Table of Contents
Nurse Practitioner Job Description (outlook)Top 5 Highest and Lowest Paying States for NP Jobs in the USHistorical Data (Salary Outlook) For Salary MedianMedian salary, Entry-level salary, Average salaryAverage NP Salary by State (for non-traveling NP)Average NP Job Salary by State (for traveling NP)What is the average incentive bonus for an NP Job?Employed vs. self-employed NP JobHow to do an effective NP job searchMost common benefits for an NPWhat is the average salary of an NP in the U.S.?Do NP salaries vary by geographical location?How does experience affect an NP’s salary?Are there opportunities for NPs to earn additional income?What benefits typically accompany an employed NP’s salary?Nurse Practitioner Job Description (outlook)
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who provides a wide range of healthcare services. NPs are trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose illnesses, and formulate and implement treatment plans. They may serve as a primary or specialty care provider, working independently or in collaboration with physicians and other healthcare professionals. NPs have several responsibilities including conducting comprehensive physical exams, evaluating and assessing a patient’s health status, and diagnosing acute and chronic conditions, illnesses, and injuries.
There is a high demand for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in the United States and globally. Several factors contribute to this growing demand including physician shortages, an aging population, the expansion of insurance and healthcare services, a growing focus on preventative health, and a reduction in cost compared to a physician. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for NPs is projected to grow 45 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. On average, there are expected to be 30,200 job openings for nurse practitioners over the next decade.
Top 5 Highest and Lowest Paying States for NP Jobs in the US
Specific salary data varies by state and over time. The salary for a NP is influenced by the demand for practitioners, cost of living, and regional economic conditions. According to Zippia, the highest and lowest paying states for NPs are as follows:
Top 5 Highest Paying States for NPs:
- Alaska
- Montana
- Washington
- New Mexico
- Massachusetts
Top 5 Lowest Paying States for NPs:
- Alabama
- Missouri
- South Carolina
- Kentucky
- Georgia
*The state data varies between resources*
Historical Data (Salary Outlook) For Salary Median
** Chart from https:// https://www.zippia.com/salaries/nurse-practitioner/#salary-history-line-chart
Median salary, Entry-level salary, Average salary
The median salary for a NP in the U.S. is influenced by their experience, location, and specialization. An entry-level salary for those just starting their career is around $80,000-$95,000. The average salary of a NP is around $114,510 per year, with a mediansalary of $113,000. Traveling NPs may receive a higher hourly rate because of their temporary job status. Non-traveling NPs who working in a permanent hospital position may have variations in salary based on specialization, geographic location, type of healthcare institution, and expertise level.
Average NP Salary by State (for non-traveling NP)
| State | Annual Salary | Weekly Salary | Hourly Wage |
| Alabama | $75,187 | $1,446 | $36.15 |
| Alaska | $119,141 | $2,291 | $57.28 |
| Arizona | $101,460 | $1,951 | $48.78 |
| Arkansas | $104,536 | $2,010 | $38.66 |
| California | $120,826 | $3,020 | $58.09 |
| Colorado | $92,454 | $2,311 | $44.45 |
| Connecticut | $99,064 | $1,095 | $47.63 |
| Delaware | $95,880 | $1,844 | $46.10 |
| Florida | $82,589 | $2,065 | $39.71 |
| Georgia | $81,363 | $2,034 | $39.12 |
| Hawaii | $103,030 | $1,981 | $49.53 |
| Idaho | $85,886 | $2,148 | $41.29 |
| Illinois | $89,654 | $1,724 | $43.10 |
| Indiana | $86,553 | $1,664 | $41.61 |
| Iowa | $80,767 | $1,553 | $38.83 |
| Kansas | $79,650 | $1,532 | $38.29 |
| Kentucky | $75,375 | $1,450 | $36.24 |
| Louisiana | $82,465 | $1,586 | $39.65 |
| Maine | $88,700 | $1,706 | $42.64 |
| Maryland | $92,873 | $1,786 | $44.65 |
| Massachusetts | $99,472 | $1,913 | $47.82 |
| Michigan | $90,522 | $1,741 | $43.52 |
| Minnesota | $97,198 | $1,869 | $46.73 |
| Mississippi | $87,690 | $1,686 | $42.16 |
| Missouri | $79,694 | $1,533 | $38.31 |
| Montana | $103,339 | $1,987 | $49.68 |
| Nebraska | $81,663 | $1,570 | $39.26 |
| Nevada | $102,570 | $1,972 | $49.31 |
| New Hampshire | $92,167 | $1,772 | $44.31 |
| New Jersey | $101,812 | $1,958 | $48.95 |
| New Mexico | $101,207 | $1,957 | $48.66 |
| New York | $100,129 | $1,926 | $48.14 |
| North Carolina | $83,648 | $1,609 | $40.22 |
| North Dakota | $82,672 | $1,590 | $39.75 |
| Ohio | $83,761 | $1,611 | $40.27 |
| Oklahoma | $88,578 | $1,703 | $42.59 |
| Oregon | $107,660 | $2,070 | $51.76 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,621 | $1,685 | $42.13 |
| Rhode Island | $94,313 | $1,814 | $45.34 |
| South Carolina | $75,759 | $1,457 | $36.42 |
| South Dakota | $77,909 | $1,498 | $37.46 |
| Tennessee | $77,320 | $1,487 | $37.17 |
| Texas | $94,901 | $1,825 | $45.63 |
| Utah | $86,941 | $1,672 | $41.80 |
| Vermont | $83,230 | $1,600 | $40.01 |
| Virginia | $85,525 | $1,645 | $41.12 |
| Washington | $106,739 | $2,053 | $51.32 |
| West Virginia | $81,649 | $1,570 | $39.25 |
| Wisconsin | $90,101 | $1,733 | $43.32 |
| Wyoming | $88,216 | $1,696 | $42.41 |
Average NP Job Salary by State (for traveling NP)
| State | Annual Salary | Weekly Salary | Hourly Wage |
| Alabama (Birmingham) | $122,111 | $2,348 | $58.70 |
| Alaska (Juneau) | $138,075 | $2,655 | $66.38 |
| Arizona (Phoenix) | $129,371 | $2,487 | $62.19 |
| Arkansas (Little Rock) | $124,971 | $2,403 | $46.21 |
| California (San Francisco) | $153,510 | $2,952 | $73.80 |
| Colorado (Boulder) | $135,129 | $2,598 | $64.96 |
| Connecticut (Hartford) | $131,431 | $2,527 | $63.19 |
| Delaware (Dover) | $130,222 | $2,504 | $62.60 |
| Florida (Miami) | $124,620 | $2,396 | $59.91 |
| Georgia (Atlanta) | $125,299 | $2,409 | $60.24 |
| Hawaii (Honolulu) | $128,681 | $2,474 | $61.87 |
| Idaho (Boise) | $124,009 | $2,385 | $59.61 |
| Illinois (Chicago) | $134,223 | $2,581 | $64.53 |
| Indiana (Indianapolis) | $124,544 | $2,395 | $59.88 |
| Iowa (Des Moines) | $125,158 | $2,407 | $60.17 |
| Kansas (Topeka) | $122,620 | $2,358 | $58.95 |
| Kentucky (Lexington) | $129,502 | $2,490 | $62.26 |
| Louisiana (New Orleans) | $125,131 | $2,406 | $60.15 |
| Maine (Portland) | $133,307 | $2,564 | $64.19 |
| Maryland (Annapolis) | $128,982 | $2,480 | $62.01 |
| Massachusetts (Boston) | $141,552 | $2,722 | $68.05 |
| Michigan (Detroit) | $128,987 | $2,480 | $62.01 |
| Minnesota (St Paul) | $131,778 | $2,534 | $63.35 |
| Mississippi (Jackson) | $113,542 | $2,184 | $54.59 |
| Missouri (Jefferson City) | $123,497 | $2,375 | $59.37 |
| Montana (Helena) | $123,474 | $2,375 | $59.36 |
| Nebraska (Lincoln) | $113,436 | $2,181 | $54.54 |
| Nevada (Carson City) | $127,607 | $2,454 | $61.34 |
| New Hampshire (Concord) | $131,152 | $2,522 | $63.05 |
| New Jersey (Trenton) | $130,654 | $2,512 | $62.81 |
| New Mexico (Santa Fe) | $127,901 | $2,459 | $61.49 |
| New York (Manhattan) | $143,797 | $2,765 | $69.13 |
| North Carolina (Charlotte) | $127,261 | $2,447 | $61.18 |
| North Dakota (Bismarck) | $129,816 | $2,496 | $62.41 |
| Ohio (Columbus) | $125,852 | $2,420 | $60.50 |
| Oklahoma (OK City) | $121,038 | $2,328 | $58.19 |
| Oregon (Portland) | $138,178 | $2,657 | $66.43 |
| Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) | $131,479 | $2,528 | $63.21 |
| Rhode Island (Providence) | $131,628 | $2,531 | $63.28 |
| South Carolina (Charleston) | $121,932 | $2,345 | $58.62 |
| South Dakota (Pierre) | $129,830 | $2,497 | $62.42 |
| Tennessee (Nashville) | $125,851 | $2,420 | $60.50 |
| Texas (Austin) | $129,149 | $2,483 | $62.09 |
| Utah (Salt Lake City) | $126,088 | $2,424 | $60.62 |
| Vermont (Montpelier) | $131,723 | $2,533 | $63.32 |
| Virginia (Richmond) | $128,944 | $2,479 | $61.99 |
| Washington (Spokane) | $131,744 | $2,533 | $63.33 |
| West Virginia (Charleston) | $126,630 | $2,435 | $60.80 |
| Wisconsin (Green Bay) | $126,732 | $2,437 | $60.92 |
| Wyoming (Cheyenne) | $123,469 | $2,374 | $59.36 |
What is the average incentive bonus for an NP Job?
The average bonus for an NP is between $3,000 and $5,000. An NP may be eligible for several different bonuses. Many NPs earn bonuses based on performance metrics, such as patient satisfaction, efficiency, and outcomes. They may also be offered procedure-based incentives. In a high-demand area or underserved region, hospitals and medical groups may offer a signing bonus to an NP. NPs often collect on-call pay bonuses and overtime bonuses. Lastly, they may also be offered a retention bonus after staying with their employer for a specific number of years or a referral bonus for recommending a hired colleague.
Employed vs. self-employed NP Job
Salaries vary between employed and self-employed NPs. Employed NPs have a stable income, health insurance, retirement plans, a CME allowance, liability coverage, and paid time off. They usually work for a hospital system and have less financial risk and more administrative responsibilities. A self-employed NP has a higher earning potential, increased flexibility, but must find their own jobs, and may/may not be provided with healthcare, liability coverage, or a retirement plan.
How to do an effective NP job search
It is easy to find an NP position with PRNHealthcare. Find the “physicians” link at the top of our website. Use the position job search bar by searching “I am an NP” and your specialty. Finally, use the location bar to select your state and city of choice.
Most common benefits for an NP
Being an NP comes with both professional and personal benefits including:
- High Demand/Job Security- NPs are in high demand at hospitals, outpatient centers, and stand-alone clinics. They may also provide telehealth services which have recently grown in popularity.
- Competitive Salary- NPs are one of the highest-paid nursing professionals. The median annual salary for an NP is higher than other nursing roles due to their specialized skills and advanced degree.
- Continuous Learning- The field of nursing is always changing so many opportunities exist for learning and professional growth through continuing medical education (CME).
- Work-Life Balance- Compared to other medical professionals, NPs have a great work-life balance. They have many opportunities for flexible scheduling, part-time work, or even telehealth allowing them to manage their personal and professional responsibilities.
- Impact on Patient Care- NPs impact patient outcomes by providing primary and specialized medical care. They play an important role in diagnosing, managing, and treating various conditions.
- Autonomy and Respect- NPs work independently which fosters a high level of professional respect and recognition.
- Contribution to Community- NPs feel fulfilled by contributing to the health outcomes of their community especially when working with underserved populations or participating in medical missions and volunteer work.
Frequently Asked Questions for Nurse Practitioners
What is the average salary of an NP in the U.S.?
Recent data suggests the average annual salary for an NP in the United States is $114,510 per year. This figure can vary depending on location, years of experience, employment situation, specialization, and the type of healthcare facility. NPs specializing in acute care, psychiatric-mental health, and neonatal care often earn more due to the specialized skills required. NPs in family practice, pediatrics, or general internal medicine may earn less on average.
Do NP salaries vary by geographical location?
Yes, NP salaries vary significantly by geographical location. Generally, NPs in urban areas or regions with a high cost of living tend to earn higher salaries. For example, NPs in states like California and New York often earn more than those in rural or less populated states due to demand and differences in the cost of living.
How does experience affect an NP’s salary?
Experience plays a significant role in determining an NP’s salary. Entry-level NPs typically start with a lower salary, which can increase substantially with experience. Mid-career and experienced CRNAs can earn significantly more, especially if they have specialized skills or advanced certifications. NPs with two decades or more of experience often have a wealth of clinical knowledge and may occupy senior leadership positions within their organizations. They might also engage in mentoring, teaching, or advanced practice roles.
Are there opportunities for NPs to earn additional income?
Yes, there are many opportunities for NPs to earn additional income including telehealth services, telephone triage, and by offering specialized services like aesthetic procedures, weight management programs, and functional and integrative medicine. Furthermore, some NPs earn extra income through teaching, consulting, or participating in research.
What benefits typically accompany an employed NP’s salary?
In addition to their competitive salary, NPs often receive a comprehensive benefits package which may include health insurance, retirement plans (such as a 401(k) or pension), paid time off (PTO), continuing education allowances, licensing fees, and professional liability insurance. Benefits can significantly enhance the overall compensation package and provide long-term financial stability for non-traveling NPs.