Nurse Practitioner Salaries on the Rise
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By the year 2025, there will be an unprecedented demand for NPs throughout the US, according to NP Schools.com. This demand will translate into higher salaries for these healthcare professionals across all specialties.
NP Schools also report that salaries vary by state and region and the highest wages for NPs are paid in these 10 states:
- $183,590: California
- $164,070: Massachusetts
- $162,410: Wyoming
- $162,350: Alaska
- $159,840: New York
- $159,260: Hawaii
- $159,620: Rhode Island
- $152,030: Texas
- $149,480: New Jersey
- $149,270: Oregon
If you look at salary on a more granular level, the Bureau of Labor breaks down the top 10 metropolitan areas for nurse practitioners along with the annual mean wage:
- New Bedford, MA: $156,980
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $150,790
- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA: $148,440
- Sumter, SC: $145,890
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $145,400
- Leominster-Gardner, MA: $145,020
- Yuma, AZ: $142,650
- Rochester, MN: $142,640
- Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL: $141,800
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $141,460
While location is relevant, the fields of specialization are the main determinant for median salary fields.
[ Read: Health eCareers’ Salary Guide 2018-2019 ]
1. Nurse Anesthetist
Topping the list in earning power is nurse anesthetist. A nurse anesthetist administers to patients on their way to surgery and monitors patients during the procedures. As any surgeon will attest, this role is the most critical person in the operating room.
The Bureau of Labor reports that the median annual salary for practitioners is $174,790 and projected job growth in the field is 26 percent by the year 2028. Since nurse anesthetists are also tasked with patient follow-up, this field could be a good fit for family nurse practitioners who routinely follow up on an outpatient basis.
The big salary comes with additional education and experience. NPs must earn an MSN in anesthesia and then train in acute care clinics and treatment centers.
2. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
For professionals who are passionate about the youngest members of our population, they may want to consider the field of neonatal nurse practitioner. This intense, rewarding discipline requires national certification along with the State Board of Nursing. The base salary is $107,500 a year with a total income of $124,540. Demand for professionals in this field is expected to grow 17 percent by the year 2022.
3. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
If professionals love administering beyond the infant stage, a career as a pediatric primary care practitioner may be an ideal choice. Practitioners focus on the physical health and emotional development of children from birth to adolescence. The average annual salary is $100,000 according to the Health eCareers Salary Guide. From 2008-2018, job demand for this specialty was estimated to increase by 22 percent.
4. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
As many across the country have stated, a serious conversation about mental health and treating mental health illnesses is critically important. Psychiatric nurse practitioners will be vital for making treatment accessible and affordable to a greater part of the population. Professionals counsel patients, prescribe medication, and treat patients for everything from anxiety and depression to addiction and drug abuse. The Health eCareers salary guide reports a base salary of $124,500.
5. Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
As the population ages and life expectancy continues to increase, there will be a greater need for adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners. Professionals are specially trained in the needs of older patients. They are able to successfully treat minor and chronic illnesses that are specific to this age group, as well as focus on risk detection and illness prevention. The median annual salary is reported at $105,000.
6. Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
An orthopedic nurse practitioner’s base salary, according the salary guide, is $117,000. These practitioners typically treat patients who have a form of musculoskeletal issues along with diseases or injuries of the bones, muscles, joints, and supporting connective tissues. In addition, these professionals have been trained in specific techniques used to reduce fractures and dislocations, how to administer joint injections, and the ability to interpret X-ray images without a radiologist.
7. Family Nurse Practitioner
Our top earners list for NPs concludes with family nurse practitioner, where the annual median salary is $104,000. With the diminishing pool of primary care physicians and the growing need across the population for their services, many patients are turning to family nurse practitioners for primary care.
While 27 states still require some sort of oversight of family nurse practitioners, dozens of influential nursing organizations are pushing for legislative reform so they can practice independently without physician oversight.
This is particularly critical in light of a 2018 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges, which projects overall physician shortages of 42,600–121,300 practitioners by the year 2030, with 14,800 to 49,300 of those shortages being in primary care positions.
