[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke”][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Key Takeaways[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check” marker-color=”secondary”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses assess and treat patients from newborn to age 18 across diverse settings.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses need an ADN or BSN degree, an active RN license, and at least two years of experience to gain certification.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to Payscale, the average pediatric nurse salary is about $72,210 per year.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A pediatric nurse cares for children from infancy through age 18, seeing patients with various conditions in different developmental stages.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses need empathy, patience, and communication skills to explain treatment plans and diagnoses to patients and parents. If you enjoy working with children and are interested in children’s growth and development, pediatric nursing may be for you.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Find out what pediatric nurses do, where they work, and how you can become a pediatric nurse.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”3″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-center”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]How Long to Become[/hen-ui-text]2-4 years[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-center”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Job Outlook, 2024-2034[/hen-ui-text]5% growth[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-center”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Average Annual Salary, September 2025[/hen-ui-text]$72,210[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-sm text-right mb-8″]Source: BLS, [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Pediatric_Nurse/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]Payscale[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Does a Pediatric Nurse Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses work with children from birth until age 18. Some pediatric nurses may work in health clinics that treat children until age 21.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses focus on keeping patients as healthy as possible. They also assist physicians in creating and carrying out plans to keep patients healthy throughout childhood and adulthood.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Most pediatric nurses work in primary care and see patients with various conditions. However, pediatric nurses in a subspeciality, such as pediatric [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/oncology-nurse/”]oncology nursing[/hen-ui-link], pediatric [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/critical-care-nurse/”]critical care[/hen-ui-link] nursing, or [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/neonatal-nurse/”]neonatal critical care[/hen-ui-link] nursing, see a narrower variety of conditions based on their subspecialty.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Pediatric Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses work in all types of healthcare settings: community hospitals, specialty hospitals, and outpatient centers, etc.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-900″]Community and Teaching Hospitals[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Most nurses work in this setting. Nurses in teaching hospitals will likely have longer shifts. They may work nights and weekends. They care for patients before and after surgery, participate in rounds with doctors, and give IV medications.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-900″]Specialty Hospitals[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses work about the same hours and perform similar tasks as they would in community hospitals. However, they may provide more intensive care for patients. Their patients may have varying health needs, such as end-of-life care, cancer, or developmental disabilities.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-900″]Physician’s Offices or Outpatient Care Centers[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses in physician’s offices and outpatient care centers often work regular business hours. They may see the same patients on a routine basis for either primary or specialty care. In addition to their other nursing duties, they greet patients, schedule appointments, and answer parents’ questions by phone.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Pediatric Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/pediatric-nurse/how-to-become/”]To become a pediatric nurse[/hen-ui-link], you must first become a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/registered-nursing/how-to-become-a-rn/”]registered nurse [/hen-ui-link](RN). To be an RN, you must earn a degree, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for a license.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You need at least a two-year [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/adn/best-adn-programs/”]associate degree in nursing[/hen-ui-link] (ADN) to take the NCLEX-RN and earn your license. You may find more job openings if you earn your [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/bsn/best-bsn-programs-online/”]bachelor of science in nursing[/hen-ui-link] (BSN) instead, which takes four years to complete.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]After graduation, pass [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/nclex/guide/”]the NCLEX-RN[/hen-ui-link] and apply for your RN license in your state. Once you have your license, consider getting additional certifications. Nurse managers prefer certified pediatric nurses 90% of the time, according to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.pncb.org/cpn-certification-benefits” target=”_blank”]Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses should consider applying for the Pediatric Nursing Board Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the Certified Pediatric Nurse certification from the PNCB.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Both certifications require nurses to hold a current unrestricted license and at least two years of full-time pediatric nursing experience.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board requires 1800 hours of pediatric nursing experience within the last two years. The American Nurses Credentialing Center requires 2000 hours of pediatric nursing experience within the last three years and 30 hours of continuing education.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Pediatric Nurses Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses make an average of $33.93 an hour, according to [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Pediatric_Nurse/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]September 2025 Payscale data.[/hen-ui-link] They make an average of $72,210 annually.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The highest-paid pediatric nurses make $98,000 annually. The lowest-paid pediatric nurses make $54,000 annually.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 5% job growth for all registered nurses between 2024 and 2034, faster than the average 3% growth for all occupations.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/pediatric-nurse/salary/”]Pediatric nurses’ salaries[/hen-ui-link] vary based on skills and experience level. Nurses with specialized experience in neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, and surgery may earn more than average.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions about Pediatric Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What do pediatric nurses focus on?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/what-to-know-about-working-as-a-pediatric-nurse/”]Pediatric nurses[/hen-ui-link] work with doctors, parents, and patients to help patients get and stay as healthy as possible into adulthood.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Why is being a pediatric nurse hard?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses must understand the different stages of child development, including how children’s bodies and common illnesses differ from those of adults. They also need strong interpersonal skills to explain treatments and diagnoses in a calm and comforting manner. Additionally, pediatric nurses must have strong objective assessment skills, as infants and children may be unable to express their subjective concerns.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What is the job outlook for a pediatric nurse?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The BLS projects a 5% job growth for RNs across all specialties between 2024 and 2034.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What does a typical day look like for a pediatric nurse?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatric nurses examine patients, record health information and vitals and treat, educate, and comfort patients and parents on a daily basis. Yet, pediatric nurses do not have typical days because their patients vary so much in age, health status, and developmental stage.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion]