CareerFacts

All careers › Nurse Practitioners

Nurse practitioner: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$132,300median pay per year, or $63.61 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $101,340lowest 10% earn less
  2. $117,99025th percentile
  3. $132,300median
  4. $156,70075th percentile
  5. $174,420top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A nurse practitioner earns well above the typical US worker, with a median of $132,300 a year[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow 41% over the decade to 2035[3], but the path starts with becoming a registered nurse and then earning a graduate degree[4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+41%[3]
Openings per year
29,400[6]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[7]

How much do nurse practitioners make?

The median wage for nurse practitioners was $132,300 a year, or $63.61 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of NPs earned more than that and half earned less[1]. The average was a bit higher, at $137,300 a year and $66.01 an hour[8].

For comparison, the median for all US occupations was $50,980[2]. That puts the typical nurse practitioner at more than twice the typical worker[1][2].

Pay still varies a lot from one NP to the next[5][9]:

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th $101,340 $48.72
25th $117,990 $56.73
75th $156,700 $75.34
90th $174,420 $83.86

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $101,340, and the top 10% earned more than $174,420[5]. These percentiles are boundaries in the pay range, not a starting salary[10]. BLS does not publish starting pay for this job[10].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not count certain bonuses or employer-paid benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

Where you work makes a big difference. The five states with the highest median pay for NPs were California at $168,520, New Jersey at $159,310, Washington at $156,100, Oregon at $155,680 and Alaska at $155,170[12]. At the other end, Alabama had the lowest state median at $105,750[12].

Every metro area on the BLS list of top-paying areas is in California[13]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara led with a median of $231,560, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $219,080 and Vallejo at $182,370[13].

Texas had the most NP jobs at 25,970, just ahead of California with 25,120[14]. New York had 22,890, Florida 21,790 and Ohio 15,400[14]. Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most by far, with 21,680 jobs and a median of $163,340[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim came next with 10,060 jobs[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$168,52025,120
New Jersey$159,3109,950
Washington$156,1006,700
Oregon$155,6802,820
Alaska$155,170710
New York$153,51022,890
Massachusetts$142,4408,070
Nevada$140,6701,930
Connecticut$138,4703,750
New Hampshire$137,5501,770
New Mexico$137,5201,770
Montana$137,2101,260
Rhode Island$135,9701,180
District of Columbia$135,880680
Hawaii$135,570550
Vermont$134,740700
Arizona$134,4207,220
Oklahoma$133,3903,620
Minnesota$133,2607,780
Colorado$132,9304,270
Idaho$132,5401,750
Wyoming$132,200440
Nebraska$132,1302,340
Wisconsin$131,9805,160
Texas$131,67025,970
Michigan$131,4508,290
Maryland$131,1106,710
Delaware$131,0401,430
Utah$130,9202,740
Illinois$130,6809,270
Maine$130,2601,650
Iowa$130,1603,240
Pennsylvania$130,14010,670
North Dakota$130,0701,290
Missouri$129,9307,710
Florida$129,51021,790
Georgia$129,43010,460
North Carolina$128,9909,800
South Dakota$128,8401,020
Indiana$128,8307,450
Virginia$127,8107,110
West Virginia$127,3202,550
Kansas$126,6503,780
Arkansas$125,6603,970
Louisiana$125,6005,380
Ohio$124,87015,400
Mississippi$124,7304,690
South Carolina$123,2905,670
Kentucky$122,8704,770
Tennessee$117,59012,150
Alabama$105,7505,640

How to become a nurse practitioner

BLS lists a master's degree as the usual education to enter this job, with no prior work experience or on-the-job training required on top of it[7]. The training details below come from a BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile that covers nurse practitioners together with nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives[16].

1) Become a registered nurse[17]. You need an RN license before you start advanced practice training[17]. Most programs prefer applicants with a bachelor's degree in nursing[18]. Some schools run bridge programs for RNs who hold an associate's degree or a nursing diploma, and some graduate programs accept people with a bachelor's in a related health science field and also prepare them for the RN licensing exam[18]. 2) Earn a graduate degree in advanced practice nursing[4]. A master's degree is the minimum[4]. Programs mix classroom study with clinical experience, and common courses include advanced health assessment, pathophysiology and pharmacology[19]. Some NPs go on to a doctorate, either a Ph.D. or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)[20]. 3) Pass a national certification exam[4][21]. Most states require national certification before you can be licensed and use an APRN title[22]. 4) Get a state APRN license[21]. Rules differ from state to state, and each state's board of nursing has the details[21]. 5) Add life support certifications if the job asks for them[23]. Some employers also want CPR, advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) or basic life support (BLS) certification[23].

In an ONET survey of 23 nurse practitioners, 65% said the job requires a master's degree and 26% said it requires a doctoral degree[24]. ONET also rates the job as needing extensive preparation[25].

The Handbook points to clear communication with patients and colleagues, sharp critical thinking about changes in a patient's condition, and compassion as important qualities[26][27][28].

What nurse practitioners do

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with graduate training who diagnose and treat illness, either on their own or as part of a care team[29]. Common job titles include family nurse practitioner, acute care nurse practitioner and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)[30]. Typical tasks include[29][31]:

Where they work

In the wider Handbook group, offices of physicians were the largest employer, with 46% of jobs in 2025[32]. Some APRNs care for patients in their homes[33], and some travel long distances to areas short of healthcare workers[34]. Self-employment is rare: 1.6% of NPs worked for themselves in 2025[35].

Most APRNs work full time[36]. In doctors' offices the hours are usually regular business hours[36]. In hospitals they may work shifts that include nights, weekends and holidays, and some, such as those in critical care, may be on call[36].

The work can wear you down physically and emotionally. Some spend much of the day standing, lifting patients can strain the back, and decisions about a patient's health can be stressful[37]. NPs may also be exposed to infectious diseases and need to follow strict safety rules against risks like needle sticks[38].

Job outlook

BLS expects the number of NP jobs to climb 41% between 2025 and 2035, rising from about 336,300 to about 474,100[3]. That is far faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[39].

About 29,400 openings are expected each year on average[6]. That count includes jobs that open up when NPs retire or switch fields, not only new positions[6]. Each year about 2% of NPs are expected to leave the labor force and 1.9% to move into another occupation[40].

BLS ties the growth to team-based care, where NPs take on more work that physicians used to do, and to wider practice authority[41].

The projection count (336,300 in 2025) includes self-employed workers[3], while the May 2025 wage survey counted about 323,040 wage and salary jobs[42]. So the two counts measure different things[42][3].

Is it a good fit?

The facts favor people who want strong pay and good job prospects and are ready for several stages of training[4]. The typical NP earns more than twice the all-occupations median[1][2], and projected growth of 41% is many times the overall rate[3][39]. The catch is the training: you must be an RN first and then finish at least a master's degree, pass a certification exam and get a state license[4]. Pay depends heavily on location, from a $105,750 median in Alabama to $168,520 in California[12]. Expect demanding work that can include shifts and on-call duty in hospital settings[37][36].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[43].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nurse practitioner make an hour?
The median was $63.61 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48.72 and the top 10% earned more than $83.86[9].
What degree do you need to be a nurse practitioner?
BLS lists a master's degree for entry[7]. You also need an RN license first, a national certification and a state APRN license[4]. Some NPs earn a DNP or Ph.D.[20].
What is the highest paying state for nurse practitioners?
California, with a median of $168,520 a year, followed by New Jersey at $159,310[12].
Are nurse practitioners in demand?
BLS projects 41% job growth from 2025 to 2035[3], compared with 3.5% for all occupations[39], and about 29,400 openings a year[6].
Which state has the most nurse practitioner jobs?
Texas, with 25,970 jobs in May 2025, followed closely by California with 25,120[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nurse Practitioners in the US was $132,300 per year and $63.61 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Nurse Practitioners is projected to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035, from about 336,300 to 474,100 jobs (a change of +137,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nurse Practitioners: 10th percentile $101,340, 25th percentile $117,990, 75th percentile $156,700, 90th percentile $174,420. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 29,400 openings for Nurse Practitioners are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Nurse Practitioners: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Nurse Practitioners was $137,300 per year and $66.01 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Nurse Practitioners: 10th percentile $48.72, 25th percentile $56.73, 75th percentile $75.34, 90th percentile $83.86. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Nurse Practitioners in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Nurse Practitioners (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $231,560; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $219,080; Vallejo, CA $182,370; Modesto, CA $173,380; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $172,010; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $169,920; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $167,190; Chico, CA $167,080. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Nurse Practitioners jobs: Texas 25,970; California 25,120; New York 22,890; Florida 21,790; Ohio 15,400. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Nurse Practitioners jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 21,680 (median $163,340); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 10,060 (median $161,470); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 7,310 (median $130,980); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 6,590 (median $135,700); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 6,530 (median $131,740); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 5,990 (median $147,480). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners" covers Nurse Practitioners together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 29-1171.00 survey of workers (23 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 65%, Doctoral Degree 26% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 29-1171.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Nurse Practitioners. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET 29-1171.00 sample job titles reported by workers: ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), Adult Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), ARNP Specialist (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Specialist), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Family Practice Certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner (NP). O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET task list for Nurse Practitioners. O*NET OnLine
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners in 2025: Offices of physicians 46%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: 1.6% of Nurse Practitioners were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  38. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  39. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  40. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Nurse Practitioners: 2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 1.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  41. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Nurse Practitioners: Occupational substitution, demand change - share increases as nurse practitioners are increasingly employed in team-based models of care, taking on tasks previously performed by physicians. Expanding practice authority is expected to support employment demand further. BLS Employment Projections
  42. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 323,040 people were employed as Nurse Practitioners in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  43. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.