Nurse Practitioner Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$129,000
national median salary
$110,000 to $150,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $132,300 for Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171) across the United States, based on 323,040 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$101,340
25th percentile
$117,990
Median
$132,300
75th percentile
$156,700
90th percentile
$174,420
Workers surveyed
323,040
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$129,210
May 2025 release
$132,300
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171) rather than Nurse Practitionerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1171Highest Paying
$182,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$135,000
Oklahoma City, OK
Lowest Paying
$104,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 29-1171. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Nurse Practitioner salary in the United States at $129,000 in 2026, within a range of $110,000 to $150,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $182,000, while Oklahoma City offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Specialty area is the dominant pay lever, with psychiatric and acute care NPs earning 15 to 25% above family practice.
Nurse Practitioner salary by city.
Skills that increase Nurse Practitioner pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Nurse Practitioners based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $18,060 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$18,060 per year
≈ +$16,770 per year
≈ +$15,480 per year
≈ +$14,190 per year
≈ +$14,190 per year
≈ +$12,900 per year
≈ +$12,900 per year
≈ +$11,610 per year
What you should know.
Specialty area is the dominant pay lever, with psychiatric and acute care NPs earning 15 to 25% above family practice. States granting full practice authority pay more due to independent billing. Years of experience and certifications like ACNP or PMHNP also drive meaningful increases.
New graduate NPs start around $100,000 to $110,000. With five to seven years of specialty experience, compensation reaches $125,000 to $140,000. Lead NPs or those in director-level clinical roles can earn $150,000 to $170,000, especially in high-demand specialties.
Many NPs receive signing bonuses of $5,000 to $15,000, CME stipends, malpractice coverage, and retirement contributions. Hospital-employed NPs may also receive shift differentials and productivity bonuses tied to patient volume.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Nurse Practitioners typically earn $116,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Nurse Practitioner pay.
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