How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$132,300
Nurse practitioners in the U.S. earn a median of $132,300 a year, or $63.61 an hour. Half of nurse practitioners earn more than $132,300 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $174,420.
Pay percentiles for nurse practitioners
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48.72 | $101,340 |
| 25th | $56.73 | $117,990 |
| 50th (median) | $63.61 | $132,300 |
| 75th | $75.34 | $156,700 |
| 90th | $83.86 | $174,420 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for nurse practitioners
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $168,520 | $81.02 | +27% |
| New Jersey | $159,310 | $76.59 | +20% |
| Washington | $156,100 | $75.05 | +18% |
| Oregon | $155,680 | $74.85 | +18% |
| Alaska | $155,170 | $74.60 | +17% |
| New York | $153,510 | $73.80 | +16% |
| Massachusetts | $142,440 | $68.48 | +8% |
| Nevada | $140,670 | $67.63 | +6% |
| Connecticut | $138,470 | $66.57 | +5% |
| New Hampshire | $137,550 | $66.13 | +4% |
| United States | $132,300 | $63.61 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many nurse practitioners are there?
BLS counts about 323,040 nurse practitioners employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in Texas (25,970), California (25,120) and New York (22,890).
The mean (average) annual wage is $137,300, higher than the median of $132,300.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $11,025
- Biweekly
- $5,088
- Weekly
- $2,544
- Daily (8 hours)
- $509
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do nurse practitioners make an hour?
The median hourly wage for nurse practitioners is $63.61. The middle 50% earn between $56.73 and $75.34 an hour.
Which state pays nurse practitioners the most?
California has the highest median wage for nurse practitioners at $168,520, +27% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for nurse practitioners?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of nurse practitioners earn less than $101,340 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.