Salary Comparison Tool

This tool will allow you to easily search and compare the average salaries of nurses for many cities and locations across the U.S. You can search by city and state. Salary data is provided through the BLS.

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How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Make?

There are a few factors that will determine a nurse practitioner's salary:

Type of Employer

NPs can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, government agencies, and more. Typically, private practices offer the most room for salary negotiation, while hospitals and government agencies may have budgeted salary schedules that may not be as flexible.

Location

City and state can make a dramatic difference in NP salary, as things like cost of living must be factored in. Larger urban cities and more populous states tend to offer higher salaries, while rural areas may fall on the lower end of the national average. Currently, the average salary for a nurse practitioner is $115,800 annually. New York falls on the higher end of the spectrum, with the average salary of an NP in the state landing at $122,550 annually, while Alabama NPs are on the lower end of the spectrum, with an annual average salary of $99,570 based on the latest available BLS data from May 2019.

Experience & Degree Level

NPs with a high level of experience and applicable certifications can usually earn more than those just starting out, and degree level may make an impact as well. While a graduate-level degree is standard for NPs, those with a doctorate degree (DNP) may have access to the most prestigious and highest-paying NP roles. See DNP salaries.

What Is the Highest-Paid Nurse Practitioner Specialty?

This can vary depending on all the factors listed above. Many organizations have NPs that are unionized; therefore pay is periodically negotiated. Other organizations pay depending on experience and practice. Hospital systems and large organizations tend to pay more than private offices.

Certain specialties have a higher demand for NPs; therefore higher pay may be offered. With baby-boomers and the elderly population dominating healthcare in the United States, Adult-Gerontology, Family, and Women’s Health NPs have more opportunities in the job market, and therefore may offer higher compensation.

Nurse Practitioner Salary Per Hour

Based on the factors listed above, many prospective nurse practitioners are curious to know how much they will earn per hour. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national mean hourly wage for nurse practitioners is $53.77 as of May 2019 (latest available data). Most NPs earn an hourly median wage of between $39.14 and $73.16.

The top-paying industries for nurse practitioners are as follows (mean):

  • Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services, with a mean hourly wage of $66.90
  • Religious Organizations, with a mean hourly wage of $62.00
  • Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities, with a mean hourly wage of $59.57
  • Grantmaking and Giving Services, with a mean hourly wage of $59.50
  • Outpatient Care Centers, with a mean hourly wage of $57.65

Nurse Practitioner Salary Table

LocationTotal EmploymentAnnual Salary
United States258,230$121,610
Alabama4,390$101,150
Alaska680$128,870
Arizona6,240$120,480
Arkansas2,970$102,880
California19,130$157,160
Colorado3,630$118,590
Connecticut2,910$130,090
Delaware990$122,530
District of Columbia730$125,370
Florida18,530$107,600
Georgia8,110$112,090
Hawaii530$135,760
Idaho1,170$116,710
Illinois7,990$124,840
Indiana6,480$119,160
Iowa2,610$123,460
Kansas3,070$108,350
Kentucky4,520$104,630
Louisiana4,280$115,620
Maine1,300$112,210
Maryland4,170$117,540
Massachusetts7,190$133,030
Michigan7,250$109,250
Minnesota5,300$128,020
Mississippi4,000$108,920
Missouri7,290$106,640
Montana730$127,350
Nebraska1,610$115,920
Nevada1,800$130,050
New Hampshire1,510$125,450
New Jersey6,640$136,480
New Mexico1,650$125,190
New York17,670*
North Carolina8,040$111,140
North Dakota570$107,680
Ohio10,730$113,040
Oklahoma2,700$121,010
Oregon1,880$132,230
Pennsylvania7,560$116,980
Rhode Island1,390$121,310
South Carolina3,960$103,950
South Dakota810$108,250
Tennessee13,060$103,080
Texas18,820$121,270
Utah2,740$112,490
Vermont800$115,940
Virginia7,040$110,860
Washington4,150$134,200
West Virginia1,640$104,290
Wisconsin4,790$120,700
Wyoming460$112,770

Table data taken from 2022 BLS (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm)

Nurse Practitioner Specialties and Salaries

Nurse practitioners can enjoy entering a wide variety of specialties, depending on where their skills and interests lie. Most MSN and DNP programs allow NPs to choose a concentration as part of their degree. Some common NP specialties and corresponding salary info are found below.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary

Acute Care NPs typically work in hospitals and other urgent care settings, performing patient rounds and assisting in procedures. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner salaries range from $86,000 to $125,000 annually, but the median national salary is $101,342 according to PayScale.

Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Salary

Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioners work with patients in the teenage years and beyond. They may perform physicals and exams, educate patients and families on good health practices, and more. This type of NP may go into acute or primary care. Adult Gerontology NP salaries range from $73,000 to $110,000 annually. The median national annual salary comes in at $90,102.

Emergency Nurse Practitioner Salary

Emergency NPs work in hospital and urgent care settings, ordering diagnostic tests and administering aid to emergency patients who cannot wait to see their regular physician. Emergency NP salaries range from $77,000 to $126,000 annually, with the average salary landing at $96,841.

Family Nurse Practitioner Salary

The Family Nurse Practitioner, or FNP, cares for patients across the lifespan, from infancy to old age. They perform many of the tasks that a physician might perform, including routine physicals and exams, and emphasize preventive health measures. FNP salaries range from $79,000 to $117,000 with $94,232 being the average salary.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Salary

A Pediatric NP treats and cares for children in the pediatrics wing of a hospital or medical facility, assisting physicians and ordering tests, prescribing medication or therapy, and counseling families. Pediatric NP salaries range from $73,000 to $112,000 with an average annual salary of $89,764.

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Salary

A Women's Health Nurse Practitioner treats female patients with a variety of women's health or reproductive issues. They may screen for breast or reproductive cancers, educate and provide care for pregnant women, and more. Women's Health NP salaries range from $72,000 to $113,000 annually. The average annual salary for this role lands at $91,270.

All specialty NP salaries sourced from PayScale.com.

RELATED: What Is the Salary Difference Between a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assistant?

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