Wondering how much your skills are worth as an L&D (Labor and Delivery) nurse in 2026? You are at the right pace. L&D nurses are registered nurses who take care of mothers before, during, and after childbirth, and are one of the most demanding specialties in nursing. Whether you are a staff L&D nurse or a travel L&D nurse, this specialty is demanding, challenging, and intense, but it is also rewarding. If you are a nursing student considering L&D nursing or an experienced nurse looking to advance your career by stepping into travel nursing, then understanding salary expectations is important and essential.
Before we give you an insight into how much L&D nurses are making in 2026, become a travel nurse with SkillGigs and explore high-paying contracts. Get a $500 bonus once you sign a contract with SkillGigs.
Types of L&D nurses and their salaries
Labor and Delivery (L&D) nurses are critical members of the maternity team, providing care to the mother and child before, during, and after delivery. They monitor the health of mothers and fetuses and assist during labor and delivery. Here is the breakdown of different types of L&D nurses and their salaries.
Staff L&D nurse:
Full-time nurses:
Staff L&D nurses are registered nurses who work full-time or part-time in a hospital. The overall salary of staff L&D nurses depends on the shifts they are working. The common shifts of L&D nurses are listed below.
12-hour shifts:
It consists of a day shift (7:00 am to 7:00 pm) and a night shift (7:00 pm to 7:00 am), typically 3 shifts per week (36 hours/week). Nurses working the night shift have higher hourly pay than day shift nurses.
8-hour shift:
It consists of day shift (7:00 AM – 3:00 PM), evening shift (3:00 PM – 11:00 PM), and night shift (11:00 PM – 7:00 AM), often working 5 shifts per week, which is 40 hours/week.
Part-time nurses:
Part-time nurses are registered nurses who work fewer hours than staff nurses and are often used to fill staffing gaps to maintain unit stability. They often get premium pay because they have fewer hours.
Weekends and holidays:
- Nurses working on weekends and holidays have a higher hourly rate than other staff nurses.
- The average pay of staff nurses in the US is around $55/hr, typically ranging from $104k–$127k.
Travel L&D nurse:
Travel L&D nurses work on short assignments (typically 13 weeks) across states, but assignments may vary from a few days to several months, depending on demand. Travel nursing agencies are constantly looking for L&D nurses to fill the gaps where there is a shortage of staff. Many factors affect the salary of travel L&D nurses, such as location, type of facility, demand, bonuses, housing stipends, travel reimbursements, etc.
The average salary of travel L&D nurses in 2026 is $66.32/ hr in Jan. The salaries are expected to be high in 2026 because it is one of the most demanding specialties. Ditch recruiters and join SkillGigs and explore top high-paying travel L&D nursing assignments.
Per diem nurses
Per diem means “by the day.” Per diem nurses are also known as PRN nurses, who work on as needed basis. There are no guaranteed hours, and they have flexible schedules. They pick their own shifts and get paid hourly. Their hourly pay is higher than that of full-time and part-time nurses. The per diem nurses’ pay is around $35 to $80/ hour, depending on location, demand, experience, etc.
Certified Nurse Midwife
Certified nurse midwives hold graduate-level degrees and specialized certification in midwifery, and their duty is to provide care throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. The salary of CNMs is roughly $102,800 – $125,400 annually. According to some sources, CNMs’ hourly pay is $54, but it varies according to experience, location, etc.
What are the factors that affect the L&D nurse’s salary?
The salary of L&D nurses is not the same, but it changes based on several factors, which are as follows.
Experience:
Experience play important role in a nurse’s salary. More experience means higher pay. Here is the breakdown of nurse pay according to experience:
- Entry-Level (0–1 year): $109,923/yr
- Early Career (1–2 years): $110,212/yr
- Mid-Level (2–4 years): $114,078/yr
- Senior (5–8 years): $119,521/yr
- Expert (>8 years): $119,909/yr
Location:
Another important factor that affects L&D RN salary is the location of the facility or nurse assignment. The states with a higher cost of living pay more than low-cost living areas. For example, the hourly rate of L&D nurses is higher in California than in Texas.
Type of employment:
Type of employment also affects nurse pay. For staff nurses, it is a consistent schedule with benefits, for travel nurses, it is high base pay with bonuses, and for per diem nurses, it is a higher hourly rate, etc.
Shift differentials and bonuses:
Shift differentials and bonuses are also one of the reasons that can affect nurses’ pay. Nurses working on weekends or holidays have higher hourly pay than other nurses. Bonus can also affect the overall pay of the travel L&D nurses. Sign up with SkillGigs and get a $500 bonus once you sign your first contract with us.
How to increase your L&D nurse salary in 2026?
If you are an L&D nurse and want to make more money in 2026, then here are the strategies to boost your income:
- Get additional certification to boost your resume. Recruiters and travel nursing agencies are constantly looking for nurses and travel nurses with additional certifications, and they get hired easily.
- Target high-demand areas because hospitals are willing to pay more to solve the problem of the shortage of staff and provide effective patient care. If you are a travel L&D nurse, look for assignments in high-cost living areas such as New York, California, etc.
- Choosing your shifts wisely is another reason you can make more money in 2026 as an L&D nurse. Working on weekends and holidays can add thousands annually to your pay.
- Work as a travel nurse or a per diem nurse to boost your pay and make extra income.
- Avoid recruiters and join SkillGigs to get high-paying L&D travel nursing contracts.
How Skill Gigs is helping L&D nurses to secure high-paying travel nursing assignments
- It matches L&D nurses to high-paying travel nursing assignments based on their skills and preferences.
- Traditional staffing models focus on generic resumes, whereas SkillGigs 3d resume give visual presentation of nurses’ qualifications, skills, and certifications that grabs recruiters’ attention and nurses can get hired more quickly.
- SkillGigs help nurses to see estimated pay ranges for assignments that help them choose L&D travel nursing contracts and meet their financial goals.
- It speeds up the hiring process for L&D (Labor and Delivery) nurses.
Conclusion
L&D nurses are in high demand in 2026. Whether you choose to become a staff nurse, travel nurse, or per diem nurse, it is important to understand the earning potential and the factors that affect L&D nurse salaries. In 2026, L&D nurses can maximize their salary by getting certification, gaining experience, and targeting high-pay locations. L&D travel nurses can make more by joining SkillGigs. Start exploring high-paying L&D nurse contracts and turn your skills into well-earned opportunities. Get a $500 bonus once you sign your first contract with SkillGigs.
