If you're a Nurse Practitioner (NP) looking for the best places to live and work, this guide will help you navigate your next move. We've compiled a list of the top 10 states based on salary, job growth, and practice authority. As physician shortages increase, especially in primary care, NPs play a critical role in filling healthcare gaps, making it a highly sought-after profession.

Nurse Practitioner

Note: The concentration of each specialty is calculated by dividing the local concentration of the industry by the national concentration of the industry. If the location quotient is greater than 1, the industry makes up a larger share of that state’s employment than it does for the entire United States.

Average Annual Salary: $126,260

 

California

  • Average Salary: $161,540
  • Practice Authority: Full
    California offers the highest salaries for NPs, with advanced autonomy and opportunities across outpatient clinics and home health services.

Nevada

  • Average Salary: $148,670
  • Practice Authority: Full
    Nevada combines attractive salaries with a booming demand for healthcare workers, thanks to physician shortages in rural areas.

Washington

  • Average Salary: $145,400
  • Practice Authority: Full
    Washington’s NPs enjoy high salaries and the freedom to practice independently, a key factor attracting healthcare professionals to the state.

New Jersey

  • Average Salary: $145,030
  • Practice Authority: Reduced
    Proximity to metropolitan hubs and a high salary make New Jersey a strong choice, though NPs need physician oversight for prescribing medications.

Oregon

  • Average Salary: $144,950
  • Practice Authority: Full
    With fewer regulatory restrictions, NPs in Oregon are well-compensated and have ample opportunities to practice in diverse healthcare settings.

New York

  • Average Salary: $142,830
  • Practice Authority: Full
    New York’s high salaries reflect both demand and opportunity, especially with growing access to independent practice.

Minnesota

  • Average Salary: $135,010
  • Practice Authority: Full
    Minnesota is known for both high salaries and excellent work-life balance, making it ideal for NPs seeking stability.

New Mexico

  • Average Salary: $136,770
  • Practice Authority: Full
    With its robust healthcare infrastructure, New Mexico offers high pay and numerous openings in rural areas.

Texas

  • Average Salary: $130,010
  • Practice Authority: Restricted
    Texas presents significant opportunities with growing demand, despite requiring physician collaboration for NPs.

Colorado

  • Average Salary: $109,760
  • Practice Authority: Full
    Colorado offers high growth potential for NPs, with salaries steadily increasing and full practice authority.

 

Educational Attainment and Earning Potential

  • Doctorate: Increasingly common but does not guarantee higher earnings; both master’s and doctoral degree holders report similar salaries (~$134,000).
  • Master’s Degree: The minimum required to become an NP and enter specialized roles in primary or acute care.

 

Key Trends Impacting the Industry

  • Increased Demand: Driven by aging populations and physician shortages, particularly in mental health and primary care.
  • Specialty Pay Differences: Psychiatric-mental health NPs and acute care NPs are among the highest-paid specialties.

As always, we love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to us at information@practicemtach.com in the event that there’s anything you wish to share with us!

 

*Originally posted on 1/31/2022. Last updated on 10/10/2024.

Ashley Poshard

Ashley Poshard is the Manager of Program Relations and Data Quality. She joined PracticeMatch in 2021 and brings over a decade of database management experience. Formerly an in-house physician recruiter and PracticeMatch client, she excels in engaging physicians with the platform. Ashley collaborates with program coordinators nationally, offering educational opportunities and gathering feedback. Her role involves implementing innovative features and services, fostering long-term physician engagement with PracticeMatch. Additionally, Ashley leads the data team, working to maximize data collection efforts and enhance the PinPoint Database's size, value, and quality, solidifying PracticeMatch's position as a leader in healthcare recruitment and data management.