How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make?

12 Min Read Published July 31, 2024
Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide 2024

Average Nurse Practitioner Salary

The median average nurse practitioner salary is $129,480, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 2024. That means that nurse practitioners make more than double the average annual salary for all other occupations.

In addition to being professionally and emotionally gratifying, becoming a nurse practitioner provides the security of knowing you’ve chosen a career with tremendous job security that is financially rewarding. 

Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

Sponsored
Walden University

Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.

Grand Canyon University

GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Purdue Global

At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

Western Governors University

WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Salary Range for Nurse Practitioners

Even those compensated at the lowest end of the salary range for nurse practitioners make $95,530, much higher than the average national income. On the other hand, the salary for a nurse practitioner on the high end of the range can reach up to $1211,820, per the BLS.

Nurse Practitioner Salary Facts

For the last 23 years, the Clinical Advisor’s Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Salary Survey has been the gold standard for NPs to determine the salaries of others in their profession. Here's what they found out about nurse practitioner salaries in the most recent (2022) survey:

Income and Satisfaction

  • 48.6% of NPs reported earning a higher salary compared to the previous year
  • 49.5% of NPs reported earning more income due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • 37.9% of NPs reported earning less income due to the pandemic
  • 35.4% of NPs reported feeling "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their compensation
  • The 6.1% of respondents who felt "very satisfied" with their salary earned the most on average ($141,889)

Average Salaries

  • The average nurse practitioner salary was $117,054 compared to $112,979 in 2021
  • NPs working in hospitals earned the most per year ($125,682); NPs at schools/universities earned the least ($106,250)
  • NPs working in internal medicine/family medicine/primary care earned an average of $110,920

Regional Distribution

  • The majority of NP respondents worked in the South (37.9%)
  • NPs in the West reported the highest average salary ($130,410)
  • Most NPs worked in urban areas (41.7%) and suburban areas (35.7%)

Nurse Practitioner Salary by Years of Experience

Payscale.com reports the average salary of a nurse practitioner as $107,442 or $56.34 per hour. But, an annual NP salary may vary depending on years of experience:

  1. Less than 1 year of experience: Average annual salary of $99K
  2. 1 to 4 years of experience: Average annual salary of $106K
  3. 5 to 9 years of experience: Average annual salary of $112K
  4. 10 to 19 years of experience: Average annual salary of $117K
  5. 20 years of experience: Average annual salary of $115K

>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

Average Nurse Practitioner Salary by State

Many factors impact the salary of a nurse practitioner. However, the largest variations are due to geography. Learn how much you can make as a nurse practitioner, depending on the state you practice in:

Nurse Practitioner Salary by State

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $110,020
Alaska $126,170
Arizona $132,560
Arkansas $113,410
California $161,540
Colorado $121,990
Connecticut $136,980
Delaware $131,110
District of Columbia $134,850
Florida $119,710
Georgia $121,150
Hawaii $132,610
Idaho $124,550
Illinois $126,900
Indiana $123,320
Iowa $130,820
Kansas $119,270
Kentucky $110,370
Louisiana $118,670
Maine $122,940
Maryland $127,990
Massachusetts $144,010
Michigan $120,680
Minnesota $135,010
Mississippi $117,490
Missouri $116,680
Montana $124,640
Nebraska $121,680
Nevada $148,670
New Hampshire $130,740
New Jersey $145,030
New Mexico $136,770
New York $142,830
North Carolina $121,590
North Dakota $127,760
Ohio $122,870
Oklahoma $124,330
Oregon $144,950
Pennsylvania $127,450
Rhode Island $133,460
South Carolina $116,940
South Dakota $120,980
Tennessee $103,720
Texas $130,010
Utah $127,820
Vermont $126,100
Virginia $120,870
Washington $145,400
West Virginia $113,450
Wisconsin $128,330
Wyoming $123,560

Source: BLS, Data extracted September 19, 2023

Top 5 Highest Paying States for Nurse Practitioners

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these states have the highest average salary for a nurse practitioner:

  1. California - $161,540 per year
  2. Nevada - $148,670
  3. Washington - $145,400
  4. New Jersey - $145,030
  5. Oregon - $144,950

Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

Sponsored
Walden University

Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.

Grand Canyon University

GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Purdue Global

At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

Western Governors University

WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make by City?

In general, metropolitan areas will have higher median wages than suburban or rural areas because of their high living costs. See how the average nurse practitioner salary by city compares to nonmetropolitan areas, according to BLS reports:

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities for Nurse Practitioners

  1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - $191,250
  2. Napa, CA - $187,640
  3. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA - $186,730
  4. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA - $183,120
  5. Salinas, CA - $162,760

Top 5 Highest Paying Nonmetropolitan Areas for Nurse Practitioners

  1. North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area - $157,900
  2. Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California - $152,100
  3. North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area - $149,300
  4. Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area - $144,470
  5. Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area - $142,860

>> Related: Top Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

Average Nurse Practitioner Salary by Place of Work

Your workplace will also impact your nurse practitioner salary. Take a look at how an NP salary can change depending on where you work from the most recent BLS data:

  1. Outpatient care centers - $136,920
  2. Hospitals; state, local, and private - $136,050
  3. Offices of physicians - $126,270
  4. Educational services; state, local, and private - $123,880
  5. Offices of other health practitioners - $118,300

>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Make by Specialty?

When prospective nurse practitioners plan their educational path, one of the most critical decisions they must make is about their specialty area.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners 2020 National Workforce Survey indicates that most nurse practitioners opt for the Family or Adult Nurse Practitioner title. However, those who choose other nurse practitioner specialties may earn higher salaries. 

NP Salary by Specialty 

  Specialty Salary
General Nurse Practitioner $124,892
Family Nurse Practitioner $124,900
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner $118,637
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner $120,160
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner $119,900
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner $124,190
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner $118,343
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner $126,900
Emergency Nurse Practitioner $145,117
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner $139,027
Source: Salary.com

Is the Nurse Practitioner Salary Worth it? Real Nurses Weigh-in

We asked the Nurse.org social community whether or not they thought becoming a Nurse Practitioner was worth the investment of time and money for the salary increase; here's what they had to say:

  1. "This is a hard conversation. Is it worth the debt no, is it worth the debt yes! You can’t compare RN money to NP money. As a DNP I make more working 9-5 off weekends, but there is no room to make one dollar more than what is offered not unless your employee offers productivity. (I don’t want to work like that). So now this is when RN’s make more because they work more “total hours”. Or “have another job”. I say go for it and don’t worry about the debt or the money. It’s worth the Autonomy." --kyuraesthetics
  2. "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 does exist; it just may not be as easy to find in the beginning." -- the.renegade.np
  3. "I am in DNP-FNP school right now. I made the decision 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 fighting systems that don't help human beings. I've been an RN in acute care for over 16 years." -- nursenarcy

Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

Sponsored
Walden University

Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.

Grand Canyon University

GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

Purdue Global

At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

Western Governors University

WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.

Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required

Enrollment: Nationwide

3 Ways to Increase Your Nurse Practitioner Salary

If you want to increase your nurse practitioner salary, you have options. Here are just three ways you can start earning more as an NP:

1. Certification

Certifications help increase your NP salary because well-paid positions often require them. If you want to know which certifications can help you earn more, look at listings for jobs you want at the salary you desire. 

Take note of which credentials show up time and time again, then pursue them. Once you complete the certifications and put them on your nursing resume, you can work on getting those jobs and upgrading your nurse practitioner salary.

2. Administrative Duties

The salary of a nurse practitioner can increase with additional duties. NPs who take on administrative duties, like working as a director or manager, on top of their clinical responsibilities often report higher base salaries.

Keep in mind that without a formal promotion, extra duties won't automatically increase your NP pay. In those cases, you'll want to use these duties (and your performance) as leverage during salary negotiations. Pay attention to your impact so you can argue for higher compensation with empirical data.

3. Advance your Education

Additionally, pursuing additional education and earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree can significantly impact your nurse practitioner salary. According to Payscale, nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree earned an average base salary of $112K as of July 2024. Nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, on the other hand, earned an average salary of $104k, $8k less per year than the DNP degree.

Find Nursing Programs

Nurse Practitioner Salary FAQs

  • Who gets paid more, RN or NP? 

    • NPs make more than RNs. NPs make an average of $124,892/year, while RNs earn an average of $74,627.
  • How many years does it take to become a nurse practitioner? 

    • It takes 6-7 years to become an NP. After graduating from a 4-year bachelor's program, you can complete an NP program in 2-3 years. 
  • What is the lowest-paid nurse practitioner? 

    • Adult-gerontology NPs make the lowest, around $104K/year.
  • Which nurse practitioner is most in-demand? 

    • Primary care NPs are the most in demand, especially after access to primary care became more difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other in-demand NP specialties include psychiatric NPs and adult-gerontology NPs. 

Curious about what other healthcare professions pay? Check out these salary guides:

Go to the top of page