Nurse Practitioner Salary
Nurse Practitioners earn a median $132,300 a year nationally. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
U.S. median
$132,300
$63.61 per hour
Range
$101,340 – $174,420
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
323,040
across the U.S.
▲2.4%
Pay trend: The median for nurse practitioners in the U.S. rose from $129,210 (May 2024) to $132,300 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What nurse practitioners do
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.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +41.0% (much faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 29,400
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 41.0% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 29,400 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nurse Practitioner take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$101,693
per year · effective tax rate 23.1%
$8,474Monthly
$4,237Twice a month
$3,911Every 2 weeks
$48.89Hourly
- Federal income tax$20,486
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,203
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,918
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$101,693
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,340 | $48.72 | $80,123 |
| 25th percentile | $117,990 | $56.73 | $91,836 |
| Median (50th) | $132,300 | $63.61 | $101,693 |
| 75th percentile | $156,700 | $75.34 | $118,370 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $174,420 | $83.86 | $130,482 |
Best cities for nurse practitioners (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $219,080 | $143,890 | $124,458 | 3,110 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $134,560 | $103,238 | $104,673 | 5,970 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $130,800 | $97,853 | $104,184 | 3,320 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $130,760 | $95,432 | $103,122 | 2,730 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $163,340 | $114,312 | $101,554 | 21,680 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $128,700 | $96,476 | $101,159 | 2,820 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $130,460 | $96,616 | $100,962 | 2,530 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $131,580 | $95,954 | $100,911 | 3,430 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $128,050 | $98,788 | $100,736 | 2,700 |
| 10 | Nashville, TN | $122,320 | $94,872 | $98,478 | 4,540 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $124,580 | $93,773 | $98,223 | 3,140 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $128,120 | $98,836 | $97,964 | 4,180 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $136,270 | $101,209 | $97,960 | 5,450 |
| 14 | Dallas, TX | $130,980 | $100,791 | $97,770 | 7,310 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $134,390 | $97,661 | $97,371 | 3,400 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $135,700 | $99,851 | $97,364 | 6,590 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $147,480 | $104,915 | $96,904 | 5,990 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $161,470 | $108,745 | $95,754 | 10,060 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $132,500 | $95,576 | $95,520 | 5,950 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $131,740 | $94,934 | $91,640 | 6,530 |
| 21 | Baltimore, MD | $131,990 | $95,511 | $91,409 | 3,800 |
| 22 | Minneapolis, MN | $133,370 | $94,788 | $90,427 | 4,900 |
| 23 | Miami, FL | $131,340 | $101,037 | $88,509 | 5,810 |
| 24 | Washington, DC | $134,840 | $94,936 | $87,190 | 4,050 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $219,080
- New York, NY — $163,340
- Los Angeles, CA — $161,470
- Boston, MA — $147,480
- Phoenix, AZ — $136,270
- Philadelphia, PA — $135,700
- Washington, DC — $134,840
- Houston, TX — $134,560
- Detroit, MI — $134,390
- Minneapolis, MN — $133,370
- Atlanta, GA — $132,500
- Baltimore, MD — $131,990
- Chicago, IL — $131,740
- St. Louis, MO — $131,580
- Miami, FL — $131,340
Nurse Practitioner salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $168,520 | +1.1% | $112,816 | $120,340 – $239,200+ | 25,120 |
| New Jersey | $159,310 | +6.5% | $112,196 | $122,390 – $183,420 | 9,950 |
| Washington | $156,100 | +11.3% | $117,960 | $122,420 – $187,240 | 6,700 |
| Oregon | $155,680 | +7.7% | $104,562 | $124,660 – $194,070 | 2,820 |
| Alaska | $155,170 | +6.7% | $117,325 | $95,570 – $207,490 | 710 |
| New York | $153,510 | +5.6% | $108,173 | $112,730 – $198,060 | 22,890 |
| Massachusetts | $142,440 | +2.6% | $101,722 | $111,950 – $207,710 | 8,070 |
| Nevada | $140,670 | — | $107,414 | $85,380 – $172,170 | 1,930 |
| Connecticut | $138,470 | −0.4% | $99,752 | $109,930 – $173,810 | 3,750 |
| New Hampshire | $137,550 | +3.9% | $105,281 | $106,070 – $166,240 | 1,770 |
| New Mexico | $137,520 | −0.7% | $99,853 | $106,320 – $175,020 | 1,770 |
| Montana | $137,210 | +2.7% | $98,658 | $105,110 – $166,940 | 1,260 |
| Rhode Island | $135,970 | +4.0% | $99,345 | $111,420 – $176,410 | 1,180 |
| District of Columbia | $135,880 | +3.4% | $95,559 | $115,200 – $180,300 | 680 |
| Hawaii | $135,570 | +3.5% | $95,140 | $106,450 – $174,350 | 550 |
| Vermont | $134,740 | +3.9% | $96,907 | $108,510 – $167,610 | 700 |
| Arizona | $134,420 | +0.5% | $99,990 | $104,400 – $173,270 | 7,220 |
| Oklahoma | $133,390 | +5.3% | $96,981 | $99,490 – $167,950 | 3,620 |
| Minnesota | $133,260 | +3.6% | $94,721 | $98,950 – $170,140 | 7,780 |
| Colorado | $132,930 | +2.5% | $96,983 | $87,770 – $170,310 | 4,270 |
| Idaho | $132,540 | +2.8% | $95,941 | $100,480 – $169,710 | 1,750 |
| Wyoming | $132,200 | +3.5% | $101,625 | $101,970 – $165,250 | 440 |
| Nebraska | $132,130 | +3.3% | $96,444 | $103,820 – $161,990 | 2,340 |
| Wisconsin | $131,980 | +2.6% | $95,860 | $106,320 – $166,260 | 5,160 |
| Texas | $131,670 | +1.4% | $101,262 | $96,880 – $161,980 | 25,970 |
| Michigan | $131,450 | +4.6% | $95,776 | $101,640 – $165,870 | 8,290 |
| Maryland | $131,110 | +4.4% | $94,954 | $99,920 – $169,330 | 6,710 |
| Delaware | $131,040 | +2.5% | $93,524 | $97,450 – $162,870 | 1,430 |
| Utah | $130,920 | +4.2% | $95,824 | $102,980 – $175,220 | 2,740 |
| Illinois | $130,680 | +1.6% | $94,262 | $102,440 – $161,470 | 9,270 |
| Maine | $130,260 | +4.2% | $92,481 | $107,820 – $166,740 | 1,650 |
| Iowa | $130,160 | +0.6% | $95,936 | $107,990 – $167,590 | 3,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,140 | +2.2% | $96,221 | $102,940 – $163,720 | 10,670 |
| North Dakota | $130,070 | +5.6% | $98,892 | $103,490 – $162,020 | 1,290 |
| Missouri | $129,930 | +2.8% | $94,904 | $100,650 – $162,060 | 7,710 |
| Florida | $129,510 | +0.4% | $99,786 | $101,920 – $163,600 | 21,790 |
| Georgia | $129,430 | +2.7% | $93,637 | $99,160 – $166,060 | 10,460 |
| North Carolina | $128,990 | +3.2% | $94,793 | $103,530 – $164,320 | 9,800 |
| South Dakota | $128,840 | +5.1% | $99,328 | $103,080 – $156,000 | 1,020 |
| Indiana | $128,830 | +0.4% | $95,550 | $101,790 – $155,260 | 7,450 |
| Virginia | $127,810 | +2.9% | $92,089 | $99,990 – $161,470 | 7,110 |
| West Virginia | $127,320 | +4.7% | $93,087 | $100,220 – $155,500 | 2,550 |
| Kansas | $126,650 | +1.6% | $91,564 | $98,330 – $158,080 | 3,780 |
| Arkansas | $125,660 | +10.6% | $92,467 | $99,420 – $205,810 | 3,970 |
| Louisiana | $125,600 | −0.3% | $93,732 | $99,050 – $159,570 | 5,380 |
| Ohio | $124,870 | −1.5% | $93,963 | $100,780 – $154,680 | 15,400 |
| Mississippi | $124,730 | +4.6% | $92,262 | $98,780 – $156,830 | 4,690 |
| South Carolina | $123,290 | +6.1% | $89,294 | $97,080 – $160,170 | 5,670 |
| Kentucky | $122,870 | +7.9% | $91,065 | $95,710 – $162,960 | 4,770 |
| Tennessee | $117,590 | +8.5% | $91,555 | $82,790 – $137,880 | 12,150 |
| Alabama | $105,750 | −1.1% | $78,203 | $86,300 – $134,650 | 5,640 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Midwive | $134,040 | Master's degree | +11.5% |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | Doctoral or professional degree | +9.4% |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | Master's degree | +21.1% |
| Optometrist | $136,570 | Doctoral or professional degree | +9.5% |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | Doctoral or professional degree | +5.2% |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $115,210 | Master's degree | +5.5% |
| Radiation Therapist | $105,310 | Associate's degree | +2.8% |
| Podiatrist | $160,300 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.0% |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | Doctoral or professional degree | +11.9% |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | Master's degree | +14.8% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make?
The national median salary for nurse practitioners is $132,300 a year ($63.61 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $101,340 and the top 10% earn over $174,420. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays nurse practitioners the most?
California has the highest median pay at $168,520. After taxes and local prices, San Francisco, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many nurse practitioners are there in the U.S.?
About 323,040 people work as nurse practitioners nationwide.