According to Salary.com, the average annual salary for pediatric nurses in the United States is around $74,600.
Indeed.com estimates pediatric nurses make approximately $400 – $3,200 per week if you break it down further.
Based on Indeed’s income statistics, it comes out to $1,513 weekly or $78,676 yearly.
Notably, income varies enormously between the bottom 10% and the top 10% earners.
The bottom 10% of pediatric nurses earn approximately $61,227.
Conversely, the top 10% of earners generate around $95,233 per year.
That’s a difference of over $30,000 annually.
A pediatric nurse’s salary is further differentiated depending on their state of employment.
For instance, Nurse Journal estimates they earn roughly $120,560 in California, making it the highest paying state.
On the opposite end, Arkansas pays its pediatric nurses approximately $63,640.
Keep in mind the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t provide individual salaries for each state.
As a result, Nurse Journals estimates are based on RN salaries to approximate the compensations of pediatric nurses.
It’s difficult to determine precisely how much pediatric nurses make because various websites use different data.
Finally, numerous factors determine their expected salary, including education, specialization, and career length.
Pediatric Nurse Salary
- The average weekly average is $1,513
- The monthly average is $6,052
- The annual average is $74,600
Est. based on Salary.com and Indeed.com
Factors That Influence A Pediatric Nurse’s Salary
A pediatric nurse’s salary depends on several factors.
It includes their education/degree, the state they work in, their organization, and their occupational role.
First-time pediatric nurses may earn salaries below $62,000 on average regarding education.
It requires years to build their knowledge, background, and training to earn more money and manage more responsibilities.
In contrast, experienced pediatric nurse practitioners with advanced training and education may earn more than $121,807 annually.
Remember that their state and specialization also factor into their annual income.
State/Location Salary Averages
The median earnings for a pediatric nurse can differ by upwards of $20,000 annually, depending on the location.
According to ZipRecruiter, registered pediatric nurses in New York City, NY, can expect $91,254.
Those working in New York and outside the city earn more than $79,334.
Comparatively, pediatric nurses in South Dakota can expect an annual average wage of approximately $74,433.
The higher wages don’t necessarily translate into increased earning potential because the cost of living is higher in specific locations.
In short, while these healthcare professionals make more money in New York, they also pay higher taxes, rent, and costs for goods.
These expenses nullify some or all financial advantages a pediatric nurse has in a particular state.
With that said, some nurses make much more money because of where they live.
Pediatric nurses must consider their living costs and subtract them from their salary to determine how it impacts their income.
Career Setting
Pediatric nurses provide services in various healthcare settings.
It includes hospitals, community health clinics, pediatrician offices, home care agencies, and PICU/NICU departments.
Places Pediatric Nurse Work
- Community health clinics
- Home care agencies
- Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)
- Pediatric floors in a general hospital
- Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs)
- Pediatrician’s offices
As you can expect, a pediatric nurse’s salary varies depending on their work setting and role.
For instance, pediatric nurses in NICU/PICU departments may earn more than pediatric nurses in community health clinics.
As a result, their responsibilities and position are partially determined by their employer’s needs and career experiences.
Education and Specialization
One of the most significant factors determining a pediatric nurse’s income is their education and specialization.
Less experienced pediatric nurses working in general healthcare settings will earn less than pediatric nurse practitioners providing primary care.
Nurses who desire to earn the highest wages in pediatrics will want to become pediatric nurse practitioners.
Overview of Pediatric Nursing
Pediatric nursing (aka child health nursing) provides babies and children with specialized medical care.
Those specializing in pediatric care tend to children’s medical needs from birth to their late teenage years.
These healthcare specialists perform a wide variety of medical/healthcare-related tasks.
For instance, they keep health records, perform physical exams, administer medications and assist with treatment plans.
Based on the pediatric nurses’ education and training, some nurses may even diagnose children’s injuries and illnesses.
With that said, diagnoses are limited to pediatric nurse practitioners.
These medical professionals are advanced practice registered nurses with post-graduate education specializing in pediatrics.
At this level, pediatric nurse practitioners can diagnose conditions, prescribe medications and act as primary care providers.
Because they focus on children’s health care, many adults choose to work with them.
Pediatric nurses deal with children regularly and can often socialize much better than those who focus their attention mainly on adult care.
They use their years of experience and education to assist the children and parents in the best care for their children.
Their specialization allows them to help adults/children understand what to expect in certain situations.
It also helps adults with their children’s ailments by educating them about their child’s condition and how to treat it best.