Nurse Practitioner Salary by State (May 2025)
Nurse practitioners in the U.S. earned a median of $132,300 a year ($63.61 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. California leads at $168,520, while Alabama is lowest at $105,750. 21 of the 50 states and D.C. are above the national median.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171), retrieved 2026-10-22. Employed NPs in all settings.
NP salary in every state, ranked by median
Select a state for its pay range by percentile, NP vs RN pay, a median paycheck with federal taxes and neighboring states.
| # | State | Median salary | Median hourly | Top 10% earn | NPs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $168,520 | $81.02 | $240,830+ | 25,120 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $159,310 | $76.59 | $183,420+ | 9,950 |
| 3 | Washington | $156,100 | $75.05 | $187,240+ | 6,700 |
| 4 | Oregon | $155,680 | $74.85 | $194,070+ | 2,820 |
| 5 | Alaska | $155,170 | $74.60 | $207,490+ | 710 |
| 6 | New York | $153,510 | $73.80 | $198,060+ | 22,890 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $142,440 | $68.48 | $207,710+ | 8,070 |
| 8 | Nevada | $140,670 | $67.63 | $172,170+ | 1,930 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $138,470 | $66.57 | $173,810+ | 3,750 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $137,550 | $66.13 | $166,240+ | 1,770 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $137,520 | $66.11 | $175,020+ | 1,770 |
| 12 | Montana | $137,210 | $65.97 | $166,940+ | 1,260 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $135,970 | $65.37 | $176,410+ | 1,180 |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $135,880 | $65.33 | $180,300+ | 680 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $135,570 | $65.18 | $174,350+ | 550 |
| 16 | Vermont | $134,740 | $64.78 | $167,610+ | 700 |
| 17 | Arizona | $134,420 | $64.63 | $173,270+ | 7,220 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $133,390 | $64.13 | $167,950+ | 3,620 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $133,260 | $64.07 | $170,140+ | 7,780 |
| 20 | Colorado | $132,930 | $63.91 | $170,310+ | 4,270 |
| 21 | Idaho | $132,540 | $63.72 | $169,710+ | 1,750 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $132,200 | $63.56 | $165,250+ | 440 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $132,130 | $63.52 | $161,990+ | 2,340 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $131,980 | $63.45 | $166,260+ | 5,160 |
| 25 | Texas | $131,670 | $63.31 | $161,980+ | 25,970 |
| 26 | Michigan | $131,450 | $63.20 | $165,870+ | 8,290 |
| 27 | Maryland | $131,110 | $63.03 | $169,330+ | 6,710 |
| 28 | Delaware | $131,040 | $63.00 | $162,870+ | 1,430 |
| 29 | Utah | $130,920 | $62.94 | $175,220+ | 2,740 |
| 30 | Illinois | $130,680 | $62.83 | $161,470+ | 9,270 |
| 31 | Maine | $130,260 | $62.62 | $166,740+ | 1,650 |
| 32 | Iowa | $130,160 | $62.58 | $167,590+ | 3,240 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $130,140 | $62.57 | $163,720+ | 10,670 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $130,070 | $62.53 | $162,020+ | 1,290 |
| 35 | Missouri | $129,930 | $62.47 | $162,060+ | 7,710 |
| 36 | Florida | $129,510 | $62.26 | $163,600+ | 21,790 |
| 37 | Georgia | $129,430 | $62.22 | $166,060+ | 10,460 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $128,990 | $62.01 | $164,320+ | 9,800 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $128,840 | $61.94 | $156,000+ | 1,020 |
| 40 | Indiana | $128,830 | $61.94 | $155,260+ | 7,450 |
| 41 | Virginia | $127,810 | $61.45 | $161,470+ | 7,110 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $127,320 | $61.21 | $155,500+ | 2,550 |
| 43 | Kansas | $126,650 | $60.89 | $158,080+ | 3,780 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $125,660 | $60.41 | $205,810+ | 3,970 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $125,600 | $60.38 | $159,570+ | 5,380 |
| 46 | Ohio | $124,870 | $60.03 | $154,680+ | 15,400 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $124,730 | $59.96 | $156,830+ | 4,690 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $123,290 | $59.28 | $160,170+ | 5,670 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $122,870 | $59.07 | $162,960+ | 4,770 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $117,590 | $56.54 | $137,880+ | 12,150 |
| 51 | Alabama | $105,750 | $50.84 | $134,650+ | 5,640 |
| United States | $132,300 | $63.61 | $174,420+ | 323,040 |
Median vs average NP pay
The national average (mean) NP wage was $137,300, $5,000 above the median. High earners pull the average up, so the median is the better guide to what a typical nurse practitioner earns. Half of U.S. nurse practitioners earned between $117,990 and $156,700.
NP vs RN pay
Nationally the NP median is $34,750 above the RN median. See registered nurse salary by state for the RN side; each NP state page shows the gap in that state.
Higher pay is not always more take-home
Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — levy no state income tax on wages, which each state page accounts for in its paycheck table. Elsewhere we show federal tax and FICA and say plainly that state tax is not included, rather than guess a rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nurse practitioners make in the U.S.?
The median annual wage for nurse practitioners was $132,300 ($63.61 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average was $137,300. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $101,340 and the highest-paid 10% over $174,420.
Which state pays nurse practitioners the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest-paying states were California ($168,520), New Jersey ($159,310), Washington ($156,100), Oregon ($155,680), Alaska ($155,170).
Which state pays nurse practitioners the least?
The lowest NP medians in May 2025 were in Alabama ($105,750), Tennessee ($117,590), Kentucky ($122,870), South Carolina ($123,290), Mississippi ($124,730). Lower pay often comes with a lower cost of living, so compare take-home pay against local rent before moving.
How much more does a nurse practitioner make than a registered nurse?
Nationally, the NP median ($132,300) was $34,750 a year above the registered nurse median ($97,550) in May 2025, both from BLS. Each state page shows the gap for that state.
Which states employ the most nurse practitioners?
The largest NP workforces in May 2025 were Texas (25,970), California (25,120), New York (22,890), Florida (21,790), Ohio (15,400).