Updated October 2026 with BLS May 2025 wage data.
How much does a nurse practitioner make? The median nurse practitioner salary in the US is $132,300 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. NPs in California earn a median of $168,520. Nurse practitioner is also one of the fastest-growing jobs in the country: employment is projected to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035.
Top 10 highest-paying states for nurse practitioners
- California: $168,520
- New Jersey: $159,310
- Washington: $156,100
- Oregon: $155,680
- Alaska: $155,170
- New York: $153,510
- Massachusetts: $142,440
- Nevada: $140,670
- Connecticut: $138,470
- New Hampshire: $137,550
NP salary in every state
| Rank | State | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $168,520 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $159,310 |
| 3 | Washington | $156,100 |
| 4 | Oregon | $155,680 |
| 5 | Alaska | $155,170 |
| 6 | New York | $153,510 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $142,440 |
| 8 | Nevada | $140,670 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $138,470 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $137,550 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $137,520 |
| 12 | Montana | $137,210 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $135,970 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $135,880 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $135,570 |
| 16 | Vermont | $134,740 |
| 17 | Arizona | $134,420 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $133,390 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $133,260 |
| 20 | Colorado | $132,930 |
| 21 | Idaho | $132,540 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $132,200 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $132,130 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $131,980 |
| 25 | Texas | $131,670 |
| 26 | Michigan | $131,450 |
| 27 | Maryland | $131,110 |
| 28 | Delaware | $131,040 |
| 29 | Illinois | $130,680 |
| 30 | Maine | $130,260 |
| 31 | Iowa | $130,160 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $130,140 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $130,070 |
| 34 | Missouri | $129,930 |
| 35 | Florida | $129,510 |
| 36 | Georgia | $129,430 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $128,990 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $128,840 |
| 39 | Indiana | $128,830 |
| 40 | Virginia | $127,810 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $127,320 |
| 42 | Kansas | $126,650 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $125,660 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $125,600 |
| 45 | Ohio | $124,870 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $124,730 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $123,290 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $122,870 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $117,590 |
| 50 | Alabama | $105,750 |
NP vs RN vs other advanced practice nurses
| Role | Median pay | Projected growth, 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $236,590 | 10% |
| Nurse midwife (CNM) | $134,040 | 11% |
| Nurse practitioner (NP) | $132,300 | 41% |
| Registered nurse (RN) | $97,550 | 6% |
How to become a nurse practitioner
- Become an RN (ADN or BSN, then pass the NCLEX-RN). See how to become a registered nurse.
- Get clinical experience: most programs want 1–2 years as an RN.
- Complete an MSN or DNP in a population focus, such as family (FNP), adult-gerontology, pediatrics, psychiatric-mental health (PMHNP), neonatal or women’s health.
- Pass national board certification through AANPCB or ANCC.
- Get your state APRN licence and, where required, a collaborative or supervisory agreement and DEA registration.
Paying for it: federal loan rules changed in July 2026. Read what MSN and DNP students can borrow now.
What affects NP pay
- Specialty: psychiatric-mental health NPs and acute care NPs are in especially high demand and often earn above the median.
- Practice authority: in full-practice-authority states, NPs can open their own practices and bill independently.
- Setting: hospitals, specialty groups and telehealth companies often pay more than retail clinics.
- Productivity pay: many outpatient NPs earn bonuses based on patient volume (RVUs).
FAQ
What state pays nurse practitioners the most? California, with a median of $168,520, followed by New Jersey and Washington.
How long does it take to become an NP? Usually 6–8 years in total: a 4-year BSN (or a faster ADN route), 1–2 years of RN experience, and a 2–4 year MSN or DNP.
Is NP a good career in 2026? By the numbers, yes. It combines a six-figure median salary with 41% projected job growth, one of the highest of any occupation.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners (May 2025); BLS OEWS state data via Becker’s Hospital Review, “NP median pay by state” (July 2026).