education and learning | May 21, 2026

How much do NICU nurses make a year?

What Is the Average NICU RN Salary by State
State Hourly Wage Annual Salary
California - NICU RN Salary $48.48 $100,846
Virginia - NICU RN Salary $48.24 $100,347
Arizona - NICU RN Salary $47.73 $99,275
New Jersey - NICU RN Salary $47.42 $98,638

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Likewise, people ask, how much do NICU nurses make?

NICU Nurse Salary & Employment According to Payscale, RNs that work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) make an average annual salary of $60,375, while Neonatal Nurse Practitioners make an average annual salary of $93,122.

Also Know, how much do NICU nurses get paid an hour? On average, NICU RNs earn $10.78 to $67.47 per hour in overtime.

Moreover, how much does a NICU nurse make a week?

National Average

Salary Range (Percentile)
25th 75th
Monthly Salary $6,167 $10,583
Weekly Salary $1,423 $2,442
Hourly Salary $36 $61

How long do you have to go to school to be a neonatal nurse?

A neonatal nurse must be a registered nurse (RN) with a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN). You must be certified in Neonatal Resuscitation and/or Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing. You may also be required to complete a minimum number of years of clinical experience in a hospital setting.

Related Question Answers

What is the starting pay for a neonatal nurse?

Neonatal Nursery The neonatal nurse cares for the infants by caring for, feeding, bathing and administering medications as needed. According to Payscale.com, the starting pay for this type of nursing is $50,891.

What is the highest paying nurse?

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Salary: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn an average of $174,790 per year as of May 2018, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it the top paying nursing specialty.

Is being a NICU nurse hard?

Most ICU nurses will say they work in the hardest unit in the hospital and with the sickest patients. While this may be the case and I might be a little biased, I truly believe that the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, is the toughest of the tough. As a NICU nurse, each day is a new adventure and a new struggle.

Is being a NICU nurse stressful?

Because of the specialized environment, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses can experience high levels of psychologic and physical stress. This stress can lead to increased levels of absenteeism, low morale, mental fatigue and exhaustion, symptoms that have been characterized as nurse burnout.

Do RNs have to clean poop?

YES! Cleaning poop (stool) is definitely a part of a nurse's job. It's not the most glamorous part of the job, but it is a very important part of providing patient care. As a nurse, our job is to take care of our patients, and bodily fluids definitely come with the territory.

How many hours do neonatal nurses work a week?

Neonatal Working Hours Neonatal nurses typically work 40 hours per week. Overtime may be required due to the severity of the patients they treat and the inability to leave patients' unattended.

What is the difference between a neonatal nurse and a NICU nurse?

Neonatal nursing focuses on the care of newborns, from the moment of birth through the first month of life. Nurses who work in this specialty care for healthy as well as sick newborns. NICU nurses typically care for newborns in neonatal intensive care units or newborn nurseries.

What are nurses that deliver babies called?

L&D nurses begin as Registered Nurses (RN) and may become Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) such as OB/GYN Nurse Practitioners, but ultimately, they pursue some level of specialty training to help women deliver babies.

Which state pays neonatal nurses the most?

New York

What is it like being a NICU nurse?

Generally speaking, working in a NICU is considered level three nursing care (level one is care for healthy infants, and level two is for less serious neonatal cases). NICU nurses monitor the more seriously ill or premature infants day and night to make sure they are breathing and developing properly.

What do you give a NICU nurse?

Gift Ideas for NICU Nurses
  • Thank you notes. Nothing beats the sentimentality of a handwritten thank you note.
  • Pictures. Pictures of the babies we've cared for who are now growing healthy and strong are some of the best presents that NICU nurses can receive.
  • Snacks.
  • Coffee.
  • Hand lotion.
  • Fun pens, badge holders, etc.

What does a neonatal nurse do on a daily basis?

Typical duties include starting and maintaining IV lines, managing ventilators, assessing vital signs and drawing blood. New parents also require special care during this time, so neonatal nurses are in frequent contact with worried families. Neonatal nurses work with needles, feeding pumps, incubators and ventilators.

How much does a nurse practitioner make a month?

The U.S. Average Nurse Practitioner Salary is $107,480 The latest figures show that the average annual salary for a Nurse Practitioner working in the United States is around $107,480 which works out as $51.68 per hour, $2,067 per week and $8,957 per month.

What are the benefits of being a neonatal nurse?

There are a number of benefits to being a neonatal nurse, including a supportive professional community and good pay.
  • Community Support.
  • Opportunities for Advancement.
  • Competitive Wages.
  • Favorable Job Market.

Can you be a NICU nurse with an associate's degree?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a student can become a neonatal nurse with an associate's degree in nursing, but some students get a bachelor's degree. Whether you go to a two-year school or a four-year university, you need to make sure that both your program of study and your college are accredited.

Do BSNS make more than RNs?

The average mean salary for BSN holders is $68,450, while the average for RNs with a two-year degree is $64,500. Men who are nurses make disproportionately more money than women, even with the same degree and the same number of years' experience or fewer.

How long is a nursing degree?

Depending upon your level of dedication, a nursing degree can take the following time to complete: Associate's degree programs, which provide entry-level opportunities, usually take two years. A bachelor's degree program takes four years. A bachelor's degree with direct entry typically takes three years.

How much do Obgyn make?

Obstetricians and Gynecologists made a median salary of $208,000 in 2018. The best-paid 25 percent made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $172,130.

What it takes to be a pediatric nurse?

Associate's and Bachelor's Degree Programs Aspiring pediatric nurses may also complete a 2-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing(BSN). Like nursing diploma programs, these degree programs offer classroom education combined with clinical experience.