The salary of a Nurse Practitioner tends to be quite a bit higher than the average salary for a Registered Nurse.
This makes sense given that NPs required additional, advanced-level education. It equips them with the skills they need to excel in new, more challenging roles.
In this post, you’ll learn about the average salary for a Nurse Practitioner, what they do, and see if it may be the right path for you.
How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Year?
The average annual salary for a Nurse Practitioner is $118,040.
The bottom 10% of average annual NP salaries is $79,470.
The top 10% is $163,350 per year.
The median annual wage for a Nurse Practitioner is $120,680.
How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Hour?
The average hourly wage for a Nurse Practitioner is $56.75.
The bottom 10% of hourly NP wages is $38.21.
The top 10% is $78.54 per hour.
The median hourly wage for a Nurse Practitioner is $58.02 per hour.
Nurse Practitioner Salary By State
Nurse Practitioner salaries can vary greatly depending on your location.
However, if you’re a travel nurse looking to move for a bigger salary, remember to take the cost of living index into account.
For example, it’s more expensive to live in a state like California than Alabama. This accounts for some of the wage disparity, but there are certainly opportunities to make more money by working in a different location.
The table below provides you the average annual NP salary in each state according to the most recent BLS data.
| State | Average Annual NP Salary |
| Alabama | $102,410 |
| Alaska | $113,820 |
| Arizona | $119,910 |
| Arkansas | $107,080 |
| California | $151,830 |
| Colorado | $112,580 |
| Connecticut | $120,450 |
| Delaware | $116,230 |
| District of Columbia | $125,290 |
| Florida | $104,830 |
| Georgia | $109,560 |
| Hawaii | $127,490 |
| Idaho | $105,290 |
| Illinois | $120,470 |
| Indiana | $113,490 |
| Iowa | $121,370 |
| Kansas | $108,710 |
| Kentucky | $106,080 |
| Louisiana | $112,650 |
| Maine | $116,370 |
| Maryland | $115,700 |
| Massachusetts | $129,540 |
| Michigan | $108,770 |
| Minnesota | $127,010 |
| Mississippi | $111,750 |
| Missouri | $103,490 |
| Montana | $115,710 |
| Nebraska | $112,670 |
| Nevada | $123,680 |
| New Hampshire | $120,730 |
| New Jersey | $137,010 |
| New Mexico | $118,480 |
| New York | $133,940 |
| North Carolina | $112,730 |
| North Dakota | $112,720 |
| Ohio | $112,490 |
| Oklahoma | $116,650 |
| Oregon | $128,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $117,260 |
| Rhode Island | $126,760 |
| South Carolina | $102,850 |
| South Dakota | $112,320 |
| Tennessee | $95,120 |
| Texas | $117,890 |
| Utah | $112,920 |
| Vermont | $112,540 |
| Virginia | $112,320 |
| Washington | $130,840 |
| West Virginia | $104,750 |
| Wisconsin | $116,990 |
| Wyoming | $114,530 |
Where Are Nurse Practitioners Paid The Most?
California is the state that pays Nurse Practitioners the highest average annual salary.
The average annual wage for an NP in California is $151,830.
Meanwhile, the average hourly wage is $72.99. The state employs about 17,400 NPs.
The top-paying states after California include:
- New Jersey ($137,010)
- New York ($133,940)
- Washington ($130,840)
- Massachusetts ($129,540)
Where Are Nurse Practitioners Paid The Least?
Tennessee is the state that pays Nurse Practitioners the lowest average annual salary.
The average annual wage for an NP in Tennessee is $95,120.
Meanwhile, the average hourly wage is $45.73. The state employs about 11,360 NPs.
The lowest-paying states after Tennessee include:
- Alabama ($102,410)
- South Carolina ($102,850)
- Missouri ($103,490)
- West Virginia ($104,750)
Nurse Practitioner Salary By Speciality
While there’s nothing wrong with being a general Nurse Practitioner, NPs also have the option of specializing in care for specific populations.
Generally, this is done by completing a nursing program that provides them with the necessary clinical competency for this area of expertise.
If an NP picks a specialization, they will also have to receive the proper certification in that area.
The speciality you choose can also impact your salary. Below is a breakdown of Nurse Practitioner salaries by speciality.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners provide mental health treatment to their patients.
Their duties involve prescribing medication to helping manage patient treatment plans. They also treat a range of mental health conditions, including but not limited to depression and schizophrenia.
The average salary for a PMHNP is $138,324. However, salaries can range form $54,000 to $224,000.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal Nurse Practitioners care for premature or sick newborns.
They treat infants suffering from:
- Low birth weight
- Heart abnormalities
- Complications of prematurity
The average salary for an NNP is $129,718. However, salaries range from $109,697 to $149,844.
Emergency Nurse Practitioner
Emergency Nurse Practitioners mostly work in emergency departments and urgent care facilities.
They treat patents of all ages and provide critical care when someone undergoes a trauma or life-threatening emergency.
The average salary for an Emergency Nurse Practitioner is $118,685. However, salaries can range from $102,686 to $144,250.
Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Oncology Nurse Practitioners treat patients who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Some of their duties may include:
- Supervising treatment infusions
- Ordering and interpreting lab tests and x-rays
- Creating pain management plans
The average salary for an Oncology Nurse Practitioner is $117,801. However, salaries can range from $104,619 to $126,016.
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioners treat patients suffering from conditions involving:
- Bones
- Muscles
- Joints
- Supporting connective tissue
Some of their duties may include assisting with surgeries or and creating pain management plans for patients.
The average salary for an Orthopedic NP is $117,800. However, salaries can range from $103,090 to $132,128.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Acute Care Nurse Practitioners typically work in hospital settings. The care they provide is often critical and urgent.
They treat patents that:
- Are ill
- Have been admitted to the hospital
- Just underwent a medical procedure
The average salary for an ACNP is $115,383. However, salaries can range from $102,836 to $131,232.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioners provide care for patients of all ages.
They are often primary care providers for families, and may work with patients throughout their entire lives.
Their duties involve both diagnosing and treating patients.
The average salary for an FNP is $115,310. However, salaries can range from $99,434 to $134,319.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners provide care to children until they become adults.
Their duties can include:
- Performing check-ups
- Adminsitering immunizations
- Rating chronic and acute conditions
The average salary for a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is $111,600. However, salaries can range from $97,463 to $122,107.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners focus on care related to:
- Reproduction
- Gynecology
- Obstetrics
They diagnose and treat patients as well as offering advice on preventative health maintenance.
The average salary for a WHNP is $110,111. However, salaries can range from $97,296 to $125,410.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners provide care for older adults and those reaching the end of their lives.
Their duties can include:
- Assisting with daily living
- Administering medications
- Monitoring health vitals
The average salary for an Adult-Gerontology NP is $99,298. However, salaries can range from $85,626 to $115,681.
Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner
Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners work with patients who want to make changes to their physical appearance.
Their duties could include:
- Performing tattoo removal
- Administering botox
- Giving patients chemical peels
The average salary for an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner is $94,372. However, salaries can range from $81,868 to $110,362.
Career Outlook for Nurse Practitioners
Nursing is one of the most in-demand, stable careers out there. Not only is there a current shortage of nursing staff across the country, but there are both long-term and short-term trends that have increased this demand.
In the short term, the pandemic has substantially increased the demand for nursing staff all over the country.
In the long run, the expanding life expectancy and quality of life for the average American is leading to sizable growth of the elderly population. As a result, the need for all kinds of nurses and other healthcare professionals will become greater over time.
Even More Job Security
Becoming an NP means you’ll have an even greater level of job security.
By 2030, it’s estimated that the number of jobs for Nurse Practitioners will rise by an astounding 45% from the current numbers. That’s much faster compared to almost every other career!
You can be certain that the aging population will have more need for primary care over time, so the demand for all kinds of nursing jobs is on a pretty firm footing.
What Is A Nurse Practitioner?
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a type of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).
NPs are nurses that have finished their required nurse practitioner education. Generally, they’re either a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or have a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN).
They either serve as specialty or primary care providers.
Why Should You Become A Nurse Practitioner?
Compared to other nurses, Nurse Practitioners:
- Earn more
- Have better career opportunities at their disposal
- Handle more responsibility
Also, Nurse Practitioners wield more authority than Registered Nurses (RNs). In many ways, their responsibilities are more similar to those of a doctor than a nurse.
Usually, each nurse practitioner focuses their career on caring for a specific group of people, like:
- Elderly
- Children
- Families
Also, they focus on disease prevention and health promotion among their patients in clinician roles.
What Do Nurse Practitioners Do?
Nurse practitioners can:
- Examine patients
- Prescribe medication
- Order diagnostic tests
- Providing treatment
- Diagnose illnesses
In other words, they do the same work that most physicians do.
However, by the time they become Nurse Practitioners, most of them have obtained vital experience as working nurses in various roles. This allows them to take a uniquely dedicated approach to patient care.
On the other hand, their advanced education means they’re qualified to handle additional duties that would otherwise be handled by physicians.
By some estimates by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Nurse Practitioners are capable of providing around 90% of the care offered by primary care physicians.
Scope Of Practice Of Nurse Practitioners
In 25 U.S. states, Nurse Practitioners operate with full practice authority. This means they can work without any doctor supervision.
Regardless, NPs still have more authority compared to the average RN in other states as well.
However, they work under the supervision of medical doctors. This means their supervisors sign off on any important patient care decisions.
Becoming a nurse practitioner (NP) involves several steps, including education, licensure, and certification. Here are the typical steps to becoming a nurse practitioner:
- Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN)
- Obtain Registered Nurse (RN) Licensure
- Gain Clinical Experience
- Pursue a traditional or online MSN program or Doctoral Degree in Nursing
- Choose a Nurse Practitioner Specialty
- Complete a Nurse Practitioner Program
- Obtain State Licensure
- Earn Nurse Practitioner Certification
- Start Practicing as a Nurse Practitioner
Conclusion
Becoming an NP is a great idea if you’re looking to increase your pay and take on new challenges.
While Nurse Practitioner salaries can vary greatly by state and specialty, getting licensed as one is a smart strategy for advancing your nursing career.
However, before you can start working as an NP, you’ll need the proper nursing education.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your career, find a program and enroll today!
