Do labor & delivery nurses or nicu nurses earn more in District of Columbia?

In District of Columbia, nicu nurses earn more — an estimated $112,790 a year versus $108,690 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $4,100 (roughly 4% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported District of Columbia pay for the closest reported role.

How much is the labor & delivery nurse vs nicu nurse pay gap in District of Columbia?

The estimated gap in District of Columbia is about $4,100 a year, or roughly 4% more for nicu nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these District of Columbia figures exact?

No — they're estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported District of Columbia pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

District of Columbia · DC

Labor & Delivery Nurse vs NICU Nurse salary in District of Columbia

In District of Columbia, nicu nurses earn more — an estimated $112,790 a year versus $108,690 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $4,100 (roughly 4% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for District of Columbia.

Labor & Delivery Nurse — District of Columbia

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$108,690

+5% vs national

Hourly

$52.25/hr

Median $108,690

$84,150Middle 50%: $91,000–$135,470$160,240

Typical range: $91,000–$135,470; What most nurses earn
High end: $160,240; Top earners
Entry level: $84,150; Newer nurses

NICU Nurse — District of Columbia

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$112,790

+5% vs national

Hourly

$54.23/hr

Median $112,790

$87,330Middle 50%: $94,440–$140,580$166,290

Typical range: $94,440–$140,580; What most nurses earn
High end: $166,290; Top earners
Entry level: $87,330; Newer nurses

Why the gap in District of Columbia

Labor & delivery and NICU nurse pay is close, as both are RN specialties compensated on the same wage base. L&D focuses on childbirth and maternal care; NICU on critically ill newborns in intensive care. NICU's ICU-level acuity and certifications (RNC-NIC) can edge pay up, but the roles are similar on pay. The District of Columbia figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for District of Columbia's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Labor & Delivery Nurse vs NICU Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.

Labor & Delivery Nurse vs NICU Nurse in District of Columbia — FAQ

Do labor & delivery nurses or nicu nurses earn more in District of Columbia?: In District of Columbia, nicu nurses earn more — an estimated $112,790 a year versus $108,690 for labor & delivery nurses, a gap of about $4,100 (roughly 4% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported District of Columbia pay for the closest reported role.
How much is the labor & delivery nurse vs nicu nurse pay gap in District of Columbia?: The estimated gap in District of Columbia is about $4,100 a year, or roughly 4% more for nicu nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these District of Columbia figures exact?: No — they're estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported District of Columbia pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled specialty estimate (BLS state wage × specialty adjustment)

Public wage data does not report Labor & Delivery Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in District of Columbia (May 2025) and applies a 1.06× specialty adjustment.

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for District of Columbia. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.