Nurse practitioners (NPs) are among the most vital and respected members of the medical profession, taking on crucial responsibilities to treat patients and streamline care.
With extensive education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, years of on-site training and experience, and external upskilling and credentialing, NPs represent the hard work and personal investment it takes to reach the upper echelons of their profession — and the passion to dedicate their careers to the care of others.
Because of this investment and the important work they do every day, NPs are often compensated well with high salaries and great benefits.
The salaries of nurse practitioners can vary drastically based on several factors such as specialty area, experience, location and employer type.
The median nurse practitioner salary in the United States is $121,610, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of May 2022.
This means that half of all NPs are expected to earn more than $121,610 and half are expected to earn less. The top 10% of NPs earn more than $163,350, while the bottom 10% earn less than $79,470.
If you’re hoping to advance your nursing practice or pursue a career as a nurse practitioner, you’ll need to earn a graduate-level education such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). You’ll also need to pass national certification requirements and undergo periodic evaluation.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of becoming a nurse practitioner and more details on NP salaries and compensation, including a breakdown of some of the highest and lowest-paying states for NPs.
Choosing a Path: Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner?
Whether it is better to be a registered nurse (RN) or an NP depends on your individual goals and interests — such as the level of education you hope to pursue and the amount of autonomy you wish to have in your practice.
RNs and NPs play important roles in the health care system, and both are rewarding careers with promising prospects.
RNs provide direct care to patients across settings, including hospitals, clinics and home health agencies. They typically work under the supervision of physicians, but they have a great deal of autonomy in their work. RNs assess patients’ needs, administer medications, educate patients about their health conditions and provide emotional support.
NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have completed a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing.
NPs have a wider scope of practice than RNs, and they can perform many of the same tasks as physicians, such as diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and prescribing medications.
NPs often work in collaboration with physicians, but they can also work independently in certain settings. For example, in nursing home settings, nurse practitioners often operate independently, serving as the primary advanced practice medical provider for residents.
They handle a wide range of responsibilities, including acute and chronic illness care, injury treatment, physical exams and medication management, with a focus on prescribing and monitoring.
If you want to expand your RN career path, getting the additional education required for an NP is your first step.
Check out our summary of the key differences between RNs and NPs
| Position | Registered Nurse (RN) | Nurse Practitioner (NP) |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) | Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing (MSN or DNP) |
| Scope of practice | Administer direct patient care | Diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications to be administered, provide primary care |
| Supervision | Works under the supervision of a physician | May work independently or in collaboration with a physician |
| Salary | Median salary of $81,220 (BLS) | Median salary of $121,610 (BLS) |
Ultimately, the best way to decide whether to become an RN or an NP is to talk to people who work in these roles and learn more about their experiences. A student can also shadow an RN or NP to get a look at their work firsthand.
Here are some additional questions to consider when making the decision whether to expand your RN career path to become a NP.
- Personal interests: Is providing direct patient care or working in a more advanced clinical role the most important?
- Career goals: What is the desired work setting? Is specializing in a particular area of nursing a top priority?
- Educational goals: Is committing to the additional time and expense of getting a master’s or doctoral degree feasible?
Nurse Practitioner Compensation: Highs and Lows
Nurse practitioners tend to earn competitive pay and benefits across the board, but factors like specialty and location may affect your compensation.
What NP Specialty Should I Choose?
There are many different types of nurse practitioner, each with its own area of expertise.
Deciding on the right specialization is an important part of your career as an NP, as it’s a way to tailor your professional experience to your interests and passions in the field.
Here are some of the most common specializations you can choose:
- Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) provide primary care to patients of all ages, from newborns to geriatrics. They diagnose and treat illnesses, provide preventive care and manage chronic conditions. FNPs work in multiple settings, including hospitals, clinics and private practices.
- Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNPs) provide primary care to adults and seniors. They specialize in caring for older adults who have unique health needs and challenges. AGNPs may work across settings, including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
- Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) provide primary care to children from infancy through adolescence. They diagnose and treat illnesses, provide preventive care and manage chronic conditions. PNPs work in many settings, including hospitals, clinics and private practices.
- Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) provide care for newborn babies in intensive care units (NICUs). They assess the health of newborns, diagnose and treat illnesses and provide support to families. NNPs work in hospitals with NICUs.
- Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) provide mental health care to patients of all ages. They diagnose and treat mental health conditions, provide therapy and manage medications. PMHNPs may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics and mental health agencies.
- Women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNPs) provide care for women of all ages. They provide gynecological care, prenatal care and contraception. WHNPs also provide education and counseling on women’s health issues. WHNPs may work across a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics and private practice
What Are the Highest-Paying and Lowest-Paying States for NPs?
The location a nurse practitioner chooses can significantly impact earning potential due to the difference in the cost of living in each state.
The region of the country, state and city all determine salary in conjunction with universal economic factors such as inflation, production costs and transportation and logistics.
According to the BLS, the highest-paying states for nurse practitioners are:
- California - $158,130 per year
- New Jersey - $143,250
- Massachusetts - $138,700
- Oregon - $136,250
- Nevada - $136,230
The states in which nurse practitioners tend to earn the least are:
- South Carolina - $109,130 per year
- Arkansas - $107,110
- West Virginia - $106,790
- Alabama - $106,610
- Tennessee - $99,330
Your specialization can also have an impact on your earning potential because of factors like demand and professional responsibility.
Here are some of the highest-paying NP specializations according to data compiled by Nurse.org:
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner - $145,348
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner - $135,023
- Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner – $131,543
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner – $130,855
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - $129,608
- Family Nurse Practitioner - $128,141
- Oncology Nurse Practitioner - $122,701
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - $113,153
- Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner - $100,035
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner - $99,495
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - $96,198
Nurse Practitioner Occupational Outlook
The job outlook for nurse practitioners is positive, with this position ranking among the fastest-growing careers in the United States.
The BLS projects that employment of NPs will grow 45% from 2022 to 2032; this is much faster than the average of just 3% for all occupations. This also far exceeds the projected increase for other high growth nursing areas, including nurse anesthetist (9%) and nurse midwives (6%).
The growth amounts to about 29,200 openings for NPs projected each year, on average, between 2022 and 2032, including an average of about 12,300 new positions opening per year along with existing roles vacated by NPs who retire or take other positions.
Several factors are contributing to the strong demand for NPs. These include:
- An aging population: As the population ages, there will be a growing need for health care services, including primary care. NPs are well-positioned to provide primary care to older adults, who have complex health care needs.
- A shortage of physicians: There is a projected shortage of physicians in the United States. NPs can help fill this gap by providing the care that physicians usually provide.
- An increased focus on preventive care: There is a growing emphasis on preventive care, which can help to reduce the need for more expensive and invasive treatments. NPs are skilled in providing preventive care and can help to keep patients healthy.
The increasing need for NPs is projected to be strong across all relevant settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and private practices.
Prepare to Advance or Specialize Your Nursing Career with Your Online MSN
Overall, the job outlook for nurse practitioners is promising, with the field projected to experience high growth and continue offering well-paid opportunities to qualified nursing professionals.
If you’re hoping to advance your nursing career or pursue a role as a nurse practitioner, Duquesne University can help.
As a premier institution and leader in nursing education, Duquesne University offers an online Master of Science in Nursing with several in-demand specialty options to help equip students for any path they choose to pursue.
Sources:
American Association of Nurse Practitioners, “What’s a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?”
American Nurses Association, “Types of Nurse Practitioner Specialties”
Forbes, “How Inflation Affects Your Cost of Living”
Nurse.org, “11 Highest Paid Nurse Practitioner (NP) Specialties”
Nurse.org, “Nurse Practitioner Salaries by State”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022: 29-1171 Nurse Practitioners”
U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics “Occupational Outlook” 2022 – Registered Nurses