Nurse Practitioner Salary and Job Outlook by State, 2023

Nurse Practitioner Salary and Job Outlook by State, 2023

Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses who have completed an additional, advanced degree in nursing. They're responsible for providing clinical care and patient care management to patients who have complex needs and require specialized treatment plans. NP salaries vary depending on where you live, but they tend to be higher than the average Registered Nurse salary. This makes sense given that NPs required additional, advanced-level education. It equips them with the skills they need to excel in new, more challenging roles. In this post, you'll learn about the average salary for a Nurse Practitioner, what they do, and see if it may be the right path for you.

How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Earn Per Year?

The average annual salary for a Nurse Practitioner is $123,780.

The lowest 10% of average yearly Nurse Practitioner salaries is $79,470.

The highest 10% is $163,350 per year.

The average annual salary for a Nurse Practitioner is $120,680.

How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Earn Per Hour?

The average hourly salary for a Nurse Practitioner is $56.75.

The lowest 10% of hourly Nurse Practitioner salaries is $38.21.

The highest 10% is $78.54 per hour.

The average hourly salary for a Nurse Practitioner is $58.02 per hour.

Nurse Practitioner Salary by State

Nurse Practitioner salaries vary greatly depending on the location.

However, if you're a travel nurse looking to relocate for a higher salary, be sure to consider the cost-of-living index.

For example, it's more expensive to live in a state like California than in Alabama. This accounts for some of the wage inequality, but there are opportunities to make more money working elsewhere.

Check the average annual NP salary in each state according to the most recent BLS data.

Where Are Nurse Practitioners Paid the Most?

California pays Nurse Practitioners the highest average annual salary.

The average annual salary for a Nurse Practitioner in California is $151,830.

And the average hourly wage is $72.99. The state employs about 17,400 Nurse Practitioners.

The top-paying states after California include:

• New Jersey ($137,010)
• New York ($133,940)
• Washington ($130,840)
• Massachusetts ($129,540)

Where Are Nurse Practitioners Paid the Least?

Tennessee pays Nurse Practitioners the lowest average annual salary.

The average annual salary for a Nurse Practitioner in Tennessee is $95,120.

The average hourly salary is $45.73. The state employs about 11,360 Nurse Practitioners.

The lowest-paying states after Tennessee include:

• Alabama ($102,410)
• South Carolina ($102,850)
• Missouri ($103,490)
• West Virginia ($104,750)

Nurse Practitioner Salary by Specialization

While there's nothing wrong with being a general Nurse Practitioner, as they have the option of specializing in the care for specific populations.

This is generally done by completing a nursing program that provides them with the necessary clinical competency for that area of expertise.

Proper certification is required after choosing the specialty.

The specialty you choose can affect your salary. Below is a breakdown of Nurse Practitioner salaries by specialty.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners provide mental health treatment to their patients.

Their responsibilities include prescribing medications to help manage patients' treatment plans. They also treat a range of mental health conditions, including but not limited to depression and schizophrenia.

The average salary for a PMHNP is $138,324. However, salaries can range from $54,000 to $224,000.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Neonatal Nurse Practitioners care for premature or sick newborns.

They treat infants suffering from:

• Low birth weight
• Cardiac abnormalities
• Complications of prematurity

The average salary for an NNP is $129,718. However, salaries range from $109,697 to $149,844.

Emergency Nurse Practitioner

Emergency Nurse Practitioners usually work in emergency departments and urgent care facilities.

They treat patients of all ages and provide critical care when someone undergoes a trauma or life-threatening emergency.

The average salary for an Emergency Nurse Practitioner is $118,685. However, salaries can range from $102,686 to $144,250.

Oncology Nurse Practitioner

Oncology Nurse Practitioners treat patients who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Some of their duties may include:

• Supervising therapeutic infusions
• Ordering and interpretation of laboratory tests and X-rays
• Creating pain management plans

The average salary for an Oncology Nurse Practitioner is $117,801. However, salaries can range from $104,619 to $126,016.

Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner

Orthopedic Nurse Practitioners treat patients with conditions including:

• Bones
• Muscles
• Joints
• Connective tissue support

Some of their duties may include assisting with surgeries or creating pain management plans for patients.

The average salary for an Orthopedic NP is $117,800. However, salaries can range from $103,090 to $132,128.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Acute Care Nurse Practitioners typically work in hospital settings. The care they provide is often critical and urgent.

They treat patients that:

• Are ill.
• Were admitted to the hospital.
• Underwent a medical procedure.

The average salary for an ACNP is $115,383. However, salaries can range from $102,836 to $131,232.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioners provide care for patients of all ages.

They are often primary care providers for families and can work with patients throughout their entire lives.

Their duties involve both diagnosing and treating patients.

The average salary for an FNP is $115,310. However, salaries can range from $99,434 to $134,319.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners provide care to children until adulthood.

Their duties include:

• Carrying out checks
• Vaccination administration
• Assessment of chronic and acute conditions

The average salary for a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is $111,600. However, salaries can range from $97,463 to $122,107.

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Women's Health Nurse Practitioners focus on care related to:

• Reproduction
• Gynecology
• Obstetrics

They diagnose and treat patients as well as provide advice on preventive health care.

The average salary for a WHNP is $110,111. However, salaries can range from $97,296 to $125,410.

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners provide care for older adults and those reaching the end of their lives.

Their duties may include:

• Help with everyday life.
• Medication
• Monitoring health vitals

The average salary for an Adult-Gerontology NP is $99,298. However, salaries can range from $85,626 to $115,681.

Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner

Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners work with patients who want to change their physical appearance.

Their duties include:

• Performing tattoo removal
• Botox administration
• Providing patients with chemical peels

The average salary for an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner is $94,372. However, salaries can range from $81,868 to $110,362.

Career Outlook for Nurse Practitioners

Nursing is one of the most in-demand and stable professions. Not only is there currently a shortage of nursing staff across the country, but there are both long-term and short-term trends that have increased this demand.

In the short term, the pandemic has substantially increased the demand for nursing staff across the country.

In the long run, the increasing life expectancy and quality of life of the average American is leading to significant growth in the elderly population. As a result, the need for all kinds of nurses and other healthcare workers will increase over time.

Job Security

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner means you will have an even higher level of job security.

It is estimated that by 2030, the number of jobs for nurses will increase by a whopping 45% from current numbers. This is much faster compared to almost any other career!

You can be sure that the aging population will have a greater need for primary care as time goes on, so the demand for all kinds of nursing jobs is on a pretty solid footing.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a type of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

NPs are nurses who have completed the required nursing education. They serve as either specialty or primary care providers.

Why Should You Become a Nurse Practitioner?

Compared to other nurses, Nurse Practitioners:

• Earn more.
• Better career opportunities are available to them.
• Handle more responsibility.

Also, nurse practitioners have more authority than registered nurses (RNs). In many ways, their duties are more similar to those of a doctor than a nurse.

Typically, each nurse focuses their career on caring for a specific group of people such as

• Elderly
• Children
• Families

They also focus on preventing disease and promoting the health of their patients in their roles as clinicians.

What Do Nurse Practitioners Do?

Nurse practitioners can:

• Examine patients.
• Prescribe medication.
• Order diagnostic tests.
• Providing treatment.
• Diagnose diseases.

In other words, they do the same work that most doctors do. On the other hand, their advanced education means they are qualified to handle additional responsibilities that would otherwise be handled by physicians.

Scope of Practice of Nurse Practitioners

25 states in the US have full-fledged registered nurses. This means they can work without any medical supervision. Regardless, NPs still have more authority compared to the average RN in other states. However, they work under the supervision of doctors. This means that their superiors sign off on all important decisions regarding patient care.

Conclusion

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner is a great idea if you want to increase your salary and take on new challenges. While nursing salaries can vary greatly by state and specialty, obtaining a license as one is a smart strategy to advance your nursing career. However, before you can start working as an NP, you'll need the proper nursing education. If you're a nurse practitioner and searching for your dream job, sign up on the DirectShifts platform and apply today! You can also tell your friends, family, and colleagues about the modern way to find new contracts and opportunities! When your referral completes a contract with us, you can earn a bonus of up to $1,000! So, hurry up and avail the opportunity.