NCLEX-RN, get a state RN license and join a hospital NICU, which takes about 2 to 4 years. NICU-specific training such as the Neonatal Resuscitation Program happens on the job, and the RNC-NIC certification requires 2 more years of neonatal experience.
- Typical time
- 4-6 years
- Fastest: About 2-3 years (associate degree in nursing plus licensing)
- Minimum education
- Associate degree in nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an RN license; many hospital NICUs prefer or require a BSN
- License
- RN license required in all 50 states and DC; no separate NICU license
- Typical training cost
- $9.6K–$38.0K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a NICU nurse: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 4-6 years
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $9.6K–$38.0K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $97,550
- All registered nurses; $46,570 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 10–39%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($46,570 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in less than a year after training ends (4-6 years in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for registered nurses
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +5.6%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 3,465,400
- 3,660,100 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 180,800
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 0.5%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS does not project NICU jobs separately. For registered nurses overall, it expects employment to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, from 3,465,400 to 3,660,100, faster than the 3.5% for all occupations, with about 180,800 openings a year, most from nurses retiring or leaving. The growth BLS describes comes mostly from an aging population and chronic disease, with hospitals among the settings expected to add jobs. Demand for NICU nurses also depends on how many hospitals in an area run higher-level newborn units.
Related careers and their pay
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- LPN$64,400
- Nurse Midwife$134,040
- CRNA$236,590
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- CNA$42,260
- Paramedic$60,600
- EMT$44,470
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
NICU Nurse salary FAQ
How much do NICU nurses make an hour?
BLS does not publish separate pay for NICU nurses. For all registered nurses, the occupation they belong to, the median hourly wage was $46.90 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33.14 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $66.09. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays NICU nurses the most?
BLS does not publish separate pay for NICU nurses. For all registered nurses, the occupation they belong to, California has the highest median pay, $140,270 a year, followed by Hawaii ($136,320) and Oregon ($129,010). After adjusting for each state's price level, California comes out ahead at about $126,689 in national-average dollars.
Do NICU nurses make six figures?
BLS does not publish separate pay for NICU nurses. For all registered nurses, the occupation they belong to, based on the BLS percentiles, between 25% and 50% of registered nurses earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $97,550, and the top 10% earn more than $137,470. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
Can you become a NICU nurse right out of nursing school?
Yes, at some hospitals. Some hospitals hire new graduate RNs directly into the NICU through nurse residency programs that combine classes and precepted shifts. Other hospitals want a year or more of RN experience first, often in mother-baby, labor and delivery or pediatrics. Because hospital employers may require a BSN, the bachelor's degree widens your options.
What is the difference between a NICU nurse and a neonatal nurse practitioner?
A NICU nurse is a registered nurse who delivers bedside care under orders from the medical team. A neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) is an advanced practice nurse with a master's or doctoral degree from a neonatal NP program who examines babies, makes diagnoses, orders tests and prescribes treatment. NNPs take a national board certification exam, such as the NCC's neonatal NP exam, and need state advanced practice licensure.
Is being a NICU nurse emotionally hard?
It can be. NICU nurses care for babies who are critically ill, and some do not survive. They also support parents through fear and grief, and long stays mean nurses grow close to families. Seeing a baby they cared for go home is the other side of that work. Ask employers what support they offer after hard cases, such as debriefing or counseling.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 29-1141
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (29-1141.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Registered Nurses, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse?, American Nurses Association · checked October 28, 2026
- NCLEX Fees and Payment, National Council of State Boards of Nursing · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- NRP Provider, American Academy of Pediatrics · checked October 28, 2026
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC), National Certification Corporation · checked October 28, 2026
- CCRN (Neonatal), American Association of Critical-Care Nurses · checked October 28, 2026
- Accelerated Programs: The Fast Track to Careers in Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Nursing · checked October 28, 2026
- American Academy of Pediatrics Develops National Standards for Levels of Neonatal Care, American Academy of Pediatrics · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.