Nurse practitioners in the US earn $121,610 on average — roughly 57% more than registered nurses, with high demand across all specialties.
Average Nurse Practitioner Salary in 2026
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Average NP salary | $121,610 |
| Median NP salary | $118,040 |
| Entry level (0-2 years) | $98,000 |
| Mid-career (5-10 years) | $120,000 |
| Experienced (10+ years) | $140,000+ |
| Hourly rate | $58.47 |
Nurse Practitioner Salary by State
| State | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $151,830 | $73.00 | +25% |
| New Jersey | $137,010 | $65.87 | +13% |
| Washington | $135,930 | $65.35 | +12% |
| Massachusetts | $133,250 | $64.06 | +10% |
| New York | $132,540 | $63.72 | +9% |
| Oregon | $130,470 | $62.73 | +7% |
| Nevada | $128,950 | $62.00 | +6% |
| Connecticut | $128,510 | $61.78 | +6% |
| Minnesota | $126,390 | $60.76 | +4% |
| Hawaii | $125,770 | $60.47 | +3% |
| Colorado | $120,480 | $57.93 | -1% |
| Texas | $117,340 | $56.41 | -4% |
| Florida | $113,250 | $54.45 | -7% |
| Ohio | $112,910 | $54.28 | -7% |
| North Carolina | $111,180 | $53.45 | -9% |
| Georgia | $110,390 | $53.07 | -9% |
| Tennessee | $106,080 | $51.00 | -13% |
| Alabama | $103,550 | $49.78 | -15% |
Nurse Practitioner Salary by Specialty
| Specialty | Average Salary | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric/Mental Health NP | $139,000 | Very High |
| Acute Care NP | $132,000 | High |
| Neonatal NP | $130,000 | Moderate |
| Emergency NP | $128,000 | High |
| Cardiology NP | $125,000 | High |
| Family Practice NP (FNP) | $118,000 | High |
| Adult-Gerontology NP | $117,000 | Very High |
| Pediatric NP | $115,000 | Moderate |
| Women’s Health NP | $114,000 | Moderate |
| Oncology NP | $122,000 | High |
Psychiatric NPs: Highest Paid
Psychiatric/Mental Health NPs command premium salaries due to:
- Severe mental health provider shortage
- Ability to prescribe psychiatric medications
- Growing demand for telepsychiatry
- Limited supply of trained providers
Nurse Practitioner Salary by Setting
| Work Setting | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Outpatient care centers | $130,000 |
| Hospitals | $125,000 |
| Physician offices | $118,000 |
| Emergency departments | $135,000 |
| Urgent care centers | $122,000 |
| Government/VA | $128,000 |
| Community health centers | $115,000 |
| Telehealth | $125,000 |
| Academia | $98,000 |
NP vs. RN vs. PA Salary Comparison
| Role | Average Salary | Education Required |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $77,600 | BSN/ADN |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $121,610 | MSN/DNP |
| Physician Assistant (PA) | $126,010 | Master’s |
| Physician | $239,000+ | MD/DO |
NPs earn 57% more than RNs with an additional 2-3 years of graduate education.
Nurse Practitioner Salary by Experience
| Experience Level | Salary Range | Typical Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| New Grad (0-1 year) | $90,000-$105,000 | $43-$50 |
| Early Career (1-4 years) | $105,000-$120,000 | $50-$58 |
| Mid-Career (5-9 years) | $120,000-$135,000 | $58-$65 |
| Experienced (10-19 years) | $135,000-$155,000 | $65-$75 |
| Expert (20+ years) | $150,000-$180,000 | $72-$87 |
Full Practice Authority States
NPs in full practice authority states often earn more due to:
- Ability to practice independently (no physician oversight)
- Can own practices
- Higher demand in underserved areas
| Practice Authority | States |
|---|---|
| Full practice | AK, AZ, CO, CT, DC, HI, ID, IA, ME, MD, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD, VT, WA, WY |
| Reduced practice | AL, AR, DE, IN, KS, KY, LA, MS, NJ, NY, OH, PA, UT, WV, WI |
| Restricted practice | CA, FL, GA, MI, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA |
How to Increase NP Salary
- Specialize in psychiatry — Highest-paid NP specialty
- Get board certified — AANP or ANCC certification
- Work in high-paying states — CA, NJ, WA pay 10-25% more
- Negotiate job offers — NP salaries often negotiable
- Obtain DNP degree — Some employers pay more for doctoral-level
- Work PRN/locum tenens — $75-$100+/hour
- Consider travel NP — Premium rates + housing stipends
Nurse Practitioner Salary After Taxes
| Gross Salary | Federal Tax | FICA | State Tax (avg) | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $13,200 | $7,650 | $4,000 | $75,150 |
| $121,610 | $18,500 | $9,303 | $4,900 | $88,907 |
| $140,000 | $23,500 | $10,710 | $5,600 | $100,190 |
| $151,830 | $27,300 | $11,420 | $9,100 | $104,010 |
California’s high salaries offset by 9.3% state tax
Job Outlook for Nurse Practitioners
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Projected growth (2022-2032) | 45% |
| Current employment | 355,000 |
| Annual job openings | 29,400 |
| Median time to find job | 2-4 weeks |
NP is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the US healthcare sector.
Is Nurse Practitioner a Good Career?
Pros:
- High salary ($120K+ average)
- Excellent job security (45% growth)
- Meaningful patient care
- More autonomy than RNs
- Multiple specialty options
- Work-life balance options
Cons:
- Graduate degree required (MSN/DNP)
- State practice restrictions vary
- High responsibility/liability
- Potential for burnout
- Supervision requirements in some states
Bottom Line
Nurse practitioners earn $121,610/year on average, with top earners exceeding $150,000 in high-paying states like California. Psychiatric NPs are the highest-paid specialty. With 45% job growth projected, NP is one of the best healthcare careers available.