How Much Do Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses Make?

Highly specialized pediatric intensive care (PICU) nurses grow in demand as healthcare facilities grapple with a nationwide nursing shortage, staff turnover exacerbated by the stress of the pandemic, and a surge in respiratory viruses among children. PICU nurses can make more than $80,000 per year, and the highest earners average $148,000, according to Payscale data from November 2022.

Explore this guide to pediatric intensive care nurse salaries and follow the links to learn more about this registered nurse (RN) specialization.

The average annual salary of $81,460 (or $33.55 an hour) for pediatric intensive care nurses is in line with the average annual wage for all RNs listed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, pediatric intensive care nurse salary ranges can vary by education level, geographic location, and length of experience.

Generally, the higher the degree, e.g., bachelor’s degree versus associate degree in nursing, results in higher starting pay. Where and how long you work also matters. For example, ICU nurses in Los Angeles earn 28.3% more on average when compared to the national average. The BLS cites consistent data showing California as the highest-paying state for RNs. In addition, Payscale reports that intensive care nurses can increase their pay by 20% after 5-9 years and more than 50% with 20+ years of experience.

State-specific pediatric intensive care nurse earning data is not available, but RN wage statistics can provide an idea of which states may pay the highest PICU salaries. The BLS lists California as the top-paying state for RNs, with average salaries of $124,000, followed by Hawaii at $106,530 and Oregon at $98,630.

Factors contributing to geographical variations in salaries include the regional cost-of-living index, a shortage or surplus of RNs in the area, and whether the jobs are in rural or urban communities. For example, all 10 of the nation’s top-paying metropolitan areas are located in California, as are the top three nonmetropolitan areas. For example, RNs in the San Jose area average $155,230 per year, while RNs working in the Sierra Nevada mountains earn $109,990.

PICU nurses can increase their pay in other ways, such as becoming certified, earning an advanced nursing degree, shifting to travel nursing, and transitioning into nurse management roles.

Payscale reports pediatric intensive care nurse salaries increase from $26 per hour with less than one year on the job to $51 an hour for those with 20 years or more of experience.

Because PICU nurses provide constant and intensive care to their critically ill young patients, they generally only have responsibility for 1-3 children at a time. Acutely ill patients’ conditions can change rapidly requiring vigilant attention.

Payscale data from November 2022 lists the pediatric intensive care nurse salary range at an average $56,000-$148,000 per year, or $27-$51 an hour. Salaries can increase with experience and certification and vary by education level, career advancement, and geographic location.

PICU nurses can typically make more money the longer they stay in their careers and by other means like earning a graduate nursing degree, relocating to a higher-paying area, becoming a travel nurse or nurse manager, or obtaining certification.