Pediatric Nursing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Specialized training in pediatric nursing equips registered nurses with the advanced clinical expertise required to deliver comprehensive, age-appropriate healthcare to infants, children, and adolescents. This program emphasizes evidence-based practice, family-centered care, and the unique physiological and developmental needs of young patients across diverse healthcare settings.
- Childhood Development and Growth Patterns: Explores the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social milestones across infancy, childhood, and adolescence to inform accurate assessment and tailored care planning.
- Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics: Focuses on safe medication administration, dosing adjustments based on age and weight, and monitoring for adverse effects in pediatric populations.
- Acute and Chronic Illness Management: Provides in-depth knowledge of diagnosing, treating, and managing common and complex pediatric conditions, from infectious diseases to chronic disorders like asthma and diabetes.
- Health Assessment and Diagnostic Support: Develops proficiency in performing specialized physical examinations, interpreting diagnostic results, and supporting physician-led evaluations in pediatric contexts.
- Family-Centered Care and Communication: Emphasizes building trust with caregivers, delivering culturally competent education, and involving families in care decisions to enhance treatment adherence and outcomes.
- Preventive Health and Wellness Education: Trains nurses to design and implement age-specific health promotion initiatives, immunization programs, and lifestyle education to support long-term well-being.
Pediatric Nursing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Pediatric Nursing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Pediatric Nursing degrees, including Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 3,663,650 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners 29-1171 | $129,210 | $97,960 - $169,950 | 307,390 | $62.12 |
| Registered Nurses 29-1141 | $93,600 | $66,030 - $135,320 | 3,282,010 | $45.00 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1072 | $79,940 | $47,950 - $130,040 | 74,250 | N/A |
Pediatric Nursing Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $85,040 in Arkansas to $135,317 in California—a 59% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Oregon, and Hawaii. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,663,650 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Pediatric Nursing by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 36 institutions offering Pediatric Nursing programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Pediatric Nursing is found at Vanderbilt University (VU) (62 graduates), Maryville University of Saint Louis (48 graduates), Duke University (43 graduates), University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (37 graduates), and Stony Brook University (SBU) (34 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 441 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
62 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
48 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
43 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
37 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
34 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions (MGH IHP) |
Master's
|
24 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mghihp.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
21 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
16 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
15 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
14 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
13 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
11 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| St Catherine University (St. Kate’s) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
10 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stkate.edu |
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | Portland, Oregon | Public | ohsu.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
|
9 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Master's
|
8 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Molloy College |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Rockville Centre, New York | Private | molloy.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Post-Master's
|
5 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
|
5 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Cedarville University |
Master's
|
4 | Cedarville, Ohio | Private | cedarville.edu |
| Alverno College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
4 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | alverno.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| Spring Arbor University (SAU) |
Master's
|
3 | Spring Arbor, Michigan | Private | arbor.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Post-Master's
|
3 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU) |
Master's
|
3 | Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania | Private | gmercyu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
2 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| King University |
Master's
|
2 | Bristol, Tennessee | Private | king.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Allen College |
Master's
|
1 | Waterloo, Iowa | Private | allencollege.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Kent State University |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Pediatric Nursing programs
How much can I earn with a Pediatric Nursing degree?
Salaries for Pediatric Nursing graduates vary by role and location. Nurse Practitioners earn a median of $129,210 annually, while Registered Nurses earn around $93,600. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $135,317 compared to $85,040 in Arkansas. Approximately 3,663,650 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Pediatric Nursing programs?
Currently 36 accredited institutions offer Pediatric Nursing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Vanderbilt University (VU) (62 graduates), Maryville University of Saint Louis (48 graduates), and Duke University (43 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Pediatric Nursing growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 200 in 2010 to a peak of 524 in 2020, before declining slightly to 441 in 2023-24. This represents a 121% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Pediatric Nursing degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 3,663,650 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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