How much do pediatric nurses make?
Pediatric nurses make about $97,550 a year at the national RN median, with the middle half of RNs between $80,330 and $112,350.[onet_rn][oews] BLS surveys employers by occupation and industry, not by patient age, so it publishes no pediatric-only wage; BLS gives pediatric oncology nursing as an example of an RN specialty.[ooh_rn][oews_faq] The useful split is the setting, because children are cared for in very different workplaces.
| Employer type (BLS industry) | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialty hospitals (except psychiatric) | $102,840 | $49.44 | $80,430 | $137,660 | 73,710 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | $100,210 | $48.18 | $76,270 | $138,990 | 1,902,960 |
| Outpatient care centers | $99,350 | $47.76 | $73,770 | $177,360 | 173,380 |
| All industries | $97,550 | $46.90 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
| Offices of physicians | $85,000 | $40.87 | $61,330 | $125,740 | 232,420 |
| Home health care services | $84,930 | $40.83 | $66,350 | $126,090 | 198,180 |
| Educational services | $78,620 | $37.80 | $50,000 | $127,170 | 95,240 |
BLS OEWS national industry-specific estimates, May 2025; jobs are wage and salary employment in that industry.
Pediatric nurse pay in hospitals, clinics and schools
Hospital pediatric nurses earn the most: RNs in general medical and surgical hospitals have a median of $100,210, $15,210 more than RNs in physician offices, where pediatric practices are counted.[oews_ind] Office jobs usually trade that pay for daytime hours without nights, weekends or holidays, which also means no shift differentials on top of the base rate.
- Hospital units (pediatric floors, pediatric ICU, emergency): $100,210 median, $138,990 at the 90th percentile.[oews_ind]
- Physician offices (including pediatric practices): $85,000 median.[oews_ind]
- Home health (including children with complex medical needs at home): $84,930 median.[oews_ind]
- Schools (BLS educational services, where school nurses are counted): $78,620 median, the lowest of these settings. School contracts often cover about ten months, so compare the yearly figure, not the hourly one.[oews_ind]
Pediatric nurse hourly pay
Pediatric nurse hourly pay is $46.90 at the RN median and about $48.18 in general hospitals, before overtime and differentials.[onet_rn][oews_ind] BLS converts annual wages to hourly ones at 2,080 hours a year.[oews_faq]
| Percentile | All RNs | General hospitals | Physician offices | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33.14 | $36.67 | $29.49 | $24.04 |
| 25th | $38.62 | $39.24 | $36.25 | $29.70 |
| Median | $46.90 | $48.18 | $40.87 | $37.80 |
| 75th | $54.01 | $57.21 | $49.17 | $48.33 |
| 90th | $66.09 | $66.82 | $60.45 | $61.14 |
A take-home figure for any of these rates, with your state's income tax, is one click away in the calculator above. For overnight 12-hour hospital shifts, see the shift table on NICU nurse salary.
Pediatric nurse salary by state
California pays registered nurses the most at a median of $140,270, followed by Hawaii and Oregon; state figures cover all RNs, since BLS does not cross state with patient population.[onet_rn] Every state, with metro areas, is on nurse salary by state.
| State | Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. California | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| 2. Hawaii | $136,320 | $65.54 |
| 3. Oregon | $129,010 | $62.02 |
| 4. Washington | $124,200 | $59.71 |
| 5. Alaska | $109,480 | $52.63 |
| 6. New York | $109,440 | $52.62 |
| 7. New Jersey | $106,500 | $51.20 |
| 8. Massachusetts | $104,550 | $50.26 |
| 9. Nevada | $103,670 | $49.84 |
| 10. Connecticut | $102,740 | $49.39 |
How to become a pediatric nurse
- Earn an RN license. An associate or bachelor's degree in nursing and the NCLEX-RN; the steps are on how to become a registered nurse and the timelines on how long is nursing school.
- Work with children. Hospitals, pediatric practices and schools hire RNs into pediatrics; each sets its own experience rules.
- Certify. The Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) exam needs 1,800 hours as an RN in pediatric nursing within the past 24 months.[pncb_faq]
| Credential | Experience required | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse), PNCB | 1,800 pediatric RN hours in 24 months; or 5 years as a pediatric RN with 3,000 hours in 5 years (1,000 in the last 24 months) | $309 (includes $103 nonrefundable registration) |
| CCRN (Pediatric), AACN | 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely or critically ill children in 2 years (875 in the last year), or 2,000 hours in 5 years (144 in the last year) | $260 member, $375 nonmember |
The CPN does not require a BSN: diploma, associate, bachelor's and master's nursing graduates can sit for it, and PNCB gives a 90-day testing window after approval.[pncb_faq][pncb_fee] The CCRN (Pediatric) is meant for intensive care and needs an unencumbered RN or APRN license.[aacn_peds]
Pediatric nurse practitioner and higher-paid paths
A pediatric nurse practitioner earns far more than a staff pediatric nurse: BLS counts PNPs with all nurse practitioners, whose median is $132,300, $34,750 above the RN median.[onet_np][onet_rn] The graduate program is covered on nurse practitioner school and pay on nurse practitioner salary. Nurses who want newborn intensive care can compare NICU nurse salary.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pediatric nurses make?
About $97,550 a year at the national RN median (BLS, May 2025). In general hospitals the RN median is $100,210; in physician offices $85,000; in schools $78,620.
How much do pediatric nurses make an hour?
$46.90 at the RN median, about $48.18 in hospitals and $40.87 in physician offices, before overtime and shift differentials.
Do you need a BSN to be a pediatric nurse?
No law requires one. You need an RN license, and the CPN exam accepts diploma, associate, bachelor's and master's nursing graduates. Some hospitals prefer BSN-prepared nurses.
How do I get CPN certified?
Hold an unencumbered U.S. RN license, log 1,800 pediatric RN hours in 24 months, apply to PNCB and pay $309; you then have 90 days to test.
What is a school nurse salary?
RNs in educational services earn a median of $78,620 a year (BLS, May 2025), the lowest of the common pediatric settings; many school jobs follow the academic year.
Sources
- Local Wages: 29-1141.00 Registered Nurses (state and metro percentiles)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses
- OEWS Frequently Asked Questions (wage definition; 2,080-hour year)
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates for registered nurses (29-1141) and nurse practitioners (29-1171): employment, mean and percentile wages (OEUN series), Public Data API v2
- CPN Exam FAQs (1,800 pediatric RN hours in 24 months, or 5 years and 3,000 hours; BSN not required)
- Your CPN Exam Appointment ($309 initial exam fee including $103 registration; 90-day testing window)
- CCRN (Pediatric) Direct Care eligibility (1,750 hours in two years or 2,000 hours in five years; $260 member, $375 nonmember)
- Local Wages: 29-1171.00 Nurse Practitioners (state and metro percentiles)