Pediatric vs NICU Nurse Salary
NICU Nurses earn more — a national median of $107,310 vs $99,500, a gap of about $7,810 per year.
Pediatric Nurse
Specialty estimate$99,500 / yr median
NICU Nurse
Specialty estimate$107,310 / yr median
Annual pay, side by side
- Pediatric NurseSpecialty estimate$99,500$47.84/hr
- NICU NurseSpecialty estimate$107,310$51.59/hr
What the difference comes down to
Pediatric and NICU nurse pay is close, since both are RN specialties compensated on the same registered-nurse wage base. The practical difference is the patient population — children across a range of settings versus critically ill newborns in intensive care — along with unit acuity and certifications. Scope of practice, required education, and autonomy are the biggest drivers of the gap. Use the calculator to personalize either path by your state, experience, and work setting.
Pediatric vs NICU Nurse Salary by state
Estimated pay gap for this comparison in each state.
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 specialty estimate
Pediatric Nurse is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.02×, reflecting commonly reported pay differences. Treat as directional, not precise.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Last reviewed July 3, 2026.
Pediatric vs NICU Nurse Salary FAQ
- Do Pediatric Nurses or NICU Nurses earn more?
- NICU Nurses earn more, with a national median of about $107,310 a year vs $99,500 for Pediatric Nurses — a gap of roughly $7,810 per year.
- How big is the pay gap between Pediatric Nurses and NICU Nurses?
- The difference is about $7,810 a year, or roughly 8% more for NICU Nurses. It varies by state, experience, setting, and shift — use the calculator to compare both for your own situation.
- Why do NICU Nurses earn more than Pediatric Nurses?
- Both roles are paid on the same registered-nurse base, so the gap comes down to certification, shift differentials, unit acuity, and the local market rather than a separate official wage.
- 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.
Related searches
Looking for other comparisons? Browse all roles.