How much does a nurse practitioner make?
a year · about $64 an hour
A typical nurse practitioner in the United States makes $132,300 a year, about $64 an hour, about 2.6× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They review charts, then see patients, ask about symptoms, examine them, and may order tests or prescribe medicine. They explain care plans, check results, and update records, often working with other health professionals.
Did you know? The first nurse practitioner program in the U.S. began at the University of Colorado in 1965.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $101,340 and $174,420How do you become one?
In the U.S., earn a bachelor's degree in nursing, pass the NCLEX to become an RN, then complete a master's or doctoral NP program. Pass a national NP certification exam and obtain your state's NP license.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like figuring things out and helping and teaching
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, the kind of patients an NP specializes in, and whether they work in a clinic, hospital, or another setting. It also changes from place to place, so the same job may pay differently in different states.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($168,520), lowest in Alabama ($105,750).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $101,340 | $132,300 | $174,420 | about 323,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $168,520 | about 25,000 |
| New Jersey | $159,310 | about 10,000 |
| Washington | $156,100 | about 7,000 |
| Oregon | $155,680 | about 3,000 |
| Alaska | $155,170 | about 710 |
Official 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitio
- support.aanp.org/hc/en-us/articles/46267069443355-How-do-I-become-a-nurse-practi
- www.mghihp.edu/news-and-more/opinions/nursing/day-life-nurse-practitioner-inside
- storage.aanp.org/www/documents/no-index/research/1.Comp.NP-Report24.pdf
- www.aanp.org/about/about-the-american-association-of-nurse-practitioners-aanp/hi
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1171.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY