Also called: NICU Nurse
Cares for premature and critically ill newborns, some smaller than a pound.
Works inside incubators with tiny IVs and feeding tubes, tracks every milliliter of milk, and helps scared parents hold their baby for the first time. Celebrates 'graduations' when babies finally go home.
Estimate based on BLS registered nurse wages ($93,600 median, May 2024); varies by state and shift.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. RN license; RNC-NIC certification after NICU experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, 2-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Nursing (BSN), Nursing (ADN).
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Monitors and alarm systems get smarter; delicate care of tiny babies and supporting scared parents stay human.
Classes: Biology, Anatomy & physiology, Child development, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1141.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.