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Nurse Practitioners Salary
Nurse Practitioners earn a median $132,300 a year in the U.S., with 323,040 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $132,300 a year
- Employment
- 323,040
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +41.0%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 29,400
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $132,300 · $63.61 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $137,300 · $66.01 an hour (estimate error ±0.3%)
- 10th percentile
- $101,340 · $48.72 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $117,990 · $56.73 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $156,700 · $75.34 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $174,420 · $83.86 an hour
- Employment
- 323,040 (estimate error ±1.2%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 336,300
- Projected for 2035
- 474,100
- Change
- +137,800 (+41.0%)
- Openings each year
- 29,400
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 1.6%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $168,520 | 25,120 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $159,310 | 9,950 |
| 3 | Washington | $156,100 | 6,700 |
| 4 | Oregon | $155,680 | 2,820 |
| 5 | Alaska | $155,170 | 710 |
| 6 | New York | $153,510 | 22,890 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $142,440 | 8,070 |
| 8 | Nevada | $140,670 | 1,930 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $138,470 | 3,750 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $137,550 | 1,770 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 25,970 | $131,670 |
| California | 25,120 | $168,520 |
| New York | 22,890 | $153,510 |
| Florida | 21,790 | $129,510 |
| Ohio | 15,400 | $124,870 |
| Tennessee | 12,150 | $117,590 |
| Pennsylvania | 10,670 | $130,140 |
| Georgia | 10,460 | $129,430 |
| New Jersey | 9,950 | $159,310 |
| North Carolina | 9,800 | $128,990 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $231,560 | 1,580 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $219,080 | 3,110 |
| 3 | Vallejo, CA | $182,370 | 180 |
| 4 | Modesto, CA | $173,380 | 380 |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $172,010 | 1,170 |
| 6 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $169,920 | 1,710 |
| 7 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $167,190 | 190 |
| 8 | Chico, CA | $167,080 | 140 |
| 9 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $167,040 | 280 |
| 10 | Fresno, CA | $166,570 | 570 |
| 11 | Salinas, CA | $166,090 | 140 |
| 12 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $165,580 | 430 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,680 | $163,340 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,060 | $161,470 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,310 | $130,980 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,590 | $135,700 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 6,530 | $131,740 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,990 | $147,480 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,970 | $134,560 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,950 | $132,500 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,810 | $131,340 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 5,450 | $136,270 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,900 | $133,370 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 4,540 | $122,320 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)50 certified filingsMedian offered wage $139,223
Nurse Practitioners pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do nurse practitioners make?
- The median wage for nurse practitioners in the U.S. is $132,300 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $117,990 and $156,700.
- Which state pays nurse practitioners the most?
- California has the highest median wage for this occupation at $168,520 a year.
- What is the job outlook for nurse practitioners?
- BLS projects employment to grow 41.0% from 2025 to 2035, with about 29,400 openings each year on average.
- What education do nurse practitioners need?
- The typical entry-level education is: master's degree.