How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make?
Many nurses advance their careers by pursuing the role of nurse practitioner, or NP. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and take on a higher level of responsibility than registered nurses (RNs). As such, they are compensated at a higher level.
Nurse practitioner salaries can vary widely depending on specialty, location, and education level. NPs have an optimistic job outlook at 38% estimated growth through 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is much higher than average. This guide can assist any prospective nurse practitioner through the details of salary expectations in the nurse practitioner field.
Just the Highlights: Nurse Practitioner Salaries
Nurse practitioners can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:
State: California
$161,540
City: San Jose, CA
$191,250
Role/Degree: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
$214,200
How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make?
On average, in the U.S., nurse practitioners make $128,490, according to the BLS. The national salary mean is reported as $59,428, which puts NP salaries well above average.
Nurse practitioner salary breaks down to $61.77 an hour, but compensation depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.
Nurse practitioner average annual salary
$128,490
Nurse practitioner average hourly wage
$61.77
On the low end, nurse practitioners can make an average of $94,530, while the higher end averages closer to $168,030, according to BLS data. ZipRecruiter reported a higher gap, with salaries averaging anywhere from $94,530 to $168,030.
BLS Nurse Practitioner Salary Range
Source: BLS
How Education Affects Nurse Practitioner Salaries
All nurse practitioners must first become registered nurses (RNs) by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which takes four years. Some schools offer an accelerated option in as little as 12 months when a prospective student already has all required prerequisites completed.
RNs can also become credentialed with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), which typically takes two years, but most NP programs prefer candidates to have a bachelor’s. After graduation, nurses must pass their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), after which they become RNs.
After obtaining an RN license and gaining some experience as a nurse, aspiring nurse practitioners may choose their higher education path. Many NPs earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which takes about two years to complete. Others graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which takes longer, but may offer higher salaries.
| Degree | Annual Average Salary |
| DNP | $225,000 |
| MSN | $124,680 |
Source: Maryville University, BLS, Zip Recruiter
*Figure represents CRNA salary average, which requires a DNP
How Specialty Certification Affects Nurse Practitioner Salaries
Nurse practitioners choose a specialty when they choose their education program. After graduation, they must then pass the certification exam for that specialty. Each field of study offers different levels of compensation based on the acuity of the patient population and the education level required. For example, certified registered nurse anesthetists work in a high-risk environment and must complete up to 10 years of education, but they are paid the highest.
NP specialty examinations are given through various nursing institutions:
| Nurse Practitioner Specialties |
|---|
| Speciality | Salary | Average |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) | $57.04 | $118,644 |
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGPCNP) | $57.04 | $118,644 |
| Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) | $55.89 | $116,247 |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $124.86 | $259,707 |
| Family NP (FNP) | $64.98 | $135,161 |
| Neonatal NP (NNP) | $65.70 | $136,649 |
| Pediatric NP (PNP) | $64.98 | $135,161 |
| Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP) | $67.84 | $141,112 |
| Womens Health NP (WHNP) | $62.64 | $130,295 |
Source: ZipRecruiter.com
Location and Nurse Practitioner Salaries
Much like any profession, location of employment can make a big difference in salary due to cost of living differences. In general, the coasts offer NPs the highest pay, while the southeastern states offer the lowest.
| Top-Paying States for Nurse Practitioners |
|---|
| Alabama | $52.89 | $110,020 |
| Alaska | $60.66 | $126,170 |
| Arizona | $63.73 | $132,560 |
| Arkansas | $54.52 | $113,410 |
| California | $77.66 | $161,540 |
| Colorado | $58.65 | $121,990 |
| Connecticut | $65.86 | $136,980 |
| Delaware | $63.03 | $131,110 |
| Florida | $57.55 | $119,710 |
| Georgia | $58.25 | $121,150 |
| Hawaii | $63.75 | $132,610 |
| Idaho | $59.88 | $124,550 |
| Illinois | $61.01 | $126,900 |
| Indiana | $59.29 | $123,320 |
| Iowa | $62.89 | $130,820 |
| Kansas | $57.34 | $119,270 |
| Kentucky | $53.06 | $110,370 |
| Louisiana | $57.05 | $118,670 |
| Maine | $59.11 | $122,940 |
| Maryland | $61.53 | $127,990 |
| Massachusetts | $69.24 | $144,010 |
| Michigan | $58.02 | $120,680 |
| Minnesota | $64.91 | $135,010 |
| Mississippi | $56.49 | $117,490 |
| Missouri | $56.10 | $116,680 |
| Montana | $59.92 | $124,640 |
| Nebraska | $58.50 | $121,680 |
| Nevada | $71.48 | $148,670 |
| New Hampshire | $62.86 | $130,740 |
| New Jersey | $69.73 | $145,030 |
| New Mexico | $65.75 | $136,770 |
| New York | $71.48 | $148,670 |
| North Carolina | $58.46 | $121,590 |
| North Dakota | $61.42 | $127,760 |
| Ohio | $59.07 | $122,870 |
| Oklahoma | $59.77 | $124,330 |
| Oregon | $69.69 | $144,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $61.27 | $127,450 |
| Rhode Island | $64.16 | $133,460 |
| South Carolina | $56.22 | $116,940 |
| South Dakota | $58.16 | $120,980 |
| Tennessee | $49.87 | $103,720 |
| Texas | $62.50 | $130,010 |
| Utah | $61.45 | $127,820 |
| Vermont | $60.63 | $126,100 |
| Virginia | $58.11 | $120,870 |
| Washington | $69.90 | $145,400 |
| West Virginia | $54.54 | $113,450 |
| Wisconsin | $61.70 | $128,330 |
| Wyoming | $59.40 | $123,560 |
Source: BLS
Top-Paying Nurse Practitioner Salaries by City
A city’s size often directly correlates with the level of compensation for their nurse practitioners. For example, a large teaching hospital in a city of millions will pay their NPs more than a small community hospital in a town of 20,000.
Again, these pay scales arise from the cost of living in the area, as well as increased competition in the healthcare market in urban areas.
| Top-Paying Metropolitan Areas for Nurse Practitioners |
|---|
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| El Centro, CA | $77.58 | $161,370 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78.05 | $162,340 |
| Napa, CA | $90.21 | $187,640 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $78.05 | $162,350 |
| Salinas, CA | $78.25 | $162,760 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $89.77 | $186,730 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $91.95 | $191,250 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $75.89 | $157,860 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $88.04 | $183,120 |
| Yuba City, CA | $77.69 | $161,590 |
Source: BLS
Workplace Type and Nurse Practitioner Salaries
Nurse practitioner salaries can also vary based on their work environment. Acute care pays more than primary care across the board in medicine. Patients in need of acute medical attention are usually seen in urgent care facilities, emergency rooms, hospital units, and intensive care units. NPs may also earn more away from the bedside, in hospital administration or other executive roles.
| Top Paying Industries for Nurse Practitioners |
|---|
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $64.68 | $134,540 |
| Grantmaking and Philanthropic | $66.01 | $137,300 |
| Business Settings | $66.01 | $137,310 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation | $67.13 | $139,640 |
Source: BLS
How to Increase Your Earnings as a Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners can increase their salary through several avenues. As laid out above, compensation directly correlates to location, specialty, workplace type, and level of education, and the way to a higher salary lies in those factors.
1
Earn a DNP
Nurse practitioners with a doctorate earn more than NPs with an MSN, especially if they specialize as nurse anesthetists.
2
Try a New Specialty
NPs don’t have to stick to their first specialty: they can switch to a new one at any time during their career. Additional education may be required, and NPs will have to pass their new specialty’s certification exam.
3
Advance to Management
A nurse practitioner who wants to earn more and would like to step away from the bedside can consider management opportunities in healthcare settings or in the business world.
4
Transfer to a New Work Setting
Acute care pays more than primary care, so another way to climb the salary ladder is to move to a more acute setting like a hospital.
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salaries FAQs
1. What roles offer the highest pay for nurse practitioners?
The highest-paid nurse practitioners are CRNAs, who make approximately $214,200 annually. Other high-paying nurse practitioner roles include home health care and vocational rehabilitation.
2. What do nurse practitioners make per hour?
On average, nurse practitioners earn $61.77 an hour, which is about $128,490 per year. These numbers can vary based on experience, location, role, and specialty.
