Where you work can make a substantial difference in how much you earn as a nurse practitioner (NP). Salaries vary across states and can also differ within a state based on factors such as specialty, experience, employer, and local demand.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for nurse practitioners was $132,300 as of May 2025, the latest national wage data available for this 2027 guide. But statewide pay levels can differ considerably from that national benchmark.
Below, compare the latest available nurse practitioner salary by state, including median wages and the 10th and 90th percentile wages where available.
Nurse Practitioner Salary by State
These are wage estimates for employed NPs and are not adjusted for differences in cost of living. They can help illustrate the range of NP wages in each state, but they should not be treated as synonymous with entry-level and experienced salaries.
Percentiles provide additional context beyond the median. At the 10th percentile, 10% of workers earn less than the reported wage and 90% earn more. At the 90th percentile, 90% earn less and 10% earn more.
| State | 10th percentile | Median annual wage | 90th percentile |
| Alabama | $86,300 | $105,750 | $134,650 |
| Alaska | $95,570 | $155,170 | $207,490 |
| Arizona | $104,400 | $134,420 | $173,270 |
| Arkansas | $99,420 | $125,660 | $205,810 |
| California | $120,340 | $168,520 | $240,830 |
| Colorado | $87,770 | $132,930 | $170,310 |
| Connecticut | $109,930 | $138,470 | $173,810 |
| Delaware | $97,450 | $131,040 | $162,870 |
| District of Columbia | $115,200 | $135,880 | $180,300 |
| Florida | $101,920 | $129,510 | $163,600 |
| Georgia | $99,160 | $129,430 | $166,060 |
| Hawaii | $106,450 | $135,570 | $174,350 |
| Idaho | $100,480 | $132,540 | $169,710 |
| Illinois | $102,440 | $130,680 | $161,470 |
| Indiana | $101,790 | $128,830 | $155,260 |
| Iowa | $107,990 | $130,160 | $167,590 |
| Kansas | $98,330 | $126,650 | $158,080 |
| Kentucky | $95,710 | $122,870 | $162,960 |
| Louisiana | $99,050 | $125,600 | $159,570 |
| Maine | $107,820 | $130,260 | $166,740 |
| Maryland | $99,920 | $131,110 | $169,330 |
| Massachusetts | $111,950 | $142,440 | $207,710 |
| Michigan | $101,640 | $131,450 | $165,870 |
| Minnesota | $98,950 | $133,260 | $170,140 |
| Mississippi | $98,780 | $124,730 | $156,830 |
| Missouri | $100,650 | $129,930 | $162,060 |
| Montana | $105,110 | $137,210 | $166,940 |
| Nebraska | $103,820 | $132,130 | $161,990 |
| Nevada | $85,380 | $140,670 | $172,170 |
| New Hampshire | $106,070 | $137,550 | $166,240 |
| New Jersey | $122,390 | $159,310 | $183,420 |
| New Mexico | $106,320 | $137,520 | $175,020 |
| New York | $112,730 | $153,510 | $198,060 |
| North Carolina | $103,530 | $128,990 | $164,320 |
| North Dakota | $103,490 | $130,070 | $162,020 |
| Ohio | $100,780 | $124,870 | $154,680 |
| Oklahoma | $99,490 | $133,390 | $167,950 |
| Oregon | $124,660 | $155,680 | $194,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $102,940 | $130,140 | $163,720 |
| Rhode Island | $111,420 | $135,970 | $176,410 |
| South Carolina | $97,080 | $123,290 | $160,170 |
| South Dakota | $103,080 | $128,840 | $156,000 |
| Tennessee | $82,790 | $117,590 | $137,880 |
| Texas | $96,880 | $131,670 | $161,980 |
| Utah | $102,980 | $130,920 | $175,220 |
| Vermont | $108,510 | $134,740 | $167,610 |
| Virginia | $99,990 | $127,810 | $161,470 |
| Washington | $122,420 | $156,100 | $187,240 |
| West Virginia | $100,220 | $127,320 | $155,500 |
| Wisconsin | $106,320 | $131,980 | $166,260 |
| Wyoming | $101,970 | $132,200 | $165,250 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Which States Pay Nurse Practitioners the Most?
Based on median annual wages, California was the highest-paying state for nurse practitioners in May 2025, with a median of $168,520. New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska rounded out the five states with the highest median wages.
| State | Median annual wage |
| California | $168,520 |
| New Jersey | $159,310 |
| Washington | $156,100 |
| Oregon | $155,680 |
| Alaska | $155,170 |
These figures show a sizable geographic difference in nominal pay. California’s median was about $36,000 higher than the national median of $132,300 and nearly $63,000 higher than Alabama’s $105,750 median, the lowest among the 50 states.
That does not necessarily make a high-paying state the most financially advantageous place to work. Statewide wages do not account for housing costs, taxes, or other differences in living expenses. They also combine NPs working in different specialties, healthcare settings, and local labor markets.
Location within a state matters as well. A statewide median can provide a useful starting point for comparison, but NPs considering a particular job market may also want to review BLS wage estimates for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
What Is the Average Nurse Practitioner Salary?
The BLS reported a mean annual wage of $137,300 for nurse practitioners in May 2025. The median annual wage was $132,300.
The difference matters when comparing salaries. The mean, or average, is calculated by adding all wages and dividing by the number of workers, so particularly high salaries can pull it upward. The median represents the midpoint: half of nurse practitioners earn more and half earn less.
For that reason, this guide uses the median as the primary benchmark when comparing NP salaries by state. The 10th and 90th percentile figures provide additional context about the broader wage distribution.
Why Do Nurse Practitioner Salaries Vary by State?
State-level NP salaries reflect more than geography alone. Differences in local labor demand, healthcare staffing needs, employer mix, specialty, and cost of living can all influence pay.
Several factors can contribute to salary variation:
- Local demand for nurse practitioners: Areas with stronger demand or persistent provider shortages may offer higher compensation.
- Healthcare setting: Hospitals, outpatient care centers, physician offices, and other employers can have different pay structures.
- Specialty: Compensation can vary by clinical focus. For a closer look at those differences, see our guide to the highest paid nurse practitioner specialties.
- Experience and responsibilities: More experienced NPs or those taking on leadership, call, or specialized responsibilities may earn more.
- Urban versus rural location: Pay can differ substantially within the same state depending on the local labor market.
- Cost of living: Higher wages in some states may partly reflect higher housing, transportation, and other everyday expenses.
These factors help explain why two NPs with the same credential can have very different salaries depending on where and how they practice. Statewide BLS estimates are useful for comparison, but they should be treated as broad benchmarks rather than expected pay for a specific job.
Nurse Practitioner Job Outlook
The outlook for nurse practitioners remains strong. The BLS projects NP employment to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035, from about 336,300 jobs to 474,100. That represents roughly 137,800 additional jobs and is much faster than the 3.5% projected growth for all occupations over the same period.
BLS also projects about 29,400 NP openings per year on average, including openings created by employment growth and worker turnover. The agency says demand for APRNs is expected to be supported by factors such as an aging population, chronic disease management, and the expanding role of advanced practice registered nurses in healthcare.
These are national projections, however. Job growth and hiring demand can vary by state and local market, so salary should be considered alongside employment opportunities when comparing locations.
How to Use NP Salary Data When Comparing States
Salary data can help narrow your options, but the highest number on the table is not necessarily the best financial outcome. A larger paycheck can be partly—or sometimes largely—offset by higher housing, transportation, taxes, and other living costs.
When comparing states, consider:
- Start with the median, not the maximum. The median gives you a better sense of typical pay than focusing on the upper end of the wage range.
- Look at the 10th-to-90th-percentile spread. A wide range can signal substantial variation in pay across employers, locations, specialties, and experience levels.
- Compare cost of living alongside salary. A state that pays $15,000 or $20,000 more may not leave you with greater purchasing power if housing and other expenses are significantly higher.
- Check local, not just statewide, data. Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan wage estimates can be more relevant if you already know where you want to live.
- Consider total compensation. Benefits, retirement contributions, paid leave, bonuses, scheduling, and tuition assistance can materially affect the value of an offer.
- Factor in job availability and practice environment. Local demand, employer mix, and state scope-of-practice rules can shape the overall work environment even when they do not directly determine salary.
For many prospective NPs, the most useful comparison is not simply which state pays nurse practitioners the most. It is which location offers the strongest overall combination of salary, living costs, job opportunities, and working conditions.
FAQs About Nurse Practitioner Salaries by State
Does a Higher NP Salary Mean a State Is Better for Nurse Practitioners?
Not necessarily. Higher wages can be offset by higher living costs, taxes, and other expenses. Job availability, benefits, local market conditions, and practice environment can also matter when comparing states.
What state pays nurse practitioners the most?
California had the highest median annual wage for nurse practitioners in the May 2025 BLS state data, at $168,520. New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska also ranked among the highest-paying states by median wage.
That does not necessarily mean California offers the strongest financial return for every NP. Higher salaries can be offset by substantially higher housing and other living costs, so nominal wages are only one part of the comparison.
What is the lowest-paying state for nurse practitioners?
Alabama had the lowest median annual wage among the 50 states in the May 2025 BLS data, at $105,750.
Even here, statewide salary should not be viewed in isolation. Lower living costs can narrow the practical difference between a lower-paying state and a state with a much higher median wage.
Can nurse practitioners earn more than $200,000 per year?
Yes. BLS percentile data show that NP wages can exceed $200,000 in some states at the upper end of the wage distribution. For example, the 90th-percentile annual wage was above $200,000 in California, Alaska, Arkansas, and Massachusetts in the May 2025 estimates.
That does not mean $200,000 is a typical NP salary in those states. The 90th percentile represents a wage level exceeded by only 10% of workers, and individual compensation can vary based on specialty, experience, employer, location, schedule, and other factors.
