Nurse Practitioner Salary – By Specialty & State

Upon completing an accredited and approved online nurse practitioner program, an NP can expect to enjoy a rewarding career that allows for considerable opportunities to provide hands-on care and treatment in today’s growing healthcare field. In addition, the financial rewards of obtaining an advanced degree as a nurse practitioner are greater than in a number of other industries. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for nurse practitioners in 2022 was $125,900 per year, compared to $81,220 per year for registered nurses. 

Salary by Nurse Practitioner Specialty

When a nurse practitioner specializes, they open up even more opportunities for their career and compensation. While each specialty will have different pay scales, many of them are in-demand areas of healthcare that can command lucrative salaries. The particular salary of a nurse practitioner who specializes depends on a number of factors, but the information below provides a broad overview of what can be expected. (Note: Glassdoor.com salaries don’t always distinguish between specialty levels)

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary

With a specialization as an acute care nurse practitioner, you could earn well over $100,000 annually. Employers in the northeast portion of the United States, such as those located in New Jersey and Massachusettes, tend to pay higher-than-average salaries for those who hold an acute care nurse practitioner specialization. The southern states, notably Florida and Alabama, pay salaries that are below the national average. 

The table below represents the current median Acute Care Nurse Practitioner salaries according to three popular salary reporting websites:

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Salary

Specializing as an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner pays, on average, a little over $100,000 annually. Possessing skills such as wound care and elder care could bump the salary. California, New Jersey, and Massachusettes are regions that often pay higher-than-average wages for this specialty. The Midwest — Kansas and Missouri for example — tend to pay lower than average. 

The table below represents current median Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner salaries according to three popular salary reporting websites:

Emergency Nurse Practitioner Salary

The salary for an emergency nurse practitioner ranges between $99,044 and $134,720. Positions in San Jose, San Fransico, and New York tend to pay more than average. Tampa and Miami, however, pay below the average pay noted above for an emergency nurse practitioner. 

The table below represents current median Emergency Nurse Practitioner salaries according to three popular salary reporting websites:

Family Nurse Practitioner Salary

A family nurse practitioner makes an average salary of around $100,000. Major cities in states like New York and California tend to pay their family nurse practitioners more than average. In the South, wages are often average or slightly below average.

The table below represents current median Family Nurse Practitioner salaries according to three popular salary reporting websites:

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Salary

Caring for the smallest and sickest babies as a neonatal nurse practitioner pays an average of well over $100,000 per year. New York, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, PA offer above-average wages. Tampa and Miami are near the lower end of the pay scale. 

The table below represents current median Neonatal Nurse Practitioner salaries according to three popular salary reporting websites:

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Salary

Specializing as a pediatric nurse practitioner can open doors and result in an average yearly salary of $98,787 to over $127,948. Those who have additional skills in acute care and the intensive care unit (ICU) can expect to earn even more. Boston, New York, Phoenix, and Philadelphia have higher average salaries for pediatric nurse practitioners. Southern states, such as Florida, often pay less. 

The table below represents current median Pediatric Nurse Practitioner salaries according to three popular salary reporting websites:

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Salary

For those who obtain their specialization as psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, the average salary is generally around $100,000. An entry-level position can expect a yearly salary of around $100,000 while those with 10 to 20 years of experience can earn around $120,000 per year. Los Angeles, San Jose, New York City, and Boston are among cities that pay psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners the highest wages. Nashville, Little Rock, and Memphis, however, are at the lower end of the pay scale. 

The table below represents current median Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner salaries according to three popular salary reporting websites:

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Salary

Opt to specialize as a women’s health nurse practitioner and expect an average salary in the $100,000 range. Obtaining skills in colposcopy or reproductive health can mean an increase in pay. A women’s health nurse practitioner who works in New York, New York could earn nearly 20 percent more than the average. Higher than average salaries might also be found in Houston, Boston, and Phoenix.

The table below represents current median Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner salaries according to three popular salary reporting websites:

Nurse Practitioner Salary Differences by Degree Type

The type of degree that a nurse practitioner holds can also have a bearing on the salary that is paid. Below is a comparison of some of the common degree types.

MSN-Educated Nurse Practitioners

An MSN-Educated Nurse Practitioner is ready to transition from being an RN with a BSN into advanced clinical practice, and is a common educational choice for those pursuing an online nurse practitioner degree. A salary of nearly $100,000, on average, can be expected for the nurse practitioner who has a Master's of Science in Nursing.

Post-Master’s Certificate Nurse Practitioners

Because a post-master’s certificate allows a current nurse practitioner to gain more knowledge and specialize (often in an additional area of care – for example, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner may choose to earn a post-master’s nursing certificate in Psychiatric-Mental Health to shift their focus to providing mental health services to that population), it provides them with expanded career opportunities as well as salary increases. While the average salary differs depending on the particular specialization that is earned, it is more than those without additional knowledge.

DNP-Educated Nurse Practitioners

As a nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), one possesses the highest degree possible within the specialty (alongside the less common Ph.D. in Nursing, which is aimed more at academia). A nurse practitioner who has been DNP-educated could earn an average of $135,830. States like Massachusetts, California and Oregon are the highest-paying for this type of degree.

What Else Affects Salaries for Nurse Practitioners?

In addition to the degree type and specialization type, there are other factors that can affect the salaries that nurse practitioners can expect. One of the most significant is the location of the employer. Historically, employers in the Northeast and West regions of the United States pay nurse practitioners more than those located in the South or Midwest. In addition to this, the employer type can also significantly impact salaries for NPs. According to the latest available data (May 2022) from the BLS, the top-paying industries for nurse practitioners include:

• Home Health Care Services (annual mean wage: $148,960)
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services (annual mean wage: $139,640)
• Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (annual mean wage: $137,310)
• Grantmaking and Giving Services (annual mean wage: $137,300)
• Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals (annual mean wage: $134,540)

The level of experience a nurse practitioner has also plays a role in the salary they can expect. Those who begin with an entry-level position, or who are still early in their career, can expect to be paid less than those nurse practitioners who are experienced or late in their career.

Having different skills and certifications can also boost the pay scale of a nurse practitioner. Cardiology, critical care, and oncology are just three in-demand subspecialty skills that can increase the amount of pay. Emergency/trauma and neuroscience skills can also boost pay, but not as much.

Nurse Practitioner Salary Table By State & Metro Area

To get a more accurate idea of what nurse practitioner salaries are like in your area, see below for salary breakdowns by state and by metropolitan areas.

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