Working as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse, you have the duty and responsibility to care for the sick and premature newborns. While Registered Nurses overall in the United States receive $80,010 per year according to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), NICU nurses are among the highest-paid nurses.
The median hourly wage for a NICU nurse is $47.06 per hour. This hourly rate puts the average NICU nurse salary at about 19% higher than a 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 unit position, experience level, and other factors.
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Nursing positions are among the top in-demand jobs in the county, and experts project at least a 7% growth until 2029. 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 they 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 93% higher than the country’s average.
Conversely, in Mississippi, NICU nurses may earn less than other states because the cost of living is 16% 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:
| State | Salary | COL Adjusted Salary | Local Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $120,560 | $84,663 | Get Local Estimate |
| Hawaii | $104,830 | $52,784 | Get Local Estimate |
| Massachusetts | $96,250 | $74,095 | Get Local Estimate |
| Oregon | $96,230 | $71,975 | Get Local Estimate |
| Alaska | $95,270 | $74,839 | Get Local Estimate |
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The top five highest-paying states for nurses, including NICU nurses (adjusted for cost of living) are the following:
| State | Salary | COL Adjusted Salary | Local Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $75,700 | $84,770 | Get Local Estimate |
| California | $120,560 | $84,663 | Get Local Estimate |
| Texas | $76,800 | $83,478 | Get Local Estimate |
| Nevada | $89,750 | $82,491 | Get Local Estimate |
| Michigan | $81,656 | $73,980 | Get Local Estimate |
Top NICU nurse jobs on Incredible Health
How to Become a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse
A neonatal nurse helps care for medically-fragile newborns with various health problems, such as premature births, congenital disabilities, infections, cardiac malformations, surgical issues, and so on. 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’s degree in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN). You can also get a diploma degree from a hospital-based school of nursing.
If your nursing experience and specialty are in a different field, then you need to enroll in an accelerated program to earn a BSN or a Master’s in Nursing (MSN).
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. Your experience will give you the additional leeway to enter the NICU successfully.
2. Earn CEUs
The NICU staff nurse position is an entry position in the NICU. However, suppose you plan on advancing your career. In that case, you can set your goals to become a nurse manager, a clinical nurse specialist, a developmental care specialist, or a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP).
3. Advance Your Nursing Career
Advancing your career may also require you to earn certifications, an MSN, or a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP). These additional degrees and certificates come in handy when negotiating your NICU nurse salary.
Where to Learn More About the Average NICU Nurse Salary
To learn more about the average NICU 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.
