NICU nurse pay in California
$123,885median posted offer#2 of 5 states for NICU
NICU nurses in California are being offered a median $123,885 a year across 10 live postings that state pay — 13% above the national NICU median of $109,325. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $101k
- 25th percentile
- $113k
- 75th percentile
- $152k
- 90th percentile
- $175k
Where does your pay sit in NICU in California?
Checked against 10 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $101k
- 25th percentile
- $113k
- 75th percentile
- $152k
- 90th percentile
- $175k
Enter your pay to see your percentile.
Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.
Other specialties in California
- Nursing Administration 5 postings$230k
- Nursing Management 12 postings$220k
- Oncology Nursing 5 postings$215k
- Nursing Education 7 postings$214k
- Nursing Leadership 8 postings$206k
- Cardiovascular Surgery 6 postings$204k
- Cardiothoracic Surgery 9 postings$204k
- Family Medicine 5 postings$194k
Or see all nurse pay in California (5,353 postings), or NICU pay across every state.
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee NICU roles in CaliforniaEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do NICU nurses make in California?
- Across 10 live NICU postings in California that state pay, the median offer is $123,885 a year. The middle half runs $113,214–$151,783, and the top 10% start at $175,109.
- Is California a good state for NICU nurses?
- On posted pay, California ranks #2 of 5 states for NICU. The median there is 13% above the national NICU median of $109,325. Pay is one axis — shift, ratios, and cost of living decide whether the job is worth it.