Pay Rates for Pediatric Nurses

Pediatric nursing is an exciting and rewarding career, especially for people who enjoy working with children. If you have a passion for kids and an interest in the medical field, you may do well as a pediatric nurse. Most people assume that working with kids would lead to a child-like salary, but that is far from the case. The truth is that pediatric nurses make very good money because they have to go through more training than registered nurses do. Here is a look at the pediatric nurse salary you can expect to make if you decide to go into this sector of nursing. You might be surprised by what you find.

Salary by Specialty

You can specialize in certain areas of pediatrics if you want to earn more money as a pediatric nurse. Possible salaries by specialty include:

• Pediatrics: $24,613 - $75,532
• Nursery: $19,329 - $99,329
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: $31,676 - $70,907
• Labor and Delivery: $24,161 - $99,329
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU): $36,438 - $61,983
• Emergency Room (ER): $23,583 - $59,762

Salary by Years of Experience

As you gain experience in the field of pediatric nursing, you will see a change in the amount of money that you get paid. Here is a look at how those numbers may fluctuate throughout your career:

• Less than 1 year: $32,000 - $60,000
• 1-4 years: $19,794 - $64,564
• 5-9 years: $20,426 - $117,446
• 10+ years: $38,527 - $67,813

Salary by State

Some states have higher standards of living than others, which will influence the amount of money you can make in a certain area. Listed below are some common salary levels for different states in the US.

• Texas: $30,521 - $70,053
• Georgia: $40,000 - $80,000
• Florida: $44,000 - $67,959
• California: $19,866 - $117,446

Salary by Industry

The industry you choose to work in will determine the kind of work that you do, and that could become important in approximating your earnings. Average salary levels by industry include:

• Pediatrics: $10,304 - $96,958
• Hospital: $27,617 - $61,825
• Healthcare: $26,349 - $82,500

Salary by Certification

The certifications you choose to get may be more important in calculating your earnings than you think. You can see that with some of the statistics below.

• Registered Nurse: $22,000 - $76,471
• Critical Care: $14,895 - $119,195
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: $33,040 - $76,025
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support: $35,608 - $59,499

Salary by Employer Type

Some employers have more money to offer their staff than others. The information below highlights how your pediatric nurse salary may change with the type of employer you work under.

• Hospital: $27,583 - $79,067
• Private Practice/Firm: $28,000 - $57,391

As you can see, there is a lot of money to be made in pediatric nursing. The more experience you have in your job and the better degree you have, the more money you will potentially make. In order to ensure that you have the highest salary possible, you need to think about looking for high paying employers in high paying areas. Factor in the cost of living for an area before you decide where you want to work, and then you should be able to find the most profitable option out there. With the right eye for opportunities, you'll be on your way to a financially and morally rewarding profession in no time.