Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$101,340
- 25th Percentile — Junior$117,990
- 50th Percentile — Median$132,300
- 75th Percentile — Senior$156,700
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$174,420
The top 10% of Nurse Practitioners earn $174,420 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $101,340, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $176,760 | +28.7% |
| Oregon | $155,780 | +13.5% |
| New Jersey | $155,750 | +13.4% |
| New York | $153,900 | +12.1% |
| Massachusetts | $152,320 | +10.9% |
| Washington | $152,180 | +10.8% |
| Alaska | $149,120 | +8.6% |
| District of Columbia | $146,470 | +6.7% |
| New Mexico | $143,510 | +4.5% |
| Rhode Island | $143,150 | +4.3% |
| Hawaii | $142,910 | +4.1% |
| Connecticut | $142,340 | +3.7% |
| Arizona | $140,600 | +2.4% |
| Vermont | $139,400 | +1.5% |
| New Hampshire | $138,070 | +0.6% |
| Nevada | $137,410 | +0.1% |
| Utah | $137,060 | -0.2% |
| Iowa | $136,940 | -0.3% |
| Minnesota | $135,890 | -1.0% |
| Montana | $135,290 | -1.5% |
| Wisconsin | $135,160 | -1.6% |
| Maine | $134,210 | -2.3% |
| Oklahoma | $134,200 | -2.3% |
| Idaho | $133,420 | -2.8% |
| Maryland | $133,360 | -2.9% |
| Delaware | $132,900 | -3.2% |
| Michigan | $132,790 | -3.3% |
| Wyoming | $132,680 | -3.4% |
| Colorado | $132,540 | -3.5% |
| Pennsylvania | $132,070 | -3.8% |
| Nebraska | $131,710 | -4.1% |
| Texas | $131,420 | -4.3% |
| Missouri | $130,970 | -4.6% |
| Illinois | $130,940 | -4.6% |
| North Carolina | $130,870 | -4.7% |
| Florida | $130,410 | -5.0% |
| Arkansas | $130,260 | -5.1% |
| Virginia | $129,060 | -6.0% |
| Georgia | $128,800 | -6.2% |
| Kansas | $127,940 | -6.8% |
| West Virginia | $126,780 | -7.7% |
| Louisiana | $126,630 | -7.8% |
| Indiana | $126,600 | -7.8% |
| North Dakota | $126,370 | -8.0% |
| Mississippi | $125,340 | -8.7% |
| South Dakota | $125,160 | -8.8% |
| Kentucky | $125,010 | -9.0% |
| South Carolina | $124,170 | -9.6% |
| Ohio | $122,910 | -10.5% |
| Tennessee | $115,510 | -15.9% |
| Alabama | $110,970 | -19.2% |
What Factors Affect Nurse Practitioners Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Nurse Practitioners is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $176,760, while Alabama pays $110,970 — a gap of $65,790 per year.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Nurse Practitioners typically earn $101,340–$117,990 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $156,700–$174,420 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Nurse Practitioners role currently has high demand in the job market with a 4.2% growth rate, making it one of the most growing careers in the Healthcare sector.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 26.1% vs this role
- Pharmacists $140,920/yr United States +2.6% vs this role
- Physical Therapists $105,280/yr United States 23.3% vs this role
- Speech-Language Pathologists $98,170/yr United States 28.5% vs this role
- Occupational Therapists $101,280/yr United States 26.2% vs this role
- Licensed Practical Nurses $67,050/yr United States 51.2% vs this role
- Software Developers $148,100/yr United States +7.9% vs this role
- Information Security Analysts $132,510/yr United States 3.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Nurse Practitioners?
The average salary for Nurse Practitioners in the United States is $137,300 per year, with a median of $132,300.
What is the starting salary for Nurse Practitioners?
Entry-level Nurse Practitioners typically earn between $101,340 and $117,990 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Nurse Practitioners the most?
California pays Nurse Practitioners the most at $176,760 per year on average, followed by Oregon ($155,780) and New Jersey ($155,750).
How much do Nurse Practitioners make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $137,300, Nurse Practitioners earn approximately $66.01 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Nurse Practitioners a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 323,040 Nurse Practitioners jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $137,300 and a median of $132,300 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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