NICU Nurse salary in Cleveland
A nicu nurse in the Cleveland, OH area earns an estimated $100,870 a year ($48.50/hr) — about 6% below the U.S. average, with most between $83,060 and $116,170. City figures are estimates based on national pay for the role and local cost of living — a starting point, not a guaranteed local wage.
NICU Nurse — Cleveland, OH
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$100,870
-6% vs nationalHourly
$48.50/hr
- Typical range
- $83,060–$116,170
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $142,140
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $71,280
- Newer nurses
Part of NICU Nurse pay in Ohio.
Other nursing roles in Cleveland
Compare estimated pay for related roles in this metro.
What affects nicu nurse pay in Cleveland
Major academic medical hub. For a nicu nurse, local pay also reflects the concentration of major hospital systems and academic medical centers, union contracts, shift differentials, unit acuity, and how competitive staffing is. Nights, weekends, and critical-care specialties typically add to base pay. Use the calculator to estimate your own.
How this estimate was calculated
The Cleveland figure adjusts the national RN average of $107,310 for local pay levels — a factor of 0.94× (about 6% below the U.S. average). It is a starting point — not an official Cleveland wage — until verified local figures and nurse submissions are loaded.
Local pay can vary well beyond this by specialty, shift, union status, employer type, overtime, and care setting. When official metro wage data is loaded, this number updates to a verified value automatically.
Use this metro estimate as a starting point
- It’s a starting point for Cleveland, based on national pay and local cost of living until official metro data is loaded — not a guaranteed local wage.
- Your actual pay shifts with role and specialty, care setting, shift, overtime, union status, and years of experience — so compare a role-specific page and personalize the calculator.
- Reviewed salary submissions from nurses in Cleveland make this page more precise over time.
NICU Nurse salary in Cleveland — FAQ
- How much does a nicu nurse make in Cleveland?
- A nicu nurse in the Cleveland, OH area earns an estimated $100,870 a year — about $48.50 an hour, with most between $83,060 and $116,170. That's about 6% below the national average. This is an estimate based on the role's national pay and Cleveland's local pay level, not a guaranteed local wage.
- Is Cleveland a good place for nicu nurses?
- On pay, Cleveland runs about 6% below the national average for nicu nurses. Big-city wages are often offset by a higher cost of living, so weigh the estimated $100,870 against local housing and expenses.
- How does Cleveland nicu nurse pay compare to Ohio overall?
- Statewide, Ohio nicu nurses earn an estimated $99,790 a year, versus about $100,870 in Cleveland. Metro pay can run above or below the state figure depending on hospital concentration and local demand.
- 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 × metro wage index)
Cleveland, OH figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a metro adjustment of 0.94×).
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figure — national nicu nurse pay adjusted for Cleveland. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.