Highest Paying Nurse Practitioner Careers | NurseJournal.org (2024)

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Nurse practitioners (NPs) rank among the highest-paid nursing positions. Find out which NP careers pay the most and how to get started in these fields.

NPs typically enjoy more job opportunities and higher salaries than registered nurses (RNs). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that, as of 2023, RNs earned a median annual salary of $86,070, compared to an NP’s annual median salary of $126,260. Prospective NPs can choose from various specialties and subspecialties, many offering six-figure salaries.

An RN can enter the nursing field with an associate or bachelor’s degree. However, due to their expanded responsibilities and scope of practice, NPs must obtain master of science in nursing (MSN) degrees and specialty certifications.

Read on to learn about the highest-paid NP specialties.

While the 10 highest-paid NP specialties offer annual salaries above $100,000, an NP’s earning potential ultimately depends on their employer, location, professional experience, and other factors.

1. Aesthetic NP – $139,152

• Job Outlook: With increasing interest in cosmetic procedures and acceptance of plastic surgery, the demand for cosmetic procedures has grown substantially. As a result, aesthetic NPs have a strong job outlook as the popularity of cosmetic procedures continues to rise.
• Work Environment: Aesthetic NPs often work in dermatology offices, plastic surgery offices, cosmetic surgery centers, private practices, hospitals, and medical spas.

2. Neonatal NP – $138,396

• Job Outlook: According to the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, hospitals are expanding their neonatal intensive care units, and 7% of neonatal NPs are expected to retire by 2025. Thanks to the growing demand for this specialization, neonatal NPs are among the highest-paid nurse practitioners. Individuals planning to enter this field can expect to find ample job opportunities.
• Work Environment: Neonatal NPs work in hospital delivery rooms, neonatal units, and physicians’ offices.

3. Emergency Room NP – $134,456

• Job Outlook: Emergency rooms face issues such as overcrowding, higher patient volumes, and increased demand. Consequently, emergency room NPs are in greater demand to provide timely emergency care and reduce healthcare burdens.
• Work Environment: Emergency room NPs work in hospitals’ emergency departments, trauma centers, urgent care, mobile healthcare units, and medical transport.

4. Orthopedic NP – $126,193

• Job Outlook: While data for orthopedic NP job growth is unclear, they can expect growth similar to the 45% for all NPs. Orthopedic NPs also face an aging U.S. population that requires more specialists to treat and manage chronic conditions like arthritis, back pain, and joint issues.
• Work Environment: Orthopedic NPs work in doctor’s offices, bone and joint clinics, nursing and rehabilitation facilities, and inpatient and outpatient practices.

5. Oncology NP – $125,923

• Job Outlook:A projected increase in cancer rates across all U.S. demographic groups should drive the demand for oncology NPs, with the National Cancer Institute expecting more than 2 million new cancer cases in 2024. Approximately 40% of adults will receive a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives.
• Work Environment: Oncology NPs work in any setting that provides cancer treatment, including hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, and hospice care facilities.

6. Cardiology NP – $123,657

• Job Outlook: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. As a result, the demand for cardiology NPs should expand.
• Work Environment:These nurses practice in inpatient and outpatient settings, including emergency rooms, cardiac clinics, nursing care facilities, and private practices.

7. Family NP – $122,355

• Job Outlook: Multiple factors have amplified the need for family NPs, as demand for primary and preventive care has grown amid physician shortages. As a result, facilities hire more family nurse practitioners to assist with patient care.
• Work Environment:Family NPs practice in settings like hospitals, clinics, outpatient facilities, schools, and community centers.

8. Surgical NP – $121,349

• Job Outlook:Surgical nursing should remain an in-demand specialty as the aging population and increasing chronic health conditions require more surgical interventions.The Association of Perioperative Nurses anticipates a shortage of these NPs due to retiring nurses and a lack of interest from nursing students.
• Work Environment:These NPs work in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, Veterans’ Administration medical centers, private surgery specialty clinics, and physician’s offices.

9. Psychiatric Mental Health NP – $119,576

• Job Outlook: With 1 in 5 U.S. adults living with mental illness and less than half receiving treatment, demand for PMHNPs is likely to grow. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysisprojects that 6,690 PMHNPs will enter the workforce from 2016-30, representing an 18% job growth rate.
• Work Environment: Common work settings for PMHMPs include hospitals, schools, mental health clinics, private psychiatric practices, social service agencies, correctional facilities, and public health departments.

10. Pediatric NP – $119,253

• Job Outlook: The current demand for these NPs outpaces the supply. According to AANP, less than 3% of all NPs become certified in pediatric primary care, with less than 1% in pediatric acute care. Job opportunities for pediatric NPs with full practice authority should expand in response to the anticipated physician shortage.
• Work Environment:Pediatric NPs can find job opportunities in many healthcare settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, pediatrician specialty offices, school-based clinics, urgent care centers, and community health facilities.

While NP salaries vary considerably throughout the country, the highest-paying NP jobs can generally be found on the West Coast.

NP salary levels vary among workplaces, and aspiring NPs should consider employment settings beyond hospitals and doctor’s offices.