Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Nurse practitioners play a significant role in advanced healthcare and have strong career prospects. Nationally, there are about 320,000 nurse practitioners, with projected employment growth of 40.1%. This expansion, combined with approximately 30,000 annual openings, suggests many opportunities for both new entrants and experienced professionals seeking new roles. The national median annual salary of $129,210 reflects the advanced level of responsibility and expertise required. A master’s degree is the typical education level, and success in this field draws on a broad mix of technical and interpersonal strengths, including science knowledge, critical and analytical thinking, and strong speaking and listening skills. Top states and metro areas show especially strong opportunity scores, with some locations offering notably higher median salaries. For people interested in advanced practice roles, related options include physician assistants, nurse midwives, obstetricians and gynecologists, cardiologists, and general internal medicine physicians.
Nurse practitioners earn a national median annual salary of $129,210, but pay varies meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $132,930 in Colorado to $168,520 in California. New York and Washington also stand out with median salaries of $153,510 and $156,100 respectively, while Massachusetts offers $142,440. At the metro level, salary differences are even more pronounced. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA, has a median salary of $231,560, and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, reports $219,080. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro offers $163,340, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH offers $147,480. These figures suggest that nurse practitioners who are flexible about location may find substantially different earning potential across states and metro areas.
The outlook for nurse practitioners is strong in terms of both growth and job availability. National employment stands at about 320,000, with projected employment growth of 40.1%. This high growth projection indicates that the total number of nurse practitioner positions is expected to increase substantially over time. In addition, there are approximately 30,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a combination of new positions created and the need to fill existing roles as people change jobs or retire. Together, the large existing workforce, high projected growth, and sizable annual openings point to a field with ongoing demand for trained professionals. Individuals entering this career, or experienced practitioners looking for advancement or relocation, can expect a dynamic employment landscape supported by these indicators.
Location significantly shapes opportunities for nurse practitioners. At the state level, California has the highest listed median salary at $168,520 and the largest employment among the top states with 25,120 nurse practitioners, along with an opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Massachusetts both combine relatively high salaries ($153,510 and $142,440) with strong opportunity scores above 65. Colorado and Washington also offer solid opportunity scores (56.97 and 56.29), with median salaries of $132,930 and $156,100 respectively. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA, and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ lead with opportunity scores above 77. San Jose reports a median salary of $231,560, while New York reports $163,340. The San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro also offers a high median salary of $219,080. These differences show that certain metros and states combine higher pay with strong opportunity scores and meaningful employment concentrations.
Becoming a nurse practitioner typically requires a master’s degree, reflecting the advanced knowledge and responsibilities associated with this role. Success in this career draws on a broad and balanced skill set. Strong science skills support the technical and clinical aspects of practice, while critical and analytical thinking underpin complex judgment and decision making. Problem solving and decision making, along with adaptability and attention to detail, are important for handling varied and sometimes complex situations. Interpersonal, speaking and listening, and customer service skills help nurse practitioners work effectively with patients, families, and colleagues. Writing and reading skills support accurate documentation and the ability to work with professional information and guidelines. Leadership abilities also play a role, especially for those who coordinate care or guide teams. Together, this combination of education and skills prepares nurse practitioners for a demanding but rewarding advanced practice career.
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