ICU Nurse vs NICU Nurse salary in North Carolina
In North Carolina, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $98,330 a year versus $96,570 for nicu nurses, a gap of about $1,760 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for North Carolina.
ICU Nurse — North Carolina
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$98,330
-10% vs nationalHourly
$47.27/hr
- Typical range
- $80,970–$113,250
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $138,570
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $69,490
- Newer nurses
NICU Nurse — North Carolina
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$96,570
-10% vs nationalHourly
$46.43/hr
- Typical range
- $79,530–$111,230
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $136,100
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $68,250
- Newer nurses
Why the gap in North Carolina
Adult ICU and NICU nurses earn comparable pay because both are high-acuity critical-care RN specialties compensated on the same registered nurse wage base. Differences come down to unit, patient population, and certifications like CCRN versus RNC-NIC rather than a separate official wage category. The North Carolina figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for North Carolina's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national ICU Nurse vs NICU Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.
ICU Nurse vs NICU Nurse in North Carolina — FAQ
- Do icu nurses or nicu nurses earn more in North Carolina?
- In North Carolina, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $98,330 a year versus $96,570 for nicu nurses, a gap of about $1,760 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for North Carolina's local pay level.
- How much is the icu nurse vs nicu nurse pay gap in North Carolina?
- The estimated gap in North Carolina is about $1,760 a year, or roughly 2% more for icu nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
- Are these North Carolina figures exact?
- No — they're modeled estimates, not verified North Carolina wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for North Carolina's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)
North Carolina figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.90×).
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figures for North Carolina. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.