Nurse Practitioners
SOC 29-1171 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Nurse Practitioners is $126,260, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $128,490, and an estimated 280,140 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +13.1% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -4% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 40.1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Nurse Practitioners has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $126,260 | $126,260 | 280,140 |
| 2022 | $121,610 | $126,616 | 258,230 |
| 2021 | $120,680 | $135,703 | 234,690 |
| 2020 | $111,680 | $131,483 | 211,280 |
Nominal change
+13.1%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-4%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+40.1%
Much faster than average
Employment 2024
320,400
Projected 2034
448,800
Annual Openings
29,500
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Nurse Practitioners earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $126,260. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $164,050 | +29.9% | 21,740 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $157,160 | +24.5% | 50 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $157,140 | +24.5% | 100 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $146,340 | +15.9% | 150 |
| New Jersey | $142,950 | +13.2% | 6,400 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $142,810 | +13.1% | 90 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $141,900 | +12.4% | 170 |
| Washington | $141,040 | +11.7% | 4,560 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $138,990 | +10.1% | 180 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $138,960 | +10.1% | 270 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$94,530
25th Pct
$106,960
Median
$126,260
75th Pct
$140,610
90th Pct
$168,030
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Hospital Medical Group, Inc. | FL | 1 | $144,362 |
| 24 ON Physicians, PC | IL | 1 | $130,000 |
| Brigid Healthcare PLLC | MI | 1 | $104,000 |
| Apogee Medical Group, Delaware, Inc. | DE | 1 | $168,265 |
| Children's Hospital Corporation | MA | 1 | $165,145 |
| WellMed Florida Services, PLLC | FL | 1 | $110,160 |
| The Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services, Inc. | IN | 1 | $110,000 |
| Mayo Clinic | MN | 1 | $159,037 |
| General Hospital Corporation | MA | 1 | $144,560 |
| The Everett Clinic, PLLC | WA | 1 | $137,000 |
| Evergreen Medical Clinic, P.C. | NY | 1 | $140,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES | WA | 1 | $123,146 |
| Duke University Health System | NC | 1 | $129,280 |
| Community Physicians Group, Inc. | CA | 1 | $142,000 |
| Cornerstone Family Healthcare | NY | 1 | $147,500 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Healthcare Practitioners & Technical
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Healthcare Practitioners & Technical occupations →