Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurse Pay & Jobs
NICU travel nurses care for premature and critically ill newborns, requiring specialized skills in neonatal care.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
Specialty pay figures on this page are our own editorial estimates, reviewed July 31, 2026 — not survey or government wage data. How we produce these numbers.
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.
Federal tax applies to wages after the $16,100 standard deduction; FICA applies to all wages. Tax-free stipends are excluded from both.
Same-state assignment, and TX levies no wage income tax, so no state income tax return is due on these wages.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$58.89
Based on 36 hours in TX.
Gross Weekly Pay
$2,120
Taxable Weekly Income
$720
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$100
True Net Weekly Pay
$2,020
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$26,266
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
$52,532
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
$105,063
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
$2,020
per week
Taxes
$100
per week
Total Gross: $2,120 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$1,000
≈ $4,330/month
Est. 1BR Rent in Texas
$1,100
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$3,230
Your stipend covers rent with $3,230 left over each month.
Find apartments under $1,100/month in Houston:
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We may earn a commission if you book through our link.
Cost of Living Analysis in Texas
After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses
National average = 100. Texas's cost of living is lower than the national average by 7.3 points.
Housing Cost: Low
Utilities: Low
Rent figures are our own editorial estimates, not survey or listings data. Actual rent varies by neighborhood and housing type.
Resources for Your Assignment
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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.
Top Cities for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Travel Nurses
View all city pay guides to compare pay and cost of living.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Pay by State
Browse travel nurse pay, GSA stipend ceilings and tax detail for each state.
$42/hr
AK$55/hr
AZ$48/hr
AR$40/hr
CA$55/hr
CO$50/hr
CT$52/hr
DE$48/hr
FL$51/hr
GA$51/hr
HI$58/hr
ID$46/hr
IL$48/hr
IN$42/hr
IA$40/hr
KS$41/hr
KY$40/hr
LA$43/hr
ME$46/hr
MD$50/hr
MA$56/hr
MI$45/hr
MN$48/hr
MS$38/hr
MO$42/hr
MT$44/hr
NE$41/hr
NV$50/hr
NH$48/hr
NJ$52/hr
NM$46/hr
NY$58/hr
NC$44/hr
ND$42/hr
OH$52/hr
OK$40/hr
OR$54/hr
PA$48/hr
RI$50/hr
SC$42/hr
SD$40/hr
TN$41/hr
TX$46/hr
UT$45/hr
VT$48/hr
VA$47/hr
WA$56/hr
WV$38/hr
WI$44/hr
WY$44/hr
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.