Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171) employed 323,040 people in May 2025. The median pay is $132,300 a year ($63.61 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $101,340 and the highest-paid 10% more than $174,420. BLS projects its employment to change by +41.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 29,400 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Master's degree.
Highest median pay: California ($168,520), New Jersey ($159,310), Washington ($156,100). Most jobs: Texas (25,970), California (25,120), New York (22,890).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,340 | $48.72 |
| 25th percentile | $117,990 | $56.73 |
| Median | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Mean | $137,300 | $66.01 |
| 75th percentile | $156,700 | $75.34 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $174,420 | $83.86 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 336,300 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 474,100 |
| Change in jobs | 137,800 |
| Percent change | +41.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 29,400 |
| Self-employed share | 1.6% |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5,640 | 1.29 | $105,750 | $86,300 | $134,650 | -20% | 12% |
| Alaska | 710 | 1.04 | $155,170 | $95,570 | $207,490 | +17% | 11% |
| Arizona | 7,220 | 1.07 | $134,420 | $104,400 | $173,270 | +2% | 15% |
| Arkansas | 3,970 | 1.47 | $125,660 | $99,420 | $205,810 | -5% | 9% |
| California | 25,120 | 0.66 | $168,520 | $120,340 | $240,830 | +27% | 15% |
| Colorado | 4,270 | 0.72 | $132,930 | $87,770 | $170,310 | +0% | 16% |
| Connecticut | 3,750 | 1.06 | $138,470 | $109,930 | $173,810 | +5% | 13% |
| Delaware | 1,430 | 1.42 | $131,040 | $97,450 | $162,870 | -1% | 14% |
| District of Columbia | 680 | 0.47 | $135,880 | $115,200 | $180,300 | +3% | 17% |
| Florida | 21,790 | 1.06 | $129,510 | $101,920 | $163,600 | -2% | 17% |
| Georgia | 10,460 | 1.03 | $129,430 | $99,160 | $166,060 | -2% | 14% |
| Hawaii | 550 | 0.43 | $135,570 | $106,450 | $174,350 | +2% | 17% |
| Idaho | 1,750 | 0.98 | $132,540 | $100,480 | $169,710 | +0% | 13% |
| Illinois | 9,270 | 0.73 | $130,680 | $102,440 | $161,470 | -1% | 12% |
| Indiana | 7,450 | 1.12 | $128,830 | $101,790 | $155,260 | -3% | 10% |
| Iowa | 3,240 | 1.00 | $130,160 | $107,990 | $167,590 | -2% | 9% |
| Kansas | 3,780 | 1.27 | $126,650 | $98,330 | $158,080 | -4% | 10% |
| Kentucky | 4,770 | 1.15 | $122,870 | $95,710 | $162,960 | -7% | 10% |
| Louisiana | 5,380 | 1.34 | $125,600 | $99,050 | $159,570 | -5% | 10% |
| Maine | 1,650 | 1.24 | $130,260 | $107,820 | $166,740 | -2% | 11% |
| Maryland | 6,710 | 1.17 | $131,110 | $99,920 | $169,330 | -1% | 16% |
| Massachusetts | 8,070 | 1.07 | $142,440 | $111,950 | $207,710 | +8% | 16% |
| Michigan | 8,290 | 0.91 | $131,450 | $101,640 | $165,870 | -1% | 11% |
| Minnesota | 7,780 | 1.27 | $133,260 | $98,950 | $170,140 | +1% | 12% |
| Mississippi | 4,690 | 1.94 | $124,730 | $98,780 | $156,830 | -6% | 10% |
| Missouri | 7,710 | 1.26 | $129,930 | $100,650 | $162,060 | -2% | 10% |
| Montana | 1,260 | 1.18 | $137,210 | $105,110 | $166,940 | +4% | 10% |
| Nebraska | 2,340 | 1.10 | $132,130 | $103,820 | $161,990 | -0% | 10% |
| Nevada | 1,930 | 0.60 | $140,670 | $85,380 | $172,170 | +6% | 15% |
| New Hampshire | 1,770 | 1.24 | $137,550 | $106,070 | $166,240 | +4% | 14% |
| New Jersey | 9,950 | 1.12 | $159,310 | $122,390 | $183,420 | +20% | 14% |
| New Mexico | 1,770 | 0.98 | $137,520 | $106,320 | $175,020 | +4% | 10% |
| New York | 22,890 | 1.14 | $153,510 | $112,730 | $198,060 | +16% | 13% |
| North Carolina | 9,800 | 0.96 | $128,990 | $103,530 | $164,320 | -3% | 12% |
| North Dakota | 1,290 | 1.44 | $130,070 | $103,490 | $162,020 | -2% | 9% |
| Ohio | 15,400 | 1.34 | $124,870 | $100,780 | $154,680 | -6% | 10% |
| Oklahoma | 3,620 | 1.02 | $133,390 | $99,490 | $167,950 | +1% | 9% |
| Oregon | 2,820 | 0.69 | $155,680 | $124,660 | $194,070 | +18% | 12% |
| Pennsylvania | 10,670 | 0.85 | $130,140 | $102,940 | $163,720 | -2% | 12% |
| Rhode Island | 1,180 | 1.13 | $135,970 | $111,420 | $176,410 | +3% | 13% |
| South Carolina | 5,670 | 1.18 | $123,290 | $97,080 | $160,170 | -7% | 12% |
| South Dakota | 1,020 | 1.07 | $128,840 | $103,080 | $156,000 | -3% | 9% |
| Tennessee | 12,150 | 1.78 | $117,590 | $82,790 | $137,880 | -11% | 13% |
| Texas | 25,970 | 0.89 | $131,670 | $96,880 | $161,980 | -0% | 13% |
| Utah | 2,740 | 0.76 | $130,920 | $102,980 | $175,220 | -1% | 15% |
| Vermont | 700 | 1.11 | $134,740 | $108,510 | $167,610 | +2% | 12% |
| Virginia | 7,110 | 0.83 | $127,810 | $99,990 | $161,470 | -3% | 15% |
| Washington | 6,700 | 0.91 | $156,100 | $122,420 | $187,240 | +18% | 14% |
| West Virginia | 2,550 | 1.75 | $127,320 | $100,220 | $155,500 | -4% | 8% |
| Wisconsin | 5,160 | 0.84 | $131,980 | $106,320 | $166,260 | -0% | 10% |
| Wyoming | 440 | 0.75 | $132,200 | $101,970 | $165,250 | -0% | 9% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,580 | $231,560 | $163,670 | $283,410 | 0.67 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,110 | $219,080 | $153,280 | $273,960 | 0.63 |
| Modesto, CA | 380 | $173,380 | $138,470 | $249,600 | 0.93 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,170 | $172,010 | $105,540 | $240,100 | 0.52 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,710 | $169,920 | $130,630 | $213,970 | 0.48 |
| Fresno, CA | 570 | $166,570 | $129,300 | $212,320 | 0.57 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 430 | $165,580 | $106,710 | $205,450 | 0.61 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,340 | $163,860 | $131,380 | $215,640 | 0.73 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,680 | $163,340 | $132,490 | $202,940 | 1.10 |
| Salem, OR | 320 | $162,600 | $129,780 | $196,880 | 0.80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,060 | $161,470 | $119,950 | $216,180 | 0.77 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,390 | $158,890 | $130,270 | $200,720 | 0.56 |
| Anchorage, AK | 410 | $157,430 | $97,690 | $207,490 | 1.11 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 490 | $153,630 | $127,350 | $176,920 | 0.99 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 550 | $151,740 | $115,870 | $174,910 | 0.99 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 320 | $148,800 | $123,360 | $204,530 | 0.47 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,990 | $147,480 | $116,600 | $212,490 | 1.07 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 1,390 | $144,060 | $83,960 | $173,040 | 0.59 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 870 | $143,580 | $123,700 | $166,450 | 1.91 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 430 | $143,330 | $107,650 | $170,500 | 1.21 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 480 | $142,950 | $111,560 | $185,920 | 2.02 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 530 | $141,990 | $109,040 | $183,040 | 1.00 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 890 | $140,950 | $110,880 | $179,020 | 1.05 |
| New Haven, CT | 920 | $140,880 | $119,990 | $176,580 | 1.58 |
| Tulsa, OK | 1,090 | $139,460 | $100,240 | $167,950 | 1.14 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 840 | $139,330 | $117,880 | $173,950 | 1.00 |
| Binghamton, NY | 330 | $139,030 | $115,810 | $170,200 | 1.65 |
| Boulder, CO | 300 | $138,820 | $74,510 | $175,700 | 0.76 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 480 | $138,670 | $114,390 | $164,080 | 1.52 |
| Springfield, MA | 530 | $138,460 | $103,280 | $164,240 | 1.26 |
| Reno, NV | 420 | $137,360 | $106,290 | $167,630 | 0.73 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 420 | $137,100 | $104,700 | $160,070 | 1.90 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 420 | $136,530 | $109,030 | $177,400 | 1.62 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 5,450 | $136,270 | $105,510 | $173,980 | 1.11 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,590 | $135,700 | $104,000 | $169,390 | 1.09 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 400 | $135,570 | $106,450 | $173,640 | 0.43 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,540 | $135,520 | $106,020 | $174,650 | 1.04 |
| Reading, PA | 310 | $135,390 | $106,120 | $161,540 | 0.85 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,370 | $135,170 | $109,930 | $169,730 | 1.10 |
| Worcester, MA | 840 | $135,120 | $105,340 | $204,030 | 1.16 |
| Roanoke, VA | 440 | $134,920 | $101,640 | $147,520 | 1.38 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,050 | $134,840 | $101,340 | $175,440 | 0.62 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 910 | $134,590 | $108,680 | $163,900 | 0.97 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,970 | $134,560 | $96,880 | $158,830 | 0.87 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 630 | $134,470 | $102,990 | $167,370 | 0.89 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,400 | $134,390 | $106,110 | $164,390 | 0.86 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,450 | $134,350 | $109,350 | $168,760 | 0.85 |
| Gainesville, FL | 410 | $134,270 | $99,830 | $152,400 | 1.28 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2,310 | $134,040 | $95,890 | $172,170 | 0.69 |
| Lancaster, PA | 350 | $133,940 | $107,000 | $160,340 | 0.67 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 790 | $133,890 | $110,660 | $161,920 | 1.01 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | 520 | $133,860 | $105,380 | $166,190 | 0.82 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 350 | $133,810 | $103,590 | $169,420 | 0.88 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 2,310 | $133,810 | $108,290 | $162,160 | 1.45 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 1,380 | $133,760 | $107,450 | $161,990 | 1.33 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1,670 | $133,390 | $99,500 | $161,820 | 1.18 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,900 | $133,370 | $102,190 | $170,140 | 1.21 |
| Madison, WI | 530 | $133,080 | $108,360 | $167,330 | 0.62 |
| Topeka, KS | 500 | $132,740 | $108,930 | $163,660 | 2.07 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 500 | $132,670 | $103,430 | $159,260 | 0.71 |
The median is $132,300 a year ($63.61 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $101,340 and the highest-paid tenth over $174,420 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
323,040 in May 2025, and BLS projects +41.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Master's degree (BLS).
California, with a median of $168,520 (among states with published figures).