How much does a nurse practitioner make?
The median nurse practitioner in the United States earns $132,300 per year, about $63.61 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all nurse practitioners earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-1171.
Nurse practitioner salary range
Pay for nurse practitioners spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $101,340 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $174,420. The average (mean) wage of $137,300 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $101,340 | $48.72 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $117,990 | $56.73 | |
| Median (50th) | $132,300 | $63.61 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $156,700 | $75.34 | |
| 90th percentile | $174,420 | $83.86 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Nurse practitioner salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Nurse practitioners earn the most in California at $168,520 a year, and the least in Alabama at $105,750. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $168,520 | 25,120 |
| New Jersey | $159,310 | 9,950 |
| Washington | $156,100 | 6,700 |
| Oregon | $155,680 | 2,820 |
| Alaska | $155,170 | 710 |
| New York | $153,510 | 22,890 |
| Massachusetts | $142,440 | 8,070 |
| Nevada | $140,670 | 1,930 |
| Connecticut | $138,470 | 3,750 |
| New Hampshire | $137,550 | 1,770 |
| New Mexico | $137,520 | 1,770 |
| Montana | $137,210 | 1,260 |
| Rhode Island | $135,970 | 1,180 |
| District of Columbia | $135,880 | 680 |
| Hawaii | $135,570 | 550 |
| Vermont | $134,740 | 700 |
| Arizona | $134,420 | 7,220 |
| Oklahoma | $133,390 | 3,620 |
| Minnesota | $133,260 | 7,780 |
| Colorado | $132,930 | 4,270 |
| Idaho | $132,540 | 1,750 |
| Wyoming | $132,200 | 440 |
| Nebraska | $132,130 | 2,340 |
| Wisconsin | $131,980 | 5,160 |
| Texas | $131,670 | 25,970 |
| Michigan | $131,450 | 8,290 |
| Maryland | $131,110 | 6,710 |
| Delaware | $131,040 | 1,430 |
| Utah | $130,920 | 2,740 |
| Illinois | $130,680 | 9,270 |
| Maine | $130,260 | 1,650 |
| Iowa | $130,160 | 3,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,140 | 10,670 |
| North Dakota | $130,070 | 1,290 |
| Missouri | $129,930 | 7,710 |
| Florida | $129,510 | 21,790 |
| Georgia | $129,430 | 10,460 |
| North Carolina | $128,990 | 9,800 |
| South Dakota | $128,840 | 1,020 |
| Indiana | $128,830 | 7,450 |
| Virginia | $127,810 | 7,110 |
| West Virginia | $127,320 | 2,550 |
| Kansas | $126,650 | 3,780 |
| Arkansas | $125,660 | 3,970 |
| Louisiana | $125,600 | 5,380 |
| Ohio | $124,870 | 15,400 |
| Mississippi | $124,730 | 4,690 |
| South Carolina | $123,290 | 5,670 |
| Kentucky | $122,870 | 4,770 |
| Tennessee | $117,590 | 12,150 |
| Alabama | $105,750 | 5,640 |
State median wages for nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for nurse practitioners
The BLS projects employment of nurse practitioners to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 336,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 474,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 29,400 openings a year for nurse practitioners. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a nurse practitioner
The typical entry-level education for nurse practitioners is a master's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a nurse practitioner earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $168,520) and the lowest (Alabama, $105,750) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 323,040 people work as nurse practitioners in the United States. At $132,300 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Nurse practitioner salary FAQ
How much does a nurse practitioner make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a nurse practitioner is $63.61. The middle half of nurse practitioners earn between $56.73 and $75.34 per hour.
What is the highest nurse practitioner salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of nurse practitioners earn more than $174,420 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a nurse practitioner make a year?
The median annual salary for a nurse practitioner is $132,300. The average (mean) wage of $137,300 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a nurse practitioner a well paid job?
At $132,300 a year, a nurse practitioner earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 323,040 people work as nurse practitioners in the United States.
Which state pays nurse practitioners the most?
California has the highest median salary for nurse practitioners at $168,520 a year. New Jersey ($159,310) and Washington ($156,100) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a nurse practitioner a good career?
Employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 29,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a nurse practitioner?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for nurse practitioners as a master's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
Related salaries
See more in Healthcare salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.