Maternity Nurse salary √ RegisteredNursingSalary.com

Maternity Nurse salary. Maternity nurses, also called neonatal nurses, take care of newborn babies and their mothers. Those interested in working with babies in the medical field will likely find that becoming a maternity nurse is very satisfying.

Although this particular occupation can provide you with exciting challenges and a decent life, many factors will determine how much you earn as a neonatal nurse.

Maternity Nurse Salary (show/hide content):

Maternity nurses, also called neonatal nurses, take care of newborn babies and their mothers.

Registered Nurse & Licensed Vocational Nurse

Both registered nurses (RNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) can work in the area of maternity. RNs usually get a higher pay because they have administrative responsibilities, education and more training.

The difference is significant. According to data from the US Employment Statistics Agency, the average annual salaries of all registered nurses, including those working in maternity, were US $64,690 in May 2010, while the average annual salary of the LVN It is US $40,380.

Credentials and experience
It doesn't matter if you are an RN or an LVN, having training and education specifically in the area of neonatal care usually means a higher salary.

Initial level maternity nurses who have not worked in neonatal units earn much less than those who have had at least one or two years of related training or professional experience.

According to the Employment Statistics Agency, the initial level maternity RNs can earn US $44,190, while the initial level LVNs have an average annual salary of less than US $29,680.

In contrast, highly experienced and credentialed RNs earn more than US $95,130 and the top 10% of maternity LVNs earn more than US $56,010 annually.

Employer
Private employers of maternity nurses tend to pay more than public employers, such as state and county medical institutions.

For example, an LVN that works for an independent birth center will probably earn more than an LVN that works in the neonatal unit of a county hospital.

Private health centers and hospitals employ 15% neonatal LVN, while other private institutions employ 48% neonatal RNs.

Prospects
The job and career prospects for all maternity nurses are quite positive.

The Employment Statistics Agency estimates that registered maternity nurses can expect job demand to grow 26 percent between 2010 and 2020, while demand for maternity LNVs will grow 22 percent in the same period.

Both rates are faster than average for all occupations, which creates a good prospect.

Salary of an intensive care nurse

Intensive care nurses who have extensive experience in providing direct care to critically ill patients and who have passed the accreditation exam conducted by the American Association of Intensive Care Nurses, will be certified as critical care nurses. These nurses are entitled to the CCRN credential.

The American Association of Intensive Care Nurses notes several benefits for the favored, including possible discounts on negligence insurance rates.

Some studies indicate that nurses who have the CCRN credential earn higher salaries than those who do not. But there is no scientific sampling study that supports this study, according to the American Association of Intensive Care Nurses.

Salary in the United States

The average annual income for registered nurses in the United States, including advanced nursing practice and nurses who have specialty credentials, such as the CCRN, was $69,110 in May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The 10 percent of the nurses who earned the most were US $96,630 per year, while the lowest 10 percent made US $44,970 or less per year.

A published non-scientific survey reported that nurses with an intensive care specialty certification on average earn $18,000 per year more than those who were not certified, according to the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Regional salaries in the United States

Registered nurses working in California were those who earned the highest average salaries in the country with US $90,860 per year as of May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Those who practice in South Dakota are among the least paid, with average annual salaries of US $55,710. Rhode Island based earned average salaries of $72,720 per year, while those working in Florida earned $64,020.

A non-scientific survey published in advance for nurses reported nurses with specialty certification in intensive care who worked in the northeast region of the country, earned average salaries of US $82,125.

Nurses in the region of the Great Lakes of the Mid and Lower Atlantic earned $66,045 per year, while those located in the southeast earned US $69,023.

In midwestern locations certified nurses earned US $78,000 and those in the West reported an average income of US $135,200 per year.

Employers
Registered nurses who have CCRN certification usually work in critical care areas, such as intensive care units of general surgical medical hospitals, where they earn average annual salaries of US $69,810, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those who worked in specialty hospitals earned US $74,310, while nurses working in care centers earned US $60,830 per year.

An investigation of studies conducted by the American Council of Nursing Specialties that included RN certified specialty, uncertified nurses and nurse managers indicated that a statement in the "Certification increases salary" survey does not receive an increase.

Considerations
Nursing is the largest occupation in the health care industry, with more than 2.7 million jobs registered in May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The agency projects a 26 percent growth in new employment opportunities for nurses between 2010 and 2020. While having a CCRN certificate may or may not increase a nurse's salary, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses reported that such certification. It increases patient confidence and improves the nurse's personal growth and job satisfaction.