Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurse Pay & Jobs

NICU travel nurses care for premature and critically ill newborns, requiring specialized skills in neonatal care.

Calculate Your Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurse Pay

Use our calculator to estimate your take-home pay as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travel nurse, including cost of living analysis.

Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown

Estimate your take-home pay, taxes, and blended rate in seconds.

Overtime (Optional)

Blended Hourly Rate

$58.89

Based on 36 hours in CA.

Gross Weekly Pay

$2,120

Taxable Weekly Income

$720

Estimated Weekly Taxes

$173

True Net Weekly Pay

$1,947

Assignment Projections

13-Week Assignment

$25,314

Net Pay

26-Week Assignment

$50,627

Net Pay

Annual (52 weeks)

$101,254

Net Pay

Take Home vs Taxes

Take Home
Taxes

Cost of Living Analysis in California

Monthly Net Income:$8,431
Average 1BR Rent:$2,100
True Discretionary Income:$6,331

After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses

Cost of Living Index:151.7

National average = 100. California's cost of living is higher than the national average by 51.7 points.

💡 High cost of living area. Ensure your pay compensates for the increased expenses.

Housing Cost: Very High

Utilities: High

Rent data based on 2025 market averages. Actual rent may vary by neighborhood and housing type.

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Average Hourly Rate

$54/hr

Average Weekly Pay

$2,160

Average Annual Pay

$112,320

Requirements for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurses

  • BLS
  • NRP
  • 2+ years NICU experience

Note: Requirements may vary by facility and state. Always verify specific requirements with your travel nurse agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travel nurses make?

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travel nurses typically earn between $49 and $64 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $54/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate typically ranges from $93-104 per hour.

What are the requirements for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travel nurses?

Requirements for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travel nurses typically include: BLS, NRP, 2+ years NICU experience. Requirements may vary by facility and state.

What is the demand for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travel nurses?

The demand for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travel nurses is high. This specialty offers good job opportunities and competitive pay rates.

Which states pay the most for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travel nurses?

California, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and Oregon typically offer the highest pay rates for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit travel nurses. However, consider cost of living when evaluating total compensation. Use our [state comparison tool](/compare-states/) to compare pay across different states.