Nurse Practitioner Salary by State

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Nurse practitioner positions are expected to be stable or growing job positions in the next 10 years. With the right training and a solid job offer, the nurse practitioner field can be quite lucrative—but the numbers can also vary widely from state to state.

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is a highly trained registered nurse with the expert skills and knowledge to work at the top of the nursing field. Many nurse practitioners see and screen patients for general practice physicians, managing caseloads to free the doctor’s time for patients with the most serious, unusual, or complex circumstances. According to the International Council of Nurses, a nurse practitioner has achieved advanced education, specific licensing requirements, and the complex decision-making skills necessary for expanded practice.

[ Read: How Many Years Does it Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner? ]

National Nurse Practitioner Statistics

Employment of nurse practitioners is expected to grow drastically—by 26 percent between 2018 and 2028. Nurse practitioners will usually make more than the median wage for all registered nurses, since they tend to be more highly trained and have longer professional experience histories.

[ Download: Health eCareers’ Salary Guide 2018-2019 ]

Top States for Nurse Practitioners

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wages for May 2018, the states that employ the most nurse practitioners are:

1. New York, with a mean annual wage of $120,970
2. California, with a mean annual wage of $133,780
3. Texas, with a mean annual wage of $111,060
4. Florida, with a mean annual wage of $101,100
5. Ohio, with a mean annual wage of $101,970

The five states with the highest concentration of jobs for nurse practitioners are:

1. Mississippi, with a mean annual wage of $109,700
2. Tennessee, with a mean annual wage of $95,990
3. Maine, with a mean annual wage of $103,220
4. Alabama, with a mean annual wage of $95,970
5. New Hampshire, with a mean annual wage of $109,460

The states that pay the highest by annual mean wage are:

1. California, with a mean annual wage of $133,780
2. Alaska, with a mean annual wage of $122,880
3. Massachusetts, with a mean annual wage of $122,740
4. New Jersey, with a mean annual wage of $122,100
5. New York, with a mean annual wage of $120,970

Massachusetts ranks on all three Top 5 lists and may be one of the best places for job seekers in the nurse practitioner field in coming years.

[ Read: Health eCareers’ Salary Guide 2018-2019 ]

Salary By State

Rasmussen.org has assembled average salaries for nurse practitioners by state (including U.S. territories) that take into account current job descriptions. These averages, include the top 10 states of:

1. California: $109,540
2. Alaska: $106,300
3. Oregon: $104,320
4. New Jersey: $103,460
5. Hawaii: $103,030
6. Massachusetts: $101,100
7. New York: $100,570
8. Rhode Island: $99,560
9. Texas: $99,340
10. Arizona: $97,400

Nurse practitioners are some of the most sought-after and highly paid nurses in the medical profession. As a nurse practitioner seeking a new position, remember to consider cost of living as you assess each state’s pay scale. A nurse practitioner’s salary of may go farther in Tennessee than it does in California. Factor in cost of food, housing, and lifestyle as you make your choices when applying for new positions.

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