National salary guide
Labor and Delivery Nurse Salary 2026
National pay overview, hourly and annual comparison, top paying states, top cities, and ways to improve compensation for labor and delivery nurse roles.
Use the national labor and delivery nurse salary and L&D RN hourly pay baseline as a starting point, then compare city-level rates, taxes, shift differentials, call requirements, and OB unit expectations.
National baseline
$82,000
$39.42/hr, $1,577/wk, $6,833/mo
National salary overview
Hourly
$39.42
Weekly
$1,577
Monthly
$6,833
Annual
$82,000
Labor and delivery nurses support patients throughout the childbirth process, from early labor through postpartum recovery in hospital birthing units. They monitor fetal heart rates, assist with pain management, and provide critical care during high-risk deliveries and obstetric emergencies.
How much does a labor and delivery nurse make?
TrueNursePay estimates labor and delivery nurse salary at about $82,000 per year, or $39.42 per hour, before taxes and local adjustments. That equals about $1,577 per week or $6,833 per month on a full-time schedule. L&D RN and labor and delivery registered nurse searches usually describe the same role family, but offers can differ by night differential, weekend rules, call requirements, high-risk OB exposure, benefits, and local cost of living.
For a better offer comparison, open the state and city calculators below to compare hourly pay, annual salary, estimated take-home pay, salary range, and nearby markets using the same assumptions.
Hourly estimate
$39.42
Annual estimate
$82,000
Updated
June 1, 2026
Fast salary answers for searchers
These are estimate-based answers for common salary searches. Actual offers can vary with employer, shift, certifications, benefits, overtime rules, and local cost of living.
Labor and Delivery Nurse hourly pay
$39.42
National gross hourly estimate before state and city adjustments.
Labor and Delivery Nurse annual salary
$82,000
Full-time annual estimate before taxes, differentials, and benefits.
Estimated salary range
$59,040-$108,240
Directional range for entry, mid-career, and experienced comparisons.
Best next comparison
Orlando, FL, Evansville, IN, South Bend, IN, Los Angeles, CA
Use local pages for take-home pay, cost-of-living, and offer context.
Salary questions this guide answers
Estimated salary range
Entry estimate
$59,040
$28.38/hr
Mid-career estimate
$82,000
$39.42/hr
Experienced estimate
$108,240
$52.04/hr
City salary calculators to compare next
These city guides make it easier to compare local hourly pay, annual pay, take-home context, and nearby markets before evaluating a specific offer.
Orlando, FL
$41.82/hr | $86,994/yr
Evansville, IN
$32.64/hr | $67,896/yr
South Bend, IN
$33.00/hr | $68,634/yr
Los Angeles, CA
$64.20/hr | $133,529/yr
San Diego, CA
$62.56/hr | $130,134/yr
Nashville, TN
$38.32/hr | $79,704/yr
Indianapolis, IN
$36.90/hr | $76,752/yr
Phoenix, AZ
$42.64/hr | $88,683/yr
Miami, FL
$47.91/hr | $99,663/yr
Dallas, TX
$37.36/hr | $77,703/yr
Louisville, KY
$35.73/hr | $74,325/yr
Knoxville, TN
$33.71/hr | $70,110/yr
Philadelphia, PA
$45.04/hr | $93,677/yr
Birmingham, AL
$36.01/hr | $74,907/yr
Priority state guides
These state pages are the strongest next steps for comparing statewide pay, city-level calculators, and take-home context.
Top paying states
| State | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $58.74 | $122,180 |
| California | $54.40 | $113,160 |
| New York | $53.22 | $110,700 |
| Massachusetts | $52.04 | $108,240 |
| New Jersey | $51.25 | $106,600 |
| Alaska | $50.46 | $104,960 |
| Connecticut | $50.07 | $104,140 |
| Maryland | $48.10 | $100,040 |
| New Hampshire | $46.52 | $96,760 |
| Rhode Island | $46.52 | $96,760 |
Top paying cities
New York City, NY
$74.51/hr | $154,980/yr
San Francisco, CA
$73.45/hr | $152,766/yr
San Jose, CA
$68.00/hr | $141,450/yr
Cambridge, MA
$66.61/hr | $138,547/yr
Honolulu, HI
$65.79/hr | $136,842/yr
Los Angeles, CA
$64.20/hr | $133,529/yr
Yonkers, NY
$63.87/hr | $132,840/yr
Boston, MA
$63.49/hr | $132,053/yr
San Diego, CA
$62.56/hr | $130,134/yr
Kailua, HI
$62.26/hr | $129,511/yr
Pearl City, HI
$61.09/hr | $127,067/yr
Jersey City, NJ
$60.48/hr | $125,788/yr
Hourly vs annual pay
The annual estimate assumes a full-time schedule of 2,080 hours. If you are comparing hourly offers, convert shift differential and overtime separately because those can change take-home pay more than the base rate suggests.
How to increase pay
- Target higher-paying states and cities before negotiating a base rate.
- Ask for written details on shift differential, weekend premium, and overtime rules.
- Use specialty certifications and high-acuity experience as negotiation evidence.
- Compare health benefits, PTO, retirement match, tuition support, and sign-on terms.
Related specialties
FAQ
How much does a Labor and Delivery Nurse make in 2026?
The national baseline used by TrueNursePay is $82,000 per year, or about $39.42 per hour, before taxes and local adjustments.
Which states pay labor and delivery nurse roles the most?
In this model, Hawaii, California, New York currently show the highest statewide estimates after cost-of-living adjustment.
How can nurses increase pay in this specialty?
Higher pay often comes from high-acuity experience, specialty certifications, shift differentials, weekend premiums, overtime rules, travel contracts, and moving into stronger local labor markets.
Are these figures guaranteed salary offers?
No. The estimates were last updated on June 1, 2026 and are intended for comparison and planning. Actual offers vary by employer, experience, shift, certifications, and contract type.
How much does a labor and delivery nurse make per hour?
The national L&D RN baseline converts to the hourly estimate shown on this page using 2,080 full-time hours per year. State and city pages adjust that estimate for local market and cost-of-living assumptions.
What should labor and delivery nurses compare before accepting an offer?
Compare base hourly pay, night shift differential, weekend rules, call requirements, high-risk OB exposure, floating expectations, benefits, commute, and state tax impact.
What does L&D RN salary mean?
L&D RN salary is a common shorthand for labor and delivery registered nurse salary. The pay should be compared with the same offer factors: base hourly rate, shift differential, call expectations, high-risk OB exposure, and benefits.
Why do labor and delivery nurse salaries vary by city?
Local demand, hospital systems, cost of living, union or facility policies, birth volume, and high-risk obstetric services can all change labor and delivery compensation.
Methodology
Last updated June 1, 2026. TrueNursePay uses a national specialty salary baseline, then state and city pages apply cost-of-living, local market, and tax assumptions. The numbers are estimates for career planning and offer comparison.