Neonatal nurse pay
$127,254median posted offer#64 of 379 specialties
Read from 25 live Neonatal postings that state pay — 33% above the all-nursing median of $95,680. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $82k
- 25th percentile
- $98k
- 75th percentile
- $145k
- 90th percentile
- $167k
Where does your pay sit in Neonatal?
Checked against 25 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $82k
- 25th percentile
- $98k
- 75th percentile
- $145k
- 90th percentile
- $167k
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.
Where Neonatal pays the most
| # | State | Median | Top 10% from | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $141,170 | $236k | 5 |
What the work is like and the way in: NICU / Neonatal guide
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee open nursing rolesEvery 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 Neonatal nurses make?
- Across 25 live Neonatal postings that state pay, the median offer is $127,254 a year. The middle half runs $98,415–$145,350, and the top 10% start at $166,712.
- Does Neonatal pay more than nursing overall?
- Neonatal ranks #64 of 379 specialties on posted pay. Its median is 33% above the all-nursing median of $95,680.
- Which states pay Neonatal nurses the most?
- By posted median right now: #1 California ($141,170). Rankings move as postings change — this page updates continuously.