Nurse Practitioner Salary in the US | 2022

Nurse practitioners can earn a good living, and there is a high demand for them. Find out if this advanced nursing position is right for you.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are well-known for their high salaries. The median NP pay per year is $117,670, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and job growth continues to outstrip that of many other professions.

Nurse practitioners fill a critical gap in the healthcare system by providing both general and specialist care to a variety of patient populations.

As a nurse, becoming a family nurse practitioner (FNP) is a fantastic way to increase your earning potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners in the United States earned an average pay of $114,510 per year ($55.05 per hour) in 2020. (BLS).

Nurse practitioners have a bright future ahead of them. We expect nurse practitioners’ salaries to rise by 52 percent between 2020 and 2030, significantly above the national average for all occupations, according to the BLS.

If you’re considering an RN vs. Nurse Practitioner (NP) career path and want to further your nursing career and increase your area of practice, becoming an NP might be a good fit.

Nurse Practitioner Salary in the US

How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Make?

Around 72% of nurse practitioners in the United States get a yearly salary, while 26% earn their salary hourly. Self-employed NPs account for the remaining percentage of NPs.

Nurse practitioners can make a good living regardless of their pay structure. The average compensation for a nurse practitioner is in the six figures.

The average yearly compensation for a nurse practitioner (NP) is $110,030, which is more than double the average salary for all other jobs, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Earnings are determined by a variety of factors, including geographic region, practice specialty, and work environment.

Besides being professionally and emotionally satisfying, becoming a nurse practitioner gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve picked a career with excellent job security and financial rewards. 

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What is the Average Salary For A Nurse Practitioner?

As of March 29, 2022, the average Nurse Practitioner pay in the United States is $115,005, with a salary range of $106,715 to $124,937. 

Salary ranges rely on a variety of things, including schooling, certifications, supplementary talents, and the number of years you’ve worked in your field. 

Salary.com lets you decide your exact pay target by providing more online, real-time compensation data than any other website.

Nurse Practitioner Salary Estimates

SourceAverage SalaryAverage Hourly Wage
American Association of Nurse Practitioners$105,903$60.02
BLS$110,030$52.90
PayScale.com$94,124$49.79

Another career path you can choose to become is an Anesthesiologist. See How Can I Become An Anesthesiologist in 2021

How Much Can a Starting Salary for a Nurse Practitioner Be?

Nurse practitioners with limited experience can nevertheless make a good living. According to the 2019 Nurse Practitioner Compensation Survey by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), NPs with five or less years of experience earned a base pay of $104,000.

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What Can Nurse Practitioners’ Hourly Salary Be?

Many aspiring nurse practitioners want to know how much they will make per hour based on the parameters outlined above. 

As of May 2019, the national mean hourly wage for nurse practitioners was $53.77, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (latest available data). The hourly median wage for most NPs is $39.14 to $73.16.

The following are the top-paying industries for nurse practitioners (mean):

  • Community Food and Housing, as well as Emergency and Other Relief Services, pay an average of $66.90 per hour.
  • Religious organizations, with a $62.00 average hourly wage
  • Grantmaking and Giving Services pay an average of $59.50 per hour.
  • Outpatient Care Centers pay an average of $57.65 per hour.

With a mean hourly wage of $59.57, residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities are the most common.

You can start by checking out these 20 Highest Paying Medical Jobs in America in 2022

Salaries of Nurse Practitioners by Role

The pay of a nurse practitioner varies depending on their qualification area. They list the annual base salary for a variety of areas in the AANP Compensation Survey:

  • Nurse practitioner in psychiatric/mental health (adult): $125,000
  • Nurse practitioner specializing in neonatal care: $122,500
  • $107,000 for a family nurse practitioner
  • NP in acute care: $120,000
  • Nurse practitioner in psychiatric/mental health (family): $119,000
  • Nurse practitioner in oncology: $119,000
  • $118,000 for a gerontology nurse practitioner.
  • Nurse practitioner in hospice and palliative care: $116,000
  • Nurse practitioner for adults: $115,000
  • Adult nurse practitioner (gerontology and acute care): $112,000
  • Nurse practitioner specializing in diabetes treatment (advanced): $110,000
  • Nurse practitioner in pediatrics: $108,500
  • Adult nurse practitioner (gerontology and primary care): $107,000
  • Nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health: $105,000
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Nurse practitioners in specialist disciplines such as psychiatry and newborn care earn the most, according to the survey data, while nurse practitioners in primary care jobs such as family health or women’s health earn the least. Keep in mind, however, that these figures are based on survey replies. 

Within your specialization, your pay may vary depending on your experience, education, location, and other considerations.

Salary of Nurse Practitioners based on Years of Experience

According to Payscale.com, the average yearly compensation is $99,591, or $52.82 per hour. 

There is also an increase in salary as you gain experience:

  • Less than 1-year of experience earns an average annual salary of $92,487
  • 1 to 4 years of experience earns an average annual salary of $97,951
  • 5 to 9 years of experience earns an average annual salary of $103,800
  • 10 to 19 years of experience earns an average annual salary of $109,436
  • 20 years of experience earn an average annual salary of $111,005

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Salaries of Nurse Practitioners by State

As an NP, you may locate pockets of higher-than-average salaries across the country. While the highest-paying RN jobs are frequently ‌in densely populated areas like California or New York, states like Minnesota, Georgia, and Kansas also have high nurse practitioner wages.

StateMean AnnualAvg Hourly
Alabama$99,790$47.98
Alaska$110,270$53.01
Arizona$117,480$56.48
Arkansas$106,210$51.06
California$145,970$70.18
Colorado$109,760$52.77
Connecticut$116,780$56.15
Delaware$112,230$53.96
District of Columbia$116150$55.84
Florida$101,060$48.58
Georgia$106,220$51.07
Hawaii$118,780$57.11
Idaho$113,890$54.76
Illinois$112,060$53.87
Indiana$109,940$52.86
Iowa$107,910$51.88
Kansas$104,530$50.25
Kentucky$102,460$49.26
Louisiana$111,880$53.79
Maine$111,580$53.64
Maryland$115,240$55.40
Massachusetts$126,050$60.60
Michigan$109,150$52.48
Minnesota$118,900$57.16
Mississippi$109,550$52.67
Missouri$106,870$51.38
Montana$114,370$54.99
Nebraska$107,330$51.60
Nevada$119,890$57.64
New Hampshire$112,460$54.07
New Jersey$130,890$62.93
New Mexico$117,050$56.28
New York$126,440$60.79
North Carolina$108,370$52.10
North Dakota$111,070$53.40
Ohio$105,630$50.78
Oklahoma$112,750$54.21
Oregon$118,600$57.02
Pennsylvania$111,560$53.64
Rhode Island$117,300$56.39
South Carolina$101,190$48.65
South Dakota$103,080$49.56
Tennessee$99,370$47.78
Texas$116,700$56.11
Utah$113,550$54.59
Virginia$109,660$52.72
Vermont$108,280$52.06
Washington$126,480$60.81
West Virginia$105,220$50.59
Wisconsin$113,030$54.34
Wyoming$118,810$57.12

Salaries of Nurse Practitioners in Different Cities

  • Vallejo-Fairfield, CA – $188,070
  • San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA – $177,800
  • Salinas, CA – $155,310
  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA – $153,240
  • Napa, CA – $152,640

While these top five non-metropolitan areas for Nurse Practitioners pay the highest,

  • Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area – $140,540
  • Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area – $139,290
  • Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area – $136,820
  • Connecticut nonmetropolitan area – $134,600
  • Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area – $130,470

Compensation in metropolitan areas is generally higher than in suburban or rural places. Nurse practitioners can earn the highest annual mean income in the following cities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Salaries of Nurse Practitioners by Location

Salary for Nurse Practitioners varies depending on where you work. According to the BLS, average incomes for NPs vary depending on where they work.

  • $124,660 for hospitals
  • $122,840 for outpatient care centers
  • $114,570 – Physicians’ offices
  • $111,610 for offices of other health practitioners
  • $111,400 for educational services

Salary of Nurse Practitioners by Specialty

One of the most crucial considerations that aspiring nurse practitioners must make while deciding on their school path is which specialized area to pursue. 

Depending on their talents and interests, nurse practitioners can choose from a wide range of specialties. NPs can choose a concentration as part of their MSN or DNP programs in most cases. 

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners’ 2020 National Workforce Survey: Practice, the vast majority of nurse practitioners choose the titles of Family or Adult Nurse Practitioner. 

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However, those who choose nurse practitioner specialty areas generally earn much more money.

Below are some common NP specialties and their related compensation information.

Salary of an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (Acute Care NPs) operate in hospitals and other urgent care settings, where they make patient rounds and assist with operations. 

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner salaries range from $86,000 to $125,000 per year, but according to PayScale, the national median compensation is $101,342.

Salary of an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners who specialize in adult-gerontology work with patients from adolescence through old age. They may perform physicals and exams, as well as health education for patients and their families. 

This type of NP can work in either acute or primary care settings. The annual salary for Adult-Gerontology NPs range from $73,000 to $110,000. The median yearly wage in the United States is $90,102.

Salary of an Emergency Nurse Practitioner

Emergency nurse practitioners work in hospitals and urgent care centers, ordering diagnostic tests and providing care to patients who can’t wait to see their regular doctor. 

Annual pay for emergency room nurses range from $77,000 to $126,000, with an average of $96,841.

Salary of a Family Nurse Practitioner

From birth until old age, the Family Nurse Practitioner, or FNP, provides care to patients. They perform many of the same tasks as a physician, such as routine physicals and exams, and place a strong emphasis on preventive health measures. 

FNP salaries range from $79,000 to $117,000, with an average of $94,232.

Salary for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (NP) works in a hospital or medical facility’s pediatrics department, supporting physicians and ordering tests, prescribing medication or therapy, and advising families. 

Pediatric NP wages range from $73,000 to $112,000 per year, with an average of $89,764 per year.

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Salary

Female patients with a variety of women’s health or reproductive difficulties are treated by a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. 

may provide breast or reproductive cancer screenings, as well as educate and care for pregnant women. 

The annual salary for Women’s Health NPs ranges from $72,000 to $113,000 per year. This position pays an average of $91,270 per year.

Factors Affecting a Nurse Practitioner’s Salary

Nurse practitioner income is influenced by a number of things, including the degree you earn. While you can work as a nurse practitioner with either a master’s or a doctorate degree, the DNP is becoming more popular. 

Indeed, by 2025, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) wants DNPs to be the normal entry-level degree for NPs.

Your degree, however, isn’t the only factor that affects your pay. Your background, specialization, and geographic location can all have a significant impact.

“Both the RN and NP licenses offer a very high degree of marketability and flexibility,” says Sara Hunt, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, PHN, a family nurse practitioner, and health policy educator. “Competitive earnings are determined by your own assets, specialization, and market. RNs and NPs are among the highest paid jobs in the United States.”

Is the Salary of a Nurse Practitioner Worth It? Weigh-in with Real Nurses

We polled the Nurse.org social community to see if they thought becoming a Nurse Practitioner was worth the time and money in exchange for a higher wage. 

Here’s what they said:

“This is a difficult conversation to have. Is the debt worth it? No, but is it worth the debt? You can’t compare RN and NP currency. I make more money as a DNP working 9-5 on weekdays and weekends, but there is no way to make a dollar more than what they offer unless your employee is productive. (I don’t want to work in that environment.) As a result, RNs now earn more because they work more “total hours.” Alternatively, “get a new job.” I say go for it and don’t be concerned about your debt or finances. The autonomy is well worth it.” —kyuraesthetics

“I have always worked in a clinic as an NP. Other than the actual cost of school and the possibility of a slightly less flexible schedule, I can’t think of any cons. I’ve never regretted my decision. My current schedule is extremely flexible, so that exists, it just may not be as easy to find in the beginning.” — the.renegade.np

“I am in DNP-FNP school right now. I decided to become a Nurse Practitioner so I can make changes that would benefit the nursing community and the patients we serve. There is no price tag when it comes to years of injustice and frustration to do what is right for humanity and opposing institutions that don’t serve human beings. I’ve been an RN in acute care for 16 years.” — nursenarcy

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What Types Of Nurse Practitioners Earn the Most Money?

It varies a lot depending on where you work. The highest-paid nurse practitioners, according to the BLS, work in the community food and housing/emergency and other relief services industry, earning an average of $143,480 per year ($68.98 per hour). 

Nurse practitioners in the top 10% make more than $150,000 per year on average.

Why Do Nurse Practitioners Earn A High Salary?

Nurse practitioners are well compensated since they have undergone extensive training to practice as self-contained health care providers. Nurse practitioners are equipped to practice to the full extent of their training, albeit practicing authority differs by state.

A nurse practitioner must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and graduate nursing education to working as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). A registered nurse license, national board certification, and a state nurse practitioner license are also required of an NP. These certifications show that you have a high level of clinical knowledge and experience.

While nurse practitioners’ responsibilities vary depending on their specialty, they are all trained in diagnosing and treating illnesses, as well as disease prevention and management. Nurse practitioners, unlike other health professionals, are concerned with the overall health and well-being of their patients.

Nurse practitioners, according to evidence, provide high-quality, cost-effective patient care. As a result, the number of annual patient visits to nurse practitioners is increasing.

What Can I Expect in Terms of Salary Increases?

As you get more experience as a nurse practitioner, your compensation may rise. According to the AANP survey, the annual compensation of a nurse practitioner rises with experience. 

Nurse practitioner respondents with zero to five years of experience reported a median base pay of $104,000, while those with six to ten years of experience reported a median base compensation of $110,000.

Salary levels for NPs in their second decade of practice remained stable. Salaries for NPs with 11 to 20 years of experience averaged $118,000, while those with over 20 years of experience earned ‌an average of $121,000.

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3 Ways to Increase Your Salary as a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners who desire to boost their income have several choices accessible to them.

1.) Accreditation

One of the best methods to boost your compensation as a nurse practitioner is to become certified in the more highly compensated specialist areas. It isn’t, however, the only one.

2.) Administrative responsibilities

Nurse practitioners who take on administrative obligations such as director or manager roles in addition to their clinical responsibilities have higher base wages, according to surveys.

3.) Get a better education 

Furthermore, pursuing extra study and attaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree can significantly increase your compensation. Nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree earned an average base income of $105K in August 2021, according to Payscale.

Nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, on the other hand, made $96k a year on average, $9k less than those with a DNP.

Job Growth Projections for Nurse Practitioners

The job outlook for nurse practitioners appears to be extremely promising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, NP jobs will grow by 45 percent by 2030. When you consider that the projected increase for all occupations is only 8%, this is quite remarkable. It’s even more impressive compared to other healthcare roles like RNs, who have a projected growth of 9 percent by 2030.

What’s behind the growth? We expect the need for all kinds of nurses to jump as the aging baby boomer population will require more healthcare services over time.

“Many people now survive conditions like stroke, heart attack, and cancer, but it may leave them with more medical needs to keep them afloat or leave them with a temporary or permanent disability,” explains Hunt. “As a result, there will be a greater demand for (more) healthcare providers.”

NPs are especially important in team-based care, where they can assist with preventive care and perform many of the same services as physicians, according to Hunt.

Salary of a Nurse Practitioner: Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes more money, the RN or the NP?

NPs earn greater money than RNs. NPs earn an average of $111K per year, whereas RNs earn $75K.

What is the highest-paying nurse practitioner specialty?

CRNAs earn the most of any APRN, earning roughly $183K per year.

What is the average number of years it takes to become a nurse practitioner?

An NP program takes two to three years after you finish your bachelor’s degree.

What is the lowest-paid nurse practitioner in the United States?

Adult-gerontology NPs make the least money, earning roughly $89K per year.

Which nurse practitioner is in demand the most?

Primary care NPs are projected to be in high demand, especially given the impact of COVID on primary care access.

Conclusion

A nurse practitioner’s salary is only one part of their total remuneration package.

Nurse practitioners make a good wage and have wonderful benefits. Paid time off, health insurance, retirement contributions, education reimbursement, and professional liability coverage are all provided to most employees.

Travel allowances, membership in professional organizations, and sick leave are all available to some nurse practitioners.

References

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