How much do pediatric nurses make?
About these figures: BLS does not publish separate pay for pediatric nurses. The pay figures on this page are for all registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), the occupation pediatric nurses belong to. What differs for pediatric nurses.
Answer
BLS does not publish pay for pediatric nurses separately. Registered nurses, the occupation pediatric 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 pediatric 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 |
Pediatric 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 pediatric nurse pay: employers and settings
BLS does not publish separate pay for pediatric nurses. The figures on this page are for all registered nurses, the parent occupation, which covers pediatric, adult, school and every other kind of RN.
For RNs, where you work is the biggest factor you control. General medical and surgical hospitals, the largest RN employer by far, have a median of $100,210; outpatient care centers $99,350. Offices of physicians, which include pediatric practices, have a median of $85,000; home health care services $84,930. Local government, which includes many public school nurses, has a median of $85,420; federal government RNs reach $121,240.
State matters as much as setting. California's RN median is $140,270, followed by Hawaii at $136,320, Oregon at $129,010, and Washington at $124,200, the top four. At the low end, South Dakota sits at $78,060, Mississippi at $77,090, and Alabama at $77,080.
Across all RNs, the 10th percentile is $68,940, and the 90th is $137,470, a wide spread. Setting and state account for part of that spread. BLS does not measure the rest by cause, but night and weekend differentials, union contracts at some hospitals and certification pay at some employers can add to an RN's earnings.
| 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 pediatric nurses
Pediatric nursing does not require a separate license. Every pediatric nurse holds the same RN license and passed the same NCLEX-RN as other nurses; the specialty comes from where you work and what you learn on the job.
The main settings are children's hospitals, pediatric units in general hospitals, pediatric emergency departments and ICUs, pediatric practices, schools and home care agencies. New graduates can be hired straight onto a pediatric unit, though competition for children's hospital jobs can be strong, and some nurses start in adult medical-surgical care and transfer.
The main specialty credential is the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) from the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. It is voluntary, but you need at least 1,800 hours of pediatric RN practice in the past 24 months to sit for it. ANCC's Pediatric Nursing certification (PED-BC) is moving to renewal only: it takes new applications through December 31, 2026.
What pediatric nurses do
A pediatric nurse is a registered nurse who cares for patients from newborns through teenagers. Most work in children's hospitals or pediatric units of general hospitals, on general pediatric floors, pediatric ICUs, emergency departments or oncology units. Others work in pediatricians' offices, outpatient clinics, schools and home health, where they may care for a child on a ventilator or feeding tube at home.
The nursing is the same core work any RN does: assessing patients, giving medications, watching for changes and charting. What changes is the scale and the audience. Doses are calculated by the child's weight, normal vital signs differ by age, and a sick infant cannot say what hurts. Pediatric nurses also spend much of their time with parents, explaining a diagnosis, teaching them to give medicines or manage a tracheostomy, and keeping a frightened child calm enough for a blood draw.
They work alongside pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists and child life specialists. Hospital jobs mean 12-hour shifts, nights, weekends and holidays; clinic and school jobs usually keep daytime hours.
A typical day
- Check a child's vital signs against age-based normal ranges and spot early signs of decline
- Calculate weight-based medication doses and double-check them before giving
- Start and watch IV lines in small veins, and manage pain during procedures
- Teach parents how to give medicines, use equipment and recognize warning signs at home
- Give vaccines and well-child screenings in clinic and school settings
- Chart assessments and care in the electronic health record
- Update the pediatrician or nurse practitioner when a child's condition changes
How to become a pediatric nurse
Full guideTo become a pediatric nurse, earn an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing, pass the NCLEX-RN, get your state RN license, and take a job caring for children. You can start in pediatrics after about 3-4 years; counting a first year of pediatric practice, which the optional CPN certification requires (1,800 hours), the typical path is 4-5 years.
- Typical time
- 4-5 years
- Fastest: About 3 years
- Minimum education
- Associate degree or diploma in nursing from a state-approved program; many children's hospitals prefer a BSN
- License
- RN license required in all 50 states and DC; no separate pediatric license
- Typical training cost
- $14.3K–$38.0K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a pediatric 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
- 4-5 years
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $14.3K–$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
- 15–39%
- 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 (4-5 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 projects registered nurse employment, which includes pediatric nurses, to rise 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, from 3,465,400 to 3,660,100 jobs. That beats the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 180,800 RN openings are expected each year, mostly from nurses retiring or leaving the field.
The growth BLS describes is driven mainly by older adults and chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, not by children. BLS does not project pediatric nursing separately, so the RN figures say little about how many children's-unit jobs will open in a given area.
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.
Pediatric Nurse salary FAQ
How much do pediatric nurses make an hour?
BLS does not publish separate pay for pediatric 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 pediatric nurses the most?
BLS does not publish separate pay for pediatric 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 pediatric nurses make six figures?
BLS does not publish separate pay for pediatric 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.
Where do pediatric nurses work?
Most work in hospitals: children's hospitals, pediatric floors in general hospitals, pediatric ICUs, neonatal units and emergency departments. Others work in pediatricians' offices, specialty clinics such as oncology or cardiology, schools, and home health agencies that care for children with complex medical needs. Hospital roles involve shift work around the clock, while offices and schools usually run on weekday daytime hours.
Is pediatric nursing harder than adult nursing?
It is different rather than simply harder. Patient loads are often smaller, but dosing is weight-based, so math errors carry more risk, and young children cannot describe symptoms. You also care for the whole family, which means teaching and calming anxious parents. Seeing children seriously ill or dying is emotionally heavy, and BLS lists emotional stability as a key quality for RNs.
What is the difference between a pediatric nurse and a pediatric nurse practitioner?
A pediatric nurse is an RN with an associate or bachelor's degree who carries out the care plan. A pediatric nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse with a graduate degree who can examine, diagnose and, in many states, prescribe for children. Becoming a PNP means graduate school after working as an RN, plus a national certification exam. See our nurse practitioner page for that path.
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
- The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice, American Association of Colleges of Nursing · checked October 28, 2026
- Fees & Payment, NCLEX, National Council of State Boards of Nursing · checked October 28, 2026
- Nurse Licensure Compact, National Council of State Boards of Nursing · checked October 28, 2026
- CPN Exam FAQs, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board · checked October 28, 2026
- Pediatric Nursing Certification (PED-BC), American Nurses Credentialing Center · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- Accelerated Baccalaureate and Master's Degrees in Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Nursing · 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.