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Average NICU Nurse Salary in 2023

WRITTEN BY Incredible Health Staff
DATE

Dec 18 2022


CATEGORIES Salary

Nurse Salaries / NICU Nurse Salary

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – also known as Neonatal Critical Care – nurses specialize in caring for newborn infants. In general, neonatal nursing refers to care for patients experiencing issues right after birth. 

According to data from Incredible Health, the average salary for Neonatal Critical Care Nurses is $88,160 – an effective hourly rate of $42.

While registered nurses overall in the United States receive $82,750 per year according to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, NICU nurses are among the highest-paid nurses.

This hourly rate puts the average NICU nurse’s salary at about 6% higher than the average registered nurse’s median wage. Remember that this number is just the aggregate average salary and does not take into account nursing salaries that consider the unit position, experience level, and other factors.


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Nursing positions are among the top in-demand jobs in the country, and experts project at least 6% between 2021 and 2031. Additionally, there is a shortage of professionals in the field. These primary factors contribute to higher NICU nursing salaries and a strong outlook for the career path.

NICU nurse salaries by state

NICU nurse salaries vary depending on the state in which you practice. The cost of living in different states affects compensation scales.

For example, you may earn a larger paycheck as a staff NICU nurse in Hawaii because the cost of living is about 12% higher than the country’s average.

Conversely, in Mississippi, NICU nurses may earn less than other states because the cost of living is about 12% less than the country’s average.

The top five highest-paying states for nurses, including NICU nurses (without factoring in the cost of living) include the following:

StateSalaryCOL Adjusted SalaryLocal Estimates
California$124,000$106,529Get Local Estimate
Hawaii$106,530$89,296Get Local Estimate
Oregon$98,630$96,131Get Local Estimate
Alaska$97,230$92,512Get Local Estimate
Massachusetts$96,630$87,527Get Local Estimate

The top five highest-paying states for nurses, including NICU nurses (adjusted for cost of living) are the following:

StateSalaryCOL Adjusted SalaryLocal Estimates
California$124,000$106,529Get Local Estimate
Oregon$98,630$96,131Get Local Estimate
Alaska$97,230$92,512Get Local Estimate
Nevada$97,230$92,146Get Local Estimate
Hawaii$106,530$89,296Get Local Estimate

How to become a neonatal intensive care unit nurse

A neonatal nurse helps care for medically fragile newborns with various health problems, such as prematurity, congenital abnormalities, infections, congenital heart defects, and surgical issues. While the neonatal period is usually defined as the first month of life, these infant patients are often sick for months and require intensive and constant monitoring and care.

1. Earn a nursing degree

Due to the extra delicate nature of the job, a typical NICU staff nurse needs to be a registered nurse with at least an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). You can also get a diploma from a hospital-based school of nursing. 

If the NICU is your calling, then it is best to gain experience from newborn nurseries or pediatric departments after earning your degree or diploma. That experience will give you the additional experience needed to enter the NICU successfully. 

2. Advance your nursing career

After starting your nursing career in the NICU, there are many opportunities to grow. You can set your goals to become a nurse manager, clinical nurse specialist, developmental care specialist, neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), or neonatal nurse (CCRN).

Advancing your career may also require you to earn certifications, an MSN, or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). These additional degrees and certificates come in handy when negotiating your neonatal nurse salary. 

Another thing to think about is continuing education requirements. You will need to take courses to keep your license current. Stay up to date on evidence-based practices and take courses in areas that will most benefit your career. 


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What's your current role?

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Where to learn more about the average NICU nurse salary

To learn more about the average neonatal nurse salary in your state, we created this salary estimator to help you. This tool collates data from well over 10,000 nurses. This information will help you make more informed decisions on your future path as a nurse in any field of nursing.

More NICU nurse salary information by state
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri
Mississippi
North Carolina
New Jersey
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

Top NICU jobs on Incredible Health

  • 🏥 Advanced Practice – NICU NP

    New York, NY | $103,000 to $166,000 /year

  • 🏥 Nurse Practitioner – NICU

    Minneapolis, MN | $86,000 to $132,000 /year

  • 🏥 Registered Nurse – NICU

    San Diego, CA | $82,000 to $145,000 /year

  • 🏥 Registered Nurse – NICU

    Burbank, CA | $60,000 to $118,000 /year

  • 🏥 Registered Nurse – NICU Charge Nurse

    Lynn, MA | $75,000 to $150,000 /year

Get matched with these and thousands more permanent jobs on Incredible Health.

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Sources

  • “Nursing Shortage.” aacnnursing.org. Accessed April 9, 2021.
  • “Occupational Outlook Handbook-Registered Nurses.” bls.gov. Accessed April 9, 2022.
Written by Incredible Health Staff

At Incredible Health, it's a team effort to achieve our vision: Help healthcare professionals live better lives. Many are licensed practitioners themselves; others are simply passionate writers and leaders dedicated to providing valuable resources to nurses.

Read more from Incredible Health
Reviewed by Courtney Webster, RN

Courtney’s nursing background is in the NICU and pediatrics. When she’s not working, she loves to hike, attempt indoor rock climbing, watch limited series on Netflix, explore new places, and play with her energetic Australian Shepherd.

Read more from Courtney

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